What Water Footprint Implementation does

Water Footprint Implementation (WFI) is a Den Haag, Netherlands-based specialist consultancy and digital platform provider focused on corporate and governmental water footprint assessment, materiality analysis, and water footprint compensation. The company was spun out of the Water Footprint Network and traces its methodology lineage to Professor Arjen Hoekstra's pioneering water footprint research (2002), operating under the Global Water Footprint Standard and aligned with ISO 14046, CSRD/ESRS, GRI, ISSB, SBTN freshwater guidance, and the TNFD LEAP approach.

WFI's product suite centers on two platforms: the Water Footprint Assessment Tool (v2.1), a web-based application enabling companies to map water consumption across countries, river basins, and supply chains; and the Water Footprint Compensation Platform, a marketplace linking corporate buyers with verified stewardship projects (wetland rehabilitation, managed aquifer recharge, non-revenue water reduction) that generate quantified CAPs (Credit Aqua Positive). Adjacent services include a four-phase Water Footprint Assessment methodology, Water Materiality Assessment aligned with double-materiality frameworks, and Water Footprint Benchmarks for sectoral comparison. Compensation projects are certified under the Act4Water Standard through a 2025 strategic partnership.

The company operates a hybrid revenue model combining enterprise professional services (assessments, materiality, ESG reporting support), transaction fees on the Compensation Platform, and a freemium-to-paid transition on the Assessment Tool. Distribution is primarily direct enterprise sales supplemented by consulting partners (Blue North Sustainability, Future Water Institute UCT, Wetskills, VEI/WaterWorX, World Waternet), a coalition of major Dutch water sector organizations (Coalition of the Willing), and Dutch trade missions. Visible customers span financial institutions (Rabobank, FMO, ASN Bank), multinational enterprises (NXP, Sodexo), consumer brands (Gulpener, Kuyichi, Ana Luisa, 11th Hour Racing Team), and municipal water utilities across Kenya, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Romania, and the Netherlands. The firm maintains 9 listed core team members with regional operations in The Hague and Cape Town.

Name

Water Footprint Implementation

Legal name

Water Footprint Implementation

Website

https://waterfootprintimplementation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

company_description_short

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) & Climate Regulatory Compliance (Mandatory Reporting, Cap-and-Trade Compliance) (EUAHABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Asset Management (EUAEAMAH), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Water footprint assessment
• Water sustainability consulting
• ESG water reporting
• Water compensation services
• Hydrological data analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Water Footprint Assessment Services: Consulting engagements for companies and governmental organisations to conduct Water Footprint Assessments, covering goals and scope, accounting (green, blue, grey water footprint), sustainability assessment, and response formulation. Covers both direct operations and supply chain.
2. Water Footprint Compensation Platform: The platform connects companies with verified compensation projects. Companies invest in water stewardship projects to compensate for their unavoidable water footprint, generating transaction-based revenue through project fees and certification charges aligned with the Act4Water Standard.
3. Water Footprint Assessment Tool (Premium Access): Free access initially offered to drive adoption. After introductory period, shifts to a paid service offering tailor-made reports, enhanced data privacy, and advanced functionalities.
4. Water Materiality Assessment Services: Provides modelled water data for entire value chains, revealing where water resources and ecosystem services are most under pressure. Supports double materiality assessments for ESRS, GRI, ISSB, CSRD reporting frameworks.
5. ESG Reporting Support: Helps companies navigate CSRD requirements, providing data, methodology, and reporting tools to integrate water footprint into sustainability disclosures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Water Footprint Implementation provides water footprint assessments, materiality assessments, and compensation services for companies and governmental organizations. Its core deliverables include the four-phase Water Footprint Assessment methodology (Goals and Scope, Accounting, Sustainability Assessment, Response Formulation) quantifying green, blue, and grey water footprints, plus the Water Footprint Compensation service that enables organizations to offset unavoidable water footprints via verified stewardship projects generating CAPs (Credit Aqua Positive). The Water Footprint Assessment Tool and the Water Footprint Compensation Platform serve as the digital delivery vehicles for these offerings.

Product overview

Water Footprint Implementation offers a suite of interconnected water sustainability services centered on the Water Footprint Assessment methodology and Water Footprint Compensation platform. The core offering combines the Water Footprint Assessment (a four-phase methodology quantifying green, blue, and grey water footprints) with the companion Water Footprint Compensation service that helps organizations offset residual footprints through verified stewardship projects. Supporting products include the Water Footprint Assessment Tool (a digital platform for calculating water footprints), the Water Footprint Compensation Platform (a marketplace for matching organizations with compensation projects), Water Materiality Assessment (supporting CSRD/ESRS reporting), and Water Footprint Benchmarks (industry comparison standards).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Water Footprint Compensation Platform: Digital platform connecting organizations with verified water stewardship projects for offsetting water footprints, developed in partnership with Akvo Foundation.
• Water Footprint Assessment Tool
• Coalition of the Willing

Products and services

• Water Footprint Assessment A four-phase methodology (Goals and Scope, Accounting, Sustainability Assessment, Response Formulation) that quantifies and maps green, blue, and grey water footprints to assess environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, and equitable water allocation across operations and supply chains. Sold as a consulting engagement to enterprises and governments.
• Water Footprint Compensation A methodology enabling organizations to offset unavoidable water footprints by investing in verified water stewardship projects (wetland rehabilitation, managed aquifer recharge, non-revenue water reduction) that protect, replenish, and restore freshwater sources, generating CAPs (Credit Aqua Positive). Delivered via consulting engagements and the Water Footprint Compensation Platform.
• Water Materiality Assessment Water materiality checklist and assessment services that help organizations identify water-related dependencies and impacts across their value chain, supporting double materiality assessments aligned with CSRD, ESRS, GRI, ISSB frameworks.
• Water Footprint Benchmarks Benchmarking services providing water consumption and pollution standards for specific sectors or products, enabling comparison against industry peers and identification of efficiency improvement opportunities.
• Water Footprint Assessment Tool Digital platform enabling companies to measure water footprints across countries, river basins, and raw products. Supports mapping and analysis of business operations and supply chains for ESG reporting alignment with CSRD, TNFD LEAP approach.
• Water Footprint Compensation Platform Digital marketplace connecting organizations seeking to offset water footprints with verified compensation projects. Provides portfolio of certified projects, real-time progress tracking, and transparent impact reporting aligned with Act4Water Standard.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced non-revenue water from 39% to 29% in Semarang, Indonesia, generating 309.2 CAPs annually (302,405 m3 water savings/year)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• OceansX-XCCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2025MoU signed on April 15, 2025, to explore opportunities to create links to private co-funders for the Xploration Coastline Concept (XCC) using the Water Footprint Compensation Platform. XCC is a floating, green-energy-powered desalination concept for island water security. WFI will calculate the Water Footprint Compensation capacity of planned XCC projects in the Caribbean and place them on the WF Compensation Platform.
• Act4WatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership signed at the beginning of 2025 with Act4Water and Water Footprint Network to unite shared ambitions to accelerate water sustainability. Act4Water is an initiative including Water Footprint Network, Cetaqua, Fundacion Aquae, and Water Footprint Implementation. WFI signed a contract for the Act4Water Standard on 25 February 2025. The partnership provides the Act4Water Standard for certifying water compensation projects.
• Coalition of the Willing Partners (WaterWorX, Blue Deal, Acacia Water, World Waternet, Ap Verheggen, Netherlands Water Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2024On October 31, 2024, the MoU was officially signed between WFI and WaterWorX, Blue Deal, Acacia Water, World Waternet, Ap Verheggen, and Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP). The coalition is dedicated to building scalable, collaborative solutions for water footprint management and compensation, aiming to make water compensation a standard practice by launching Water Footprint Compensation in 2026 at the third UN Water Conference.
• 11th Hour Racing TeamflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2021Partnership established March 22, 2021, to quantify and manage the sailing team's direct and indirect water use during The Ocean Race 2022-23. The team aimed for a water neutral campaign, tracking embedded water in boat materials, sailors' clothing, and equipment. 11th Hour Racing Team is a founding member of the Coalition of the Willing, providing pilot project experience with wetland rehabilitation in Cape Town.
• Water Footprint NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater Footprint Implementation is a spin-off of the Water Footprint Network, continuing to work in close cooperation with them. The partnership provides access to the latest data, insights, and methodologies in water footprint assessment, including the WaterStat database and Global Water Footprint Standard. Rick Hogeboom, Executive Director of Water Footprint Network, spoke at World Water Week 2024 on embedded water in supply chains.
• Future Water Institute (University of Cape Town)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed with Future Water Institute, a transdisciplinary research institute at UCT established in 2016. The partnership includes joint research opportunities, student projects, postgraduate research, shared academic publications, and co-development of Water Footprint Compensation strategies in Southern Africa. Tariro Marekwa (WFI Project Analyst) will pursue her PhD supervised by Future Water. Future Water is the first member of the Coalition of the Willing in South Africa.
• Blue North SustainabilitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration announced to bring water footprinting to agriculture in South Africa. Blue North Sustainability is a leading sustainability consultancy based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, working on sustainable agriculture initiatives.
• Akvo FoundationcoreTechnology or IntegrationAkvo Foundation developed the Water Footprint Compensation Platform in partnership with WFI. The platform integrates water footprint data with project verification and compensation matchmaking. Akvo's technology infrastructure enables the digital platform for water compensation projects.
• VEI / WaterWorXcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership through which water footprint compensation projects are executed. VEI/WaterWorX manages NRW reduction projects in Kenya (NAWASSCO, NARUWASCO) and Semarang, Indonesia, providing the on-the-ground implementation of water management projects that generate CAPs for the compensation platform.
• World WaternetcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorld Waternet, a leading water authority, provides technical and infrastructural knowledge for sustainable water management. Executing partner for BluElephant decentralized wastewater treatment in Palestinian Territories and Shashemene Constructed Wetland in Ethiopia, both through Blue Deal Programme.
• World Waternet / Blue Deal ProgrammecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBlue Deal Programme partnership for water compensation projects in Ethiopia (Shashemene Constructed Wetland) providing decentralized wastewater treatment for 700 residents across three condominium blocks, inaugurated October 9, 2024.
• Blue Deal NetherlandscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBlue Deal emphasises effective water management partnerships especially in urban areas facing increasing water demands. Contributes to the Coalition of the Willing and represents Dutch water sector expertise in international water management projects.
• Acacia WatercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAcacia Water offers insights into groundwater management, supporting sustainable water resource planning. Contributes expertise for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) projects such as the Texel MAR system in the Netherlands.
• Ap VerheggenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAp Verheggen brings innovative solutions and awareness through his artistic approach to water and environmental issues, including the SunGlacier project which uses solar energy to extract water from the atmosphere. Signed MoU as part of Coalition of the Willing.
• Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNWP connects Dutch water organisations with a global network, fostering knowledge exchange and cooperation on water challenges. Organised the Financing for Water Roundtable during Dutch Trade Mission to Indonesia with WFI participation.
• Water Research CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFI co-organised the Stewardship Finance Simulation Workshop with the Water Research Commission at the AWSISA 2025 Global South Dialogue in Johannesburg on November 10, 2025, testing the workshop format with practitioners.
• WetskillscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWetskills co-develops water compensation projects with WFI, including the Khayelitsha Wetland Rehabilitation project and Stormwater harvesting in Mitchells Plain. Also co-organised the Stewardship Finance Workshop at WISA Young Water Professionals Conference.
• Blue Peace Middle EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Peace Middle East initiative commissioned WFI to conduct a Water Footprint Assessment of the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Türkiye). Ertug Ercin presented at a session led by Blue Peace Middle East at World Water Week 2024.
• Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINWRDAM commissioned the Water Footprint Assessment of the Middle East report conducted by WFI, evaluating regional water use, efficiency, allocation, and external water dependencies in the Middle East.
• CDP, OECD, and Water Footprint NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinance Water Action Pathway project launched in December 2022, funded by the Dutch Government, dedicated to catalyzing the Water Action Agenda for Finance. Goal: align trillions in financial flows with achievement of a water secure world.
• Cetaqua and Fundacion AquaecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct4Water initiative partners alongside Water Footprint Network and Water Footprint Implementation. Guide organisations in reducing their water footprint and contributing to watershed restoration through the Act4Water Standard and Water Credits.
• Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFI participated in World Water Week 2024 organised by SIWI with the theme 'Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future'. Three WFI representatives contributed to different sessions at the forum.
• World Resources Institute (WRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiz Saccoccia from WRI hosted the session on 'Trade and Traceability: Understanding Embedded Water in Supply Chains' at World Water Week 2024, with Rick Hogeboom (WFI/WFN) as a panellist.
• Deltares and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShahnoor Hasan (Deltares) and Michael Lathuilliere (SEI) joined Rick Hogeboom on the panel on 'Trade and Traceability: Understanding Embedded Water in Supply Chains' at World Water Week 2024.
• Invest International, SNV, Asian Development Bank, Asian Investment Infrastructure BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in the Financing for Water Roundtable organized by Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) during the Dutch Trade Mission to Indonesia, exploring investment mechanisms and partnerships to finance water solutions.
• IWA (International Water Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWFI attended the IWA Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse in Cape Town, gaining insights into latest innovations and best practices in water reuse as part of their South Africa engagement week.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• South Pole Group: South Pole is a major climate and water solutions provider offering corporate consulting, footprint assessment, and credit/offset purchasing. Its compensation marketplace closely parallels WFI's Water Footprint Compensation Platform.
• World Resources Institute (WRI) Aqueduct: WRI's Aqueduct tool provides corporate water risk and footprint assessment at the watershed level, directly overlapping with WFI's Water Footprint Assessment Tool. Both serve enterprises and investors with water risk data aligned to ESG reporting.
• Persefoni: Persefoni offers a SaaS climate management and accounting platform for enterprises, recently expanding into water and nature. Both firms pursue a product-led, methodology-anchored GTM targeting sustainability and finance leaders.
• Watershed: Watershed is the leading enterprise sustainability platform for carbon and water footprint measurement, ESG reporting, and reduction planning. Its product-led model and enterprise customer base directly parallel WFI's Tools + Compensation Platform play.
• Carbon Trust: Carbon Trust provides corporate footprinting, certification, and sustainability advisory services with growing water offerings. Comparable boutique-to-mid-market consulting profile with strong brand recognition.
• WWF Water Risk Filter: WWF's Water Risk Filter offers basin-level water risk assessment for corporates, with a methodology and corporate target audience that maps directly to WFI's water footprint assessment offerings.

Broad incumbents

• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): CDP runs the dominant corporate water disclosure platform serving thousands of companies annually. WFI is a partner of CDP (Finance Water Action Pathway), but CDP's scale and corporate relationships make it a broad incumbent in the same reporting space.
• Sphera: Sphera (formerly Optera/TrueValue) provides enterprise ESG software with water footprint and supply chain modules, competing with WFI for large corporate sustainability budgets. Much larger scale and broader module portfolio.
• Trucost (S&P Global): Trucost, part of S&P Global, provides corporate environmental data including water footprint and valuation. Competes with WFI in selling water-impact datasets to financial institutions and large enterprises.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): ERM is a global environmental consultancy providing water footprint, due diligence, and sustainability services to enterprises. Much larger scale but overlapping methodology and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/water-footprint-implementation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Water Footprint Implementation