Net Zero Week 2026: If you aren’t factoring water into your emissions Scope then you’re not reporting accurately

In the past couple of years, the term ”Net Zero” has come to the forefront of efforts to combat the climate emergency. In fact, as we aim to move towards a more sustainable future, it is estimated that 73% of organisations are actively working on achieving the Net Zero goal by reducing their carbon emissions.

Naturally, when we think of carbon emissions, we tend to think of the largest and most common producers like manufacturing and agriculture, which are energy intensive industries and sizeable carbon emitters. Yet far fewer of us recognise the impact that water has throughout operations and supply chains.

As 4th July marks the start of Net Zero Week, it serves as a perfect reminder that to build an accurate picture of environmental impact, water needs to be a part of that conversation.

Where water fits within emissions reporting

As part of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, organisations are required to account for not just their direct emissions but also those found within their supply chains. For virtually every organisation that has a running tap or flushing toilets in the office, that includes water-related emissions.

The electricity to pump, heat and treat water all act as contributors. Yet many organisations overlook water in their Scope 3 carbon emissions reporting because it is embedded throughout their supply chains. From agricultural production and manufacturing processes to purchased goods and services, transport and wastewater disposal, water contributes to emissions at every stage. 

As businesses strive for more accurate sustainability reporting, they must identify and account for these hidden, indirect water-related emissions to build a clearer picture of their environmental impact.

Better water data leads to better Net Zero decisions

While accounting for indirect water emissions improves the accuracy of carbon reporting, organisations can reduce those emissions by using water more consciously throughout their operations. This is where an environmentally-focused business water supplier, such as Everflow can help.

We work with businesses across all sectors to help them identify waste, reduce operating costs, lower emissions and demonstrate accurate progress towards achieving Net Zero goals. As a business in the utility sector, we understand that smart monitoring and regular reporting create more accurate sustainability data, which ultimately leads to more transparent and effective carbon reporting.

Net Zero Week 2026

As we kick off the Net Zero Week, it’s important to remember that Net Zero is not just a buzzword and it’s not just about lowering the carbon footprint by cycling to work and adding efficiency fixtures across the business. The shared responsibility across organisations goes deeper than that. It calls for understanding of every resource that contributes to emissions and reporting on it accurately. Only by doing this it’s possible to build a complete picture of the current environmental situation and take meaningful steps in achieving the Net Zero ambitions.