News
Reducing water consumption in the Food & Biotech industires is a shared responsibility
6 November 2025
Read along as Michael Hastrup Andersen, Director of the Food & Biotech Section, shares insights on reducing water consumption in the Food & Biotech industries – and how Process Engineering is involved.
CO₂ reduction has long been a focus in the food and biotech industries. Water consumption should be given the same attention. As the global population grows, so does the production of food and ingredients—leading to increased water usage in manufacturing. This calls for water-saving solutions that also enable water reuse.
Water is essential to all life. In Scandinavia, everyone has access to clean drinking water, but this is not the case in many other parts of the world. Experts predict that the situation will worsen due to population growth, increased water consumption, and climate change. Globally, 10% of water is used in households, 20% in industry, and 70% in agriculture. In industrialized countries like those in Scandinavia, the distribution is different: 15% in households, 42% in industry, and 43% in agriculture. This makes it clear that efforts to reduce water consumption in the food and biotech sectors are both necessary and impactful. The diagram below illustrates the global status of water stress, defined as freshwater withdrawal as a percentage of available freshwater resources.
Prioritized effort to reduce water consumption
Achieving water reduction requires a prioritized effort from all stakeholders in the food and biotech industries—on par with what we’ve seen in CO₂ reduction. In the CO₂ domain, the government established a green tripartite agreement to develop a joint plan for reducing agricultural emissions. A similar “water tripartite agreement” between employers, employee organizations, and the state—based on member countries’ commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals—could be a strong starting point.
It has long been understood that water-saving initiatives rarely justify a business case based solely on cost savings. However, the ambitious CO₂ reduction plans in the food and biotech industries have become central to corporate strategy and sustainability profiles (ESG). Water reduction should receive equal attention. As subcontractors and consultants to these companies, we must be included in the same agreements and initiatives to ensure that all product and service development focuses on reducing water consumption.
Process Engineering's role in water reduction
Population growth leads to increased production of food and ingredients, which in turn increases industrial water usage. This drives demand for solutions that save and reuse water in process and utility systems. A prerequisite for water reuse is the ability to recycle process water. If companies can reuse water in their processes while maintaining food safety, such solutions should be implemented.
To optimize water usage, companies should list and categorize water types and their potential applications. These may include: raw water, product water, sterile water, water push, pre-, intermediate-, and final rinse water, and technical water.
At Process Engineering, we offer initial mapping of water usage in process and utility systems. This enables quantification of volumes and quality using installed components and instruments. Our process engineers use this mapping to design detailed systems and select suitable technologies that meet primary needs while also saving water. In system sizing, we avoid overdimensioning of components, pipes, fittings, and pipe runs, and we use water-saving components and solutions. We design systems that ensure quality when using recycled water, for example by making them CIP-compatible.
Benefits of reducing water consumption
The obvious benefit is that companies help ensure access to clean drinking water for all. They also secure their ability to continue production and business operations, which is crucial. Although water reduction rarely leads to significant cost savings, it typically does not incur additional costs either. Reduced water usage often frees up process capacity for increased production. Water reduction also means lower energy consumption, helping companies meet climate goals. Less water usage results in less wastewater and lower BOD/COD levels. This impacts wastewater treatment and allows for capacity expansion in factory systems.
Water reduction is undoubtedly becoming a competitive advantage.