Client
COMSA Corporación is a global group specialized in infrastructure development, industrial engineering and services, with more than 135 years of experience. Headquartered in Barcelona, the group delivers large-scale, high-tech projects, with innovation as a key driver to provide sustainable solutions.
With a strong position in the Spanish market and a well-established international presence, COMSA Corporación has a business portfolio exceeding €2 billion and actively contributes to territorial development and responsible growth in the countries where it operates.
Challenge
To quantify and assess the water footprint associated with COMSA Corporación’s activities—specifically those of COMSA and COMSA Industrial—considering both direct and indirect impacts, in accordance with ISO 14046:2014.
An organization’s water footprint is an estimate of water consumption and the environmental impacts associated with its use over a one-year period, following a life cycle approach that includes all activities.
What was done?
The calculation was carried out using the èdit tool, which enables the structured and centralized annual recording and management of inventory data. The study followed ISO 14046:2014, which establishes the framework for assessing an organization’s water footprint as an estimate of water consumption and the environmental impacts associated with its use, based on a life cycle approach. In this regard, all stages were considered, from raw material extraction to the management of generated waste.
inèdit validated the data provided by the company and verified both the procedure used to obtain it and the reliability of the sources, as well as the correct interpretation and processing of the information.
Results
The water footprint of COMSA and COMSA Industrial was calculated in terms of water scarcity (availability), eutrophication, ecotoxicity and acidification. The assessment obtained ISO 14046 Water Footprint certification, a recognition that quantifies the potential environmental impacts related to water, both in terms of its consumption and degradation, across the organization’s activities and processes.
Conclusions
The water footprint assessment has provided COMSA Corporación with a rigorous and structured view of water consumption and the associated environmental impacts across its entire value chain. In a context marked by water scarcity and the effects of climate change, this analysis becomes a key tool to identify improvement opportunities, optimize resource use and reduce operational and environmental risks.
The construction sector has a significant impact on water use, both during the construction phase and in material production. Therefore, calculating the water footprint helps advance towards a more efficient and responsible management of water resources, aligned with global sustainability goals, particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
This project reflects COMSA Corporación’s strategic commitment to integrating water footprint assessment into its management practices. The intention is to update it annually to monitor progress and progressively reduce both water consumption and associated impacts.
The assessment is part of a broader approach in which the company aims to move towards a more sustainable business model aligned with global environmental challenges, including the calculation of the carbon footprint across all its facilities.
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