How Science Has the Ability to Drive Change: Measurable Industry Impact

From Ambition to Accountability

In today’s sustainability landscape, what you can prove matters more than what you promise. That’s why we must move from intent to measuring real progress in protecting nature’s assets: clean water, healthy soils, and biodiversity.

By applying science-based evidence and Natural Capital accounting, we can see the true value of these resources, measure industry impact, and connect results directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land).

Science-based evidence is essential in order to transparently and credibly measure progress. It allows us to adjust strategies when needed and to make better decisions. 

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From Vision to Verifiable Change

We’re now seeing a shift from policy-based reporting to performance-based evidence. In 2024, the data illustrated that shift clearly:

• Over 3,000 facilities submitted wastewater testing data, offering a view into real environmental performance across global supply chains.
  
  
• Over 70% of suppliers met all wastewater requirements for ZDHC MRSL substances continuing a three-year trend of strong performance. This consistent compliance indicates widespread adoption of safer chemical practices and builds confidence in the sector’s ability to drive continuous improvement.
• 87% of suppliers met at least foundational limits for conventional parameters (pH, colour, COD, etc.) , 
• More than 131,000 chemical formulations have now been assessed against the ZDHC MRSL and are listed on the Gateway, laying a verifiable foundation for safer chemistry.
  

These data suggest system-level improvements, though continued monitoring and independent validation remain essential.Sustained progress will depend on tracking outcomes over time, linking results to Natural Capital value, and aligning with global frameworks such as the SDGs to ensure benefits for both industry and the environment.

Science Enables the System to Learn

Science’s value doesn’t stop at measurement, it makes improvement possible.

Facilities use the data to adjust and refine manufacturing operations.. Formulators improve products to provide performance while reducing negative impacts.Brands work more strategically with their supply chains, grounding decisions in verified outcomes, not stated intentions.

This approach isn’t about top-down control. It’s about creating tools that help everyone in the value chain to consistently make better choices with the awareness that these decisions affect both people and the planet.

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Building Transparency into Strategy

Sustainability reporting today is increasingly shaped by rising expectations for traceability, visibility, and reliability. Stakeholders, from investors to customers, want to see credible, verifiable progress. Science delivers the foundation. When data is traceable, independently validated and grounded in evidence, it builds trust. It informs stronger decisions. And it supports supply chains that are not only compliant, but also more resilient, adaptive, and future-ready.

Follow the Evidence

We know that measuring change is a journey. These results signal progress but they are not the end point. Continued vigilance, third-party validation, and open communication are essential to ensure that this transformation is both real and lasting.

Science, in this context, is not a marketing claim, it’s a proof point. Not a finish line, but a compass. The direction is clear and so is the responsibility to follow it.