According to the 2021 IPCC report, climate change is intensifying the water cycle, resulting in more intense droughts globally.1 Climate change related water scarcity poses material risk to our company, including lowered production capacity and disruption of supply chains.

For companies in the food sectors, the vast majority of their water footprint comes from agricultural supply chains.23 While Kraft Heinz has conducted water risk assessments on its annual water withdrawals for its manufacturing operations, it neglects to provide the same disclosure for water use in its agricultural related ingredient production – the most water intensive function of its business.
It is likely that some portion of Kraft Heinz source ingredients are supplied by growers in water vulnerable locations. Given the Company has acknowledged 19 elevated water stress areas out of 79 within their own operations, these risks are likely to be extended within the supply chain. Because Kraft Heinz either does not assess supply chain water risk, or does not disclose such risk to investors, the company’s water related risk remains in question.

To identify water risk and reduce costs, many peer companies – including Conagra Brands, Unilever, General Mills and Campbells have conducted water risk assessments for both operations and supply chains. By doing so, these companies have laid a foundation to mitigate future business risks associated with water and take the proper steps to future goal setting.
Kraft Heinz acknowledges that “having access to sufficient amounts of quality fresh water…is critical to our business.” With water being a “vital component” to growing and as a direct ingredient in many products, conducting a water risk assessment is imperative to mitigating future water concerns. Without a full value chain water risk assessment, and disclosure of quantitative performance metrics and best practices for water management in areas of water stress, investors cannot gauge whether Kraft Heinz adequately manages its water risk.