The globally recognised AWS Standard is being launched at an in person event at Suntory World Headquarters in Tokyo, ahead of UN World Water Day on 22 March, which this year again highlights the urgency of protecting freshwater resources for people, nature and economies.

Water risk and regulation on the rise

Global water risks are accelerating. Floods, droughts and water pollution are impacting production, logistics and communities across every region. One in five companies now reports significant water related supply chain risks with tens of billions of dollars of value at risk, while a growing share of global GDP is generated in regions facing high water risk. Environmental risks, including extreme weather and ecosystem decline, remain among the most severe global threats over the next decade.

"Water is now a board level risk as water related shocks are already disrupting supply chains and undermining business continuity," said Adrian Sym, Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance for Water Stewardship. "The newly revised AWS Standard 3.0 provides a practical and trusted framework for companies in any sector to act on those risks, work with others in their catchments, and through third party certification, show investors, regulators and communities that their claims of good water stewardship are real."

At the same time, regulators and standard setters are tightening expectations around environmental claims and water reporting. The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and related European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), including ESRS E3 Water, as well as evolving rules in the UK and other jurisdictions, require companies to demonstrate robust management of environmental impacts and dependencies.

Certification to the AWS Standard 3.0 is carried out by independent third party auditors. Certified sites report benefits including improved relationships with local communities and authorities, increased investor confidence, enhanced brand reputation, better water quality and balance, groundwater recharge, new habitats and lower costs through reduced water use and greater efficiency.

James Dalton, Global Director, Water and Wetlands at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said: "Healthy rivers, aquifers and wetlands are critical natural infrastructure for climate resilience, food security and human well being. By aligning corporate action with catchment scale priorities, AWS Standard Version 3.0 can help businesses contribute to restoring and protecting these systems, while also managing their own risks and dependencies on water."

What is new in Version 3.0

Version 3.0 of the AWS Standard builds on a decade of implementation and evidence. In 2023, AWS reviewed Version 2.0 and, based on a global survey, decided to undertake a major revision. Between 2024 and 2025, AWS conducted two rounds of global public consultation and received more than 3,000 comments from over 100 organisations and individuals. The revised Standard 3.0 was adopted by AWS Members in December 2025, with 93 percent of votes in favour.

An independent evaluation of Version 2.0 found that use of the AWS Standard delivers clear social, environmental and economic benefits, from better community engagement and groundwater recharge, to improved access to WASH, new habitats and job creation linked to more reliable water flows.

"WaterAid welcomes AWS Standard 3.0, which reaffirms safe water, sanitation and hygiene as a core pillar of credible water stewardship," said Emma Clarke, Senior Private Sector Advisor at WaterAid. "The new Standard offers clearer, more streamlined requirements and stronger alignment with climate resilience and catchment health - enabling organisations to deliver more reliable, equitable and sustainable WASH outcomes for communities."

A growing group of global brands across multiple sectors are already using or engaging with the AWS Standard, underlining its relevance for mainstream business. They include consumer goods and food companies such as Nestl?Diageo, Unilever, The Coca Cola Company and Suntory Holdings Limited, technology businesses such as Apple, Cisco, Samsung, healthcare companies Haleon and AstraZeneca, retailers such as Primark and automotive manufacturers such as Audi.

"We are already seeing the impacts of climate change through water, from disappearing rivers and wetlands to more frequent floods and droughts," said Alexis Morgan, Global Water Stewardship Lead at WWF. "The AWS Standard helps companies move beyond narrow water efficiency and look at the whole catchment to help safeguard the freshwater ecosystems we all rely on. As a supporter from the beginning, WWF is pleased to see the launch of the AWS Standard V3.0, which refines the current gold standard for water stewardship by streamlining requirements and strengthening alignment with other sustainability priorities."

As the world marks UN World Water Day and World Water Day week, AWS is calling on companies, investors and financial institutions in all regions to put water at the centre of their climate and nature strategies. Organisations are invited to visit www.a4ws.org, download the AWS Standard Version 3.0, join an online launch webinar and contact AWS to explore how to begin or accelerate their water stewardship journey and move towards certification across priority sites and supply chains.