Switching to a decentralized water supply
The first part of this pillar is Ekopak’s commitment to help companies switch to a decentralized water supply. This starts with an analysis of all possible residual flows – from wastewater and rainwater to surface water – to provide the decentralized supply with sufficient water for process continuity. Based on this analysis we determine which treatment the incoming water needs to achieve the desired quality. In close collaboration with the academic world, Ekopak applies innovative solutions within this process to maximize the use of the decentralized supply: optimizing its usability for the customer in terms of both quality and continuity.
Impact
- Smaller water footprint
- Water continuity and quality guaranteed
- Independent of fluctuating costs of traditional water grid
- Resilience in the face of water scarcity
Takeda Lessines makes the switch
The decentralized water supply at Takeda Lessines converts the site’s wastewater back to drinking water through ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis (3×50 m³/hr). Before, Takeda had a consumption of 700,000 m³ of city water per year. This number fell by 90% after switching to a decentralized water supply: only when the residual flows can’t guarantee continuity, does Ekopak add the absolute minimum of drinking water.
Raising awareness about decentralized water supply
To maximize the impact of renewable water use, it’s not enough to focus on the actual implementation of the decentralized water supply, as many companies remain insufficiently aware of its existence and opportunities. Awareness needs to be raised about the Ekopak products and services, to motivate stakeholders in our value chain – suppliers on the one hand and customers on the other – to make more sustainable choices.
Impact
- By informing companies of the advantages and opportunities that a decentralized water supply can offer them, it will intrinsically motivate them to want to disconnect from the drinking water grid and lower their water footprint.
- Simultaneously, raising awareness can make Ekopak top-of-mind for potential customers, which supports our company’s sustainable development.
Ekopak minimizes the impact of a decentralized water supply
Convincing as many companies as possible to switch to a decentralized water supply is not a ‘standalone’ sustainability ambition. Within the strategy we strive to combine a smaller water footprint with minimizing the impact of the installations in terms of chemicals, CO2, energy, and waste. As a result, Ekopak can offer a more economically viable decentralized supply that withstands the ever-increasing pressure of fixed costs.
Created impact
It just wouldn’t do to see companies take a step forward in terms of water, only to take a step backwards in terms of other ecological parameters.
Ekopak creates access to drinkable water where needed
At Ekopak we think it’s important to create impact beyond the value chain. We already help our customers save many millions of litres of water, but together with Water.org we take it one step further. Through our ‘Save water, give water’-program, we help people gain access to drinking water in regions facing severe shortages.
Created impact
The ‘Save water, give water’-program is a lever for Ekopak to further raise awareness among its own customers about the impact of climate change.
Water.org
Water.org is a global non-profit organization that works to promote water and sanitation in the world. The organization helps people gain access to safe water and sanitation through affordable financing, such as small loans. This is a life-changing step that gives women hope, enables children to grow up healthy and allows a bright future to families.