Products associated with high water consumption
Some products which require the most water for their manufacture include food, particularly meat and other animal products. For example, around 15,000 litres of water are used to produce one kilogram of beef. The high water consumption associated with meat production can mainly be attributed to feed and water that has to be given to animals over the course of their lives.
Plant-based foods can also be associated with high water consumption, depending on the method of cultivation used and the climate conditions in each growing area. For example, around 3,400 litres of water are needed to produce one kilogram of rice, whereas one kilogram of wheat requires around 1,300 litres of water.
Clothing and textiles are also products which require significant amounts of water to manufacture. On average, around 7,500 to 10,000 litres of water need to be consumed to make one pair of jeans. In this case too, the water consumed is spread out over the entire manufacturing process, including cotton growing, dying, finishing, and washing the jeans. Over the past few years, however, some fashion labels have started to introduce more environmentally friendly manufacturing methods which reduce water consumption and mitigate the environmental impact of their products.