6. Clean water and sanitation

SDG 6. Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Targets*

6.1 Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.2 Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation
6.3 Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimising release of hazardous chemicals and materials
6.4 Substantially increase water-use efficiency across and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity
6.5 Implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.6 Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes

Key insights

• Per capita water availability in Asia Pacific is the lowest in the world and more than 80 per cent of wastewater in the developing countries of the region is not treated.¹

Business actions**

1. Develop and implement holistic water strategies that are socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial in watersheds around company and supply chain operations
2. Protect and/or restore water-based ecosystems around company operations and supply chain
3. Ensure access to water and sanitation by addressing impacts of company and supply chain operations on local water supplies and supporting stakeholders to deliver clean water and sanitation

Example

• A Dutch brewing company made significant commitments to reduce the use of water, which it relies on throughout its entire value chain, for example, by hosting stakeholder consultation workshops in Indonesia in collaboration with an UN agency, which resulted in the establishment of a cross-sector alliance. In addition, the company partnered with an NGO to replant trees and to restore land that is critical to the water supply and flood resilience of 30 million people.²

Thought Leadership

Thirsty for change

Find out how women in developing countries can play a key role in tackling the salient challenge of water availability.

Water Tight 2.0

Find out about innovative ideas for the water sector and how to tackle the sector’s challenges. 

* All targets for SDG 1 to 17 have been derived from the United Nations Statistics Division (2018), from: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/indicators-list/
** All business actions for SDG 1 to 17 have been derived from the United Nations Global Compact (2017), from: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/library/5461
1 UNESCAP (2018), from: https://www.unescap.org/resources/sdg6-goal-profile
2 Heineken (NA), from: https://www.theheinekencompany.com/Sustainability/Case-Studies/Tackling-the-urgent-water-stewardship-challenge-in-Indonesia