Water Footprint Assessment (WFA)

The Water Footprint Assessment developed by the Water Footprint Network (WFN) is a four-step approach designed to measure, evaluate, and reduce the water footprint across products, processes, organisations, or regions.

WFA Steps

1. Accounting: calculation of blue, green, and grey water footprints.
2. Sustainability assessment: comparison with basin limits and scarcity levels.
3. Response formulation: design of reduction and replenishment strategies.
4. Monitoring and communication: reporting results and enabling continuous improvement.

Differences from ISO 14046

Scope

• WFA: blue, green, and grey water (physical volumes).
• ISO 14046: multiple potential impacts (scarcity, eutrophication, toxicity, etc.).

Result Weighting

• WFA: results expressed in cubic metres.
• ISO 14046: uses impact categories such as the AWARE factor.

Main Objective

• WFA: water-resource management and policy guidance.
• ISO 14046: comparison of products or processes in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Key Applications

• Certification of sustainable crops
• Corporate water-neutrality strategies
• Basin-scale water-allocation policies

WFA provides a robust basis for informed decision-making on water use and conservation across global value chains.