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About Us
Our Businesses
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Our businesses aim to reduce the amount of water they abstract for their own operations, reuse process water as much as possible, and return treated wastewater to the environment after ensuring it meets or exceeds local and national water regulations and standards.
Solar irrigation project, Azucarera, Spain
In 2023/24, businesses across the Group collectively abstracted 880 million m3 of water for use in their operations, a 2% increase compared with last year. While this aligns with the increase in production tonnage, the main driver was increased irrigation demand due to drought impacting our sugar businesses in Africa. ABF Sugar is responsible for 98% of the Group's total water use. Water is used carefully and extensively throughout the sugar manufacturing operation, from the processing stage to extract and refine the sugar, to generating steam in the boilers, through to cleaning the equipment. A significant portion of the water abstracted across ABF is used for crop irrigation by our sugar cane sites in our African operations.
ABF Sugar has set a 2030 commitment to reduce its water footprint by 30% from its 2018 baseline. In 2023/24, the business has focused its activities in two main areas: improving the accuracy of water measurement and investing in irrigation efficiency so that every drop of water can reach the crop.
Of the water used by our businesses, 97% comes from surface water, such as rivers and lakes, as well as man-made dams. Our businesses’ sites are regulated by water permits or licences, and they withdraw water within their agreed limits. In 2023/24, across the Group 24% of the water abstracted was reused before being returned to the environment. This is both a cost and resource efficient way of managing water. Our sites reuse the water for irrigation, land spreading, cleaning machinery, and horticultural purposes.
To identify and manage potential risks to our operations in areas facing water scarcity, we have carried out a high-level water risk assessment for our Group operations using internationally recognised methodologies to identify sites operating in water-stressed areas. We provide a more detailed picture of water-stress risk in our CDP submission.
Total water abstracted
(million m3)
Total water abstracted 2024, by segment
(million m3)
Our businesses’ sites return as much water as possible to the environment by treating the wastewater on-site or by using municipal treatment plants.
Water treatment at AB Mauri is a priority for the Group. The business carefully assesses water risks affecting each of its sites, and manages any water returned to the environment as safely as possible and to meet legal requirements. To support this approach, AB Mauri has built significant in-house capability in water use and wastewater management. Since 2010, it has invested $120m in wastewater treatment. Many of its production facilities have complex on-site effluent treatment plants that include biological processes, evaporators and reverse osmosis membrane systems that can produce reusable water and useful co-products. The selection of technologies addresses the local aquatic sensitivities and water quality objectives. As a minimum, sites equalise their flow so as not to disrupt any downstream municipal processes.
Water is an essential input for clothing and food production. It is used throughout the Group’s value chain, at our operations, by independent farmers and in suppliers’ processing facilities. Ensuring efficient water use in agriculture has become increasingly crucial, especially under changing climate conditions.
Wastewater treatment at AB Mauri Maya's yeast plant in Bandrima, Turkey
Some of the farm management standards supported by our businesses incorporate water management strategies which aim to address this challenge. For instance, Westmill aims to promote the standards of the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Standard, the Primark Cotton Project trains farmers to reduce water use, and ABF Sugar, through the use of the SAI Platform FSA 3.0 tool, works closely with its growers to enhance water efficiency.
In 2023/24, Primark has developed a 2030 Water Impact and Stewardship Strategy. This strategy aims to enhance water management practices, reduce water footprints, and mitigate adverse effects on hydrological systems, ecosystems, and human health. The strategy includes mapping basin-level risks and evaluating operational water dependencies to identify suppliers and basins most vulnerable to water-related challenge.
Δ EY has provided limited independent assurance over the 2024 metrics. See our data page for the assurance statement.
