Water Stewardship Project: Research trip to Bangladesh and China

The aim of the trip was to learn more, at the factories on the ground, about the role of water in production and about the country-specific challenges involved in managing this resource. In her interviews, Mona Tiencken explored issues relating to water and risk management, as well as the responsibilities of businesses within the supply chain. She also gained an insight into the various stages of the dyeing and laundry processes, as well as into the areas of wastewater treatment, the laboratory and the storage of chemicals and dyes. 

Significant differences in governance structures shape how this resource is managed.  With the introduction of water-specific legislation in 2015, China began to actively address the issue of environmental protection. Key priorities for the textile industry include monitoring wastewater quality and limiting permissible volumes of fresh water and wastewater in production. Because compliance with government regulations is constantly monitored and sanctions – including the closure of the facility – are imposed from the very first breach, factory operators are under considerable pressure to establish appropriate water management practices. 

Bangladesh, by contrast, permits the unrestricted use of water in production free of charge, apart from a small licence fee for the construction of groundwater pumps. Although there are legal requirements, for example regarding the operation of wastewater treatment plants, a lack of government oversight and widespread corruption have contributed to a massive deterioration in water quality in recent years. Unlike in China, the pressure on factories to address the issue of water in production therefore comes primarily from their clients.

The research project on water stewardship examines the multidimensional nature of water as an indispensable resource in global production processes. In doing so, the project follows the Foundation’s approach of addressing practice-relevant issues in the field of ‘Business & Responsibility’ on a sector-specific basis.