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Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages (NW&PB) has announced that all 39 of its global bottling sites have successfully secured certification to the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard. This achievement makes NW&PB the first food and beverage company to reach full certification across its entire production footprint. Notably, the sites in Buxton, UK, and Tunuyan, Argentina, received Platinum certification, representing the highest level of performance within the framework.

“We are pleased to share these significant milestones today on AWS certification and water regeneration. Good water stewardship is part of our DNA and strong water resilience is a strategic imperative for our business – that’s why we look to collaborate everywhere we operate to ensure we address any shared water challenges, now and for the future. This is something we’ve been working on for decades,” said Muriel Lienau, CEO of Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages.

Global certification standard achievement

The AWS Standard is currently the only globally recognised independent framework for sustainable water management. For NW&PB, this certification serves as a verification of its operational water management, covering catchments and communities across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Asia.

Achieving this milestone follows a multi-year effort to align industrial operations with local watershed needs. By adopting this independent standard, the company aims to address growing pressures on water resources caused by resource volatility and shifting climate patterns.

Measurable water regeneration at local levels

The certification milestone coincides with the implementation of 70 water regeneration projects globally. These initiatives are designed to meet the company’s objective of protecting and restoring freshwater resources, with a specific aim to return more water to local catchments than is used during production.

These projects utilise the World Resources Institute's Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting methodology to ensure measurable impact. According to current data, these projects were regenerating approximately 14.1 million cubic meters of water per year by the end of 2025. As these initiatives mature, they are expected to exceed the volume of water used in the company's local operations.

Significant capital investment in regional watersheds

The business has directed substantial capital toward long-term water resilience in key European markets. These investments focus on collective action involving both public and private stakeholders.

• France: The Agrivair Garrigue initiative represents a €25 million, five-year investment in the Gard region. The program focuses on sustainable agricultural practices and habitat restoration in the catchments serving the Perrier and Maison Perrier brands.

• Italy: Building on an initial €30 million investment, the company has launched the F.O.N.T.E (Future, Origin, Nature, Territories, Ecosystems) program. This initiative involves an additional €40 million through 2030 to protect water basins and support biodiversity for the S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, and Levissima brands.

Extended strategic collaboration with IUCN

NW&PB has also extended its partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) following a three-year initial phase. The IUCN provides strategic and science-based guidance to ensure that water regeneration projects align with the Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions.

The next phase of this engagement will focus on scaling the impact of existing projects and driving collective action to restore freshwater ecosystems in strategic catchments. This collaborative approach aims to integrate water management with biodiversity and climate goals to ensure long-term business and environmental resilience.