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Ecological exploitation
::Water is a renewable resource subject to cycles of evaporation, precipitation, runoff and infiltration. 80% of the earth is covered with water, although available sources of drinking water only represent at the most 3% of this amount, and this usable water is very poorly distributed.
As the world’s leading producer of bottled spring water, Groupe DANONE is one of the players that is most directly concerned by the long-term production of this resource. It has invested heavily in its preservation (in terms of quantity) and protection (in terms of quality). In 2004, DANONE formalised its commitments with regard to water in a Charter for the Protection of Groundwater Resources.
The prime principle underlying this Charter is to avoid making excessive demands on the hundred or so Group springs and not to use more water than nature can produce naturally. The water cycle is studied and demands on springs are limited in order to maintain groundwater levels.
DANONE has also committed to 
reduce its own consumption at production sites and not discharge waste water into the natural environment. This is the goal of the Danone Water Footprint programme which has helped save over 3.5 billion litres of water in the past five years.
