Did you know that the average European uses 144 liters (!) of water per day? This is an exceptionally large amount, considering that the lack of drinking water is already causing serious problems in less fortunate parts of the world. In the next 30 years, Hungary is expected to join the list of countries where the lack of adequate quality water is already causing serious problems. It is therefore important for the future of all of us to try to reduce our water footprint. In our article, you can read tips on how to reduce your water footprint, specifically!
Let's start at the very beginning: what is an ecological footprint?
In the 1990s, it became increasingly clear that we were destroying the Earth to such an extent that it was a direct path to disaster. Various indicators were created to demonstrate this – such as the ecological footprint, water footprint, carbon footprint – which show the extent to which human activity uses – or rather overuses – the resources our planet has provided. We have heard a lot about carbon dioxide emissions, greenhouse gases and plastic pollution in recent decades, but water scarcity has so far been little of our concern. However, although a significant part of the Earth is covered in water, only 3% of its water resources are freshwater! We are no longer at the point where it could happen in our lifetime, as water scarcity is already a serious problem in almost a third of Europe .
1.Source: EU Environment Agency
This includes your water footprint, which is a measure of how much water you use directly and indirectly throughout your life. This includes the amount you drink, and the amount you use for cooking, washing, watering, and cleaning. It is less obvious, however, that you also use water indirectly, as it is also needed to produce energy, products, and services.
What is the threat of water shortage?
The first thing that comes to mind is the lack of tap water, which is already serious enough. But there are also countless other uses for water that you might not even think about. For example, did you know that...
- 140 liters for making your morning coffee
- 8,000 liters of water were used to make the jeans you are wearing
- and your hamburger for lunch requires 2400 liters of water?
Water scarcity therefore not only directly affects drinking water supplies, but also agriculture, the food industry, and a significant part of the products and services you regularly use in your everyday life.
Tips to help you reduce your water footprint
At this point, we could give you tips like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, but you already know that. Let's look at some environmentally conscious practices that you may not have heard of before.
Reuse yourself!
The best solution for this is to collect rainwater, which you can then use to water your plants or pre-soak your clothes. This way you are doing a lot for a sustainable world. On the other hand, you can connect the sink and the toilet with a small water collection tank, so you can reuse the water that flows out when washing your hands. You can also use the cleaning water left after mopping to flush the toilet, since it does not require drinking water anyway, it is a pure win-win situation!
Get to know recycled water!
Nowadays, water recycling is becoming increasingly important as the demand for drinking water increases rapidly with the population, while our resources are finite. During the process, wastewater undergoes chemical, physical and biological treatment, and the end result is water suitable for reuse.
With recycled water, industrial companies can save a huge amount of drinking water, which in the long run can lead to a more sustainable, healthier ecosystem for everyone. And how can you take part in this? With one decision! Give preference to companies that you know focus on environmental issues!
It is encouraging that, according to NextGen research , nearly ¾ of the population in major European countries would consume recycled water as drinking water. Social engagement is very important in the area of water conservation. Would you also like to do something to protect water?
Buy cleaning products made with recycled water!
Did you know that the average cleaning product is 90% water? By replacing this amount with recycled water, we can also contribute to sustainability. Cleaning products made with recycled water help you achieve perfect cleaning results at home, and when they go down the drain, they turn into organic waste, which can be reused as environmentally friendly cleaning products over time. What's more, cleaning products made with recycled ingredients are sustainable products in many ways.
CYCLE’s ready-to-use products are based on this principle, with recycled organic acids, such as acetic acid, and recycled water as their main ingredients. The CYCLE 10X range of concentrates, when diluted with rainwater, is also a great combination for reducing your water footprint. They are ready in just 20 seconds and will leave your home sparkling clean!
