Environmental certification
Water
Neutral.
Prove your supply chain is water-secure. Demonstrate that you have eliminated water stress in your operations and value chain.
- Assessment timeline
- 10–12 weeks
- Published criteria
- 48
- Validity, checked annually
- 3 years
- Assessor, then review panel
- Two sign-offs
Who it's for
Built for these
organizations.
Not on the list? Take the two-minute quiz and we will tell you which pathway fits.
Find your fit- 01Manufacturers
- 02Food & Beverage companies
- 03Exporters
- 04Agriculture operators
- 05Hospitality providers
- 06Textile & Apparel brands
Industry impact
Why it
matters.
Water stress affects supply chains across industries. The certification verifies that organizations have identified and eliminated water risk in their operations and value chain.
Demonstrate to investors, customers, and regulators that operations and supply chains are resilient to water stress.
Assessment criteria
What we assess:
48 criteria, 6 areas.
Criteria are public before you apply. Nothing is assessed that you have not seen.
- 01Water consumption baseline and footprint across Scopes 1, 2, and 3
- 02Water-risk mapping, including supply-chain geography, seasonal stress, and regulatory risk
- 03Water-efficiency initiatives and technology, including recycling, rainwater harvesting, and process optimization
- 04Supplier water management and verification
- 05Stakeholder engagement with communities, regulators, and NGOs
- 06Monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement
Good to know
Questions,
answered.
Can I pursue multiple certifications?
Yes. Many organizations pursue 2–3 certifications aligned with material sustainability issues.
Which certification should we start with?
Use Find Your Fit or contact the team. We recommend starting with the certification addressing your organization's highest-material issue.
Do we need to be perfect to get certified?
No. Certification requires genuine commitment and structured practices rather than perfection, and organizations may improve during assessment.
How long does certification take?
The overall range is 8–16 weeks depending on the certification. Most organizations move from application to certification in 2–3 months.
What if we do not pass?
Organizations receive detailed gap feedback and may reapply after implementing improvements, typically 12 months later. To protect independence, the assessor who carried out the assessment does not advise on remediation.
Can we use the badge in marketing?
Yes. The badge links to a public certification record, and BEW provides digital assets and usage guidelines.
Related certifications
Other pathways
Many organizations pursue two or three certifications aligned with their most material issues.
Get started
Ready to pursue Water Neutral?
Review the criteria, complete the eligibility check, and choose an assessor from the BEW network.