Top Companies Join Global Effort to Restore and Protect Freshwater Ecosystems

Reckitt, GSK, and German retailer Edeka are among the latest companies to join a new global initiative aimed at reviving and protecting the world’s freshwater ecosystems. They’ve signed on as part of the Freshwater Challenge’s new Business Supporter Programme. This initiative gives businesses a clear framework to reduce water-related risks, support ecosystem restoration, and align more closely with national water policies.

The Freshwater Challenge itself is the world’s largest coordinated effort to restore damaged rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Spearheaded by a coalition of 50 countries—including Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, and the EU—the initiative has an ambitious goal: to restore 300,000 kilometres of degraded rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands by 2030.

It’s not just about repair. The programme also emphasises the importance of protecting freshwater ecosystems that are still intact. This ties into the broader UN Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for protecting 30 per cent of the planet’s land and water by 2030 and halting the decline in biodiversity.

Reckitt’s global head of sustainability, David Croft, said: “Everybody depends on water, at home and in our businesses – Reckitt is no different and we’re protecting and strengthening water resources that help the communities and landscapes we’re part of.”

The new Business Supporter Programme is meant to bridge the gap between the private sector and government-led conservation. By offering a structured approach, the initiative hopes to inspire more corporate investment in ecosystem recovery and freshwater resilience.

Freshwater ecosystems are in steep decline, and that’s not just bad news for wildlife—it could spell disaster for economies, supply chains, and communities. According to the latest Living Planet Report by WWF, populations of freshwater species have plummeted by 85 per cent over the past five decades. One-third of the world’s wetlands are already gone.

Water scarcity is another growing concern. Today, half the global population experiences water shortages for at least one month each year. On top of that, 90 per cent of all natural disasters over the past few years have been water-related.

Without urgent intervention, experts warn that up to 58 trillion dollars in annual economic value tied to water and healthy freshwater systems could be at risk.

GSK’s vice president for sustainability, Claire Lund, said: “Freshwater is vital not only for our health but also for the manufacturing of medicines and vaccines that people rely on.

“We’re proud to be supporting the Freshwater Challenge, and hope that together we can drive forward collaboration to create a positive impact for local communities and build business resilience.”

In related findings, a new study by engineering consultancy Sweco reveals that most large European industrial firms still fail to see biodiversity loss as a financial risk, even though many of them depend heavily on healthy ecosystems.

Sweco examined the 2024 sustainability and annual reports of the 50 largest energy and manufacturing firms in Europe. Using data from the Encore tool, developed by the UN Environment Programme, the study assessed how sectors impact and rely on biodiversity.

While 82 per cent of companies acknowledged biodiversity as an important environmental concern, only 16 per cent identified it as a financial risk. This gap suggests that companies may be underestimating the potential fallout from ecosystem collapse, as well as missing out on nature-based business opportunities. Analysts estimate that “nature-positive” business models could generate up to 10 trillion euros in value.

The report also pointed out that merging climate and biodiversity strategies could unlock as many as 395 million new jobs by 2030.

The takeaway? Businesses are being urged to map their ecological impacts, integrate biodiversity into core operations, and make financial decisions that support the resilience of the ecosystems they rely on.