Mitigating Water Risk in California's Biopharma Sector
Summary
Through proactive engagement and strategic collaboration, ESGineering successfully assisted our biopharma client in understanding and mitigating water risk at their California site. By orchestrating a multifaceted approach, including data-driven workshops, advocacy efforts, and community outreach, we enabled the client to proactively address water sustainability challenges while fostering collaboration within the local ecosystem. This case exemplifies our commitment to delivering tangible solutions that drive positive environmental impact and advance sustainability goals in the biopharmaceutical sector.
Challenges Faced
Our client, a leading biopharmaceutical company operating in California, faced growing concerns regarding water risk at one of its sites. With water scarcity becoming an increasingly pressing issue in the region, the client sought to understand their water risk exposure and develop effective mitigation strategies to safeguard operations and uphold their commitment to sustainability.
Analysis
The client's site in California was identified as high water risk, prompting the need for a comprehensive assessment and action plan. To tackle this challenge, the client engaged ESGineering Consulting to coordinate efforts with their global team and Arcadis, a renowned environmental consulting firm.
Our Approach
Our first step was to organize a collaborative water workshop, spanning two days, to delve into the complexities of water risk management. Leveraging both remote and onsite sessions, we assembled a local cross-functional team and partnered closely with Arcadis to orchestrate the workshop logistics.
Ahead of the workshop, we meticulously gathered pertinent data, including water usage and cost over five years, wastewater volumes and disposal methods, reduction efforts, and past sustainability audit results. This comprehensive dataset laid the foundation for informed discussions during the workshop.
Utilizing the collected data, we crafted insightful slides for the workshop's kickoff session, providing a detailed overview of the site's water profile. Our aim was to foster a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities surrounding water management within the client's operations.
Outcome and Impact
Following the workshop, Arcadis delivered a comprehensive Water Risk Assessment Findings & Mitigation Plan Final Report, outlining key insights and actionable recommendations. Notably, one of the findings highlighted an "outside the fence" advocacy opportunity, which ESGineering Consulting was tasked to deliver.
To implement the "outside the fence", strategy ESGineering facilitated meetings with local water suppliers, including Calleguas Municipal Water District, Metropolitan Water District (MWD), and American Water, to raise awareness about local water risks and explore collaborative solutions. The subsequent onsite presentations garnered widespread participation and commendation from stakeholders.
Moreover, recognizing the importance of collective action, ESGineering spearheaded outreach efforts to neighboring companies, advocating for the establishment of a local Water Community of Practice (COP). This collaborative platform aimed to foster knowledge exchange and joint initiatives to address shared water challenges in the region.