GEF

Unit 5  |  Toward Sustainable Water Systems 126 that continued access to reliable water supplies was essential to its product line. As part of its overall sustainability strategy, Unilever has been active in promoting water conservation by quantifying the water footprints of its products and seeking ways to reduce water use and pollution. In Australia, the company provided drip irrigation systems to tomato farmers, reducing water use by 70 percent compared with conventional irrigation. In Vietnam, Unilever intro- duced “Comfort One” laundry detergent, which requires one bucket of water, instead of the usual three, for hand rinsing of clothes. The company also launched large-scale educational campaigns in Vietnam and other Asian countries in order to educate consumers about the effectiveness of this product with only one bucket of rinse water. Recognizing the challenges of growing their business in an increasingly water-constrained world, Unilever and many other companies are taking a forward-thinking approach to water conservation that encompasses not only product design but also their supply chain and consumer behavior. Surface irrigation (left) is less efficient than drip irrigation (right).