Food and drink companies are being urged to consider how water stress will affect their operations in a drive to highlight the issue as part of this week’s World Water Day.

The Food and Drink Federation’s (FDF) ‘Every Last Drop’ campaign brings together best practice and new initiatives from 100 companies, including Coca-Cola and Nestlé.

Water stress is emerging as a major risk for businesses globally, while at a national level drought has already been declared in the south-east.

As part of the campaign Nestlé’s UK and Ireland arm revealed how it has cut water use by 36 per cent since 2006 through better water management and new technology. For example, a new water control system installed in its Buxton mineral water production line has halved the amount of water used, so only 1.26 litres of water is needed to produce one litre of mineral water.

Meanwhile, the company’s supply business, Nestlé Professional, has announced it will work with distributor 3663 and contract catering company Elior to share best practice on reducing the impact of water use across the food supply chain.

3663 has today launched a poster campaign at 30 of its UK sites with the aim of making further inroads into its target of reducing mains water consumption per head by 10 per cent over the next five years.

Inder Poonaji, chair of FDF’s water group and head of safety, health and environmental sustainability at Nestlé UK, said the campaign was a powerful tool to help companies engage with water efficiency.

“It is great to see so many companies showing leadership and getting active on effective water management,” Poonaji said in a statement.

“It is vital that we all remember that all of us, whether at home or in the workplace, share a responsibility to use water efficiently and with consideration for the needs of others with whom we share this planet.”