André Ramalho*

On March 22, World Water Day, you will most likely be impacted by surveys, studies and texts on responsible water use, such as this article. Discussions on the subject are not new, since the issue of supply has haunted us for decades and is not exclusive to Brazil, as they are related to the process of economic development and urbanization worldwide. As we gain access to new data on water use, it is clear that we need to go beyond discussions and accelerate the race to find solutions to a problem that is still manageable.

In Brazil, for decades, we have been following the plight of the drought that affects the Northeast, the region most affected by the lack of water in the country, and more recently, the losses generated by the water crisis in the Southeast. In capture, more than half of the available water is used by agribusiness, followed by human supply and the industry. According to Brazil's National Water Agency, the demand for water, which has increased by 80% over the last 20 years, is expected to increase by 24% by 2030.

To avoid a collapse in the supply system, cooperation between various sectors of the economy is required. At Braskem, we are committed to developing sustainable solutions that minimize the impact on the environment, helping to create products that reduce water use and improve its quality, while coordinating initiatives to combat waste of treated water with partners. Our vision and ambitions have allowed us to become a leader in global water management in the chemical sector, being one of the few companies to build a climate change adaptation plan, which currently features more than 120 actions that include, for example, the use of rainwater and water reuse.

In partnership with BRK Ambiental and Sabesp, we have created Aquapolo, the largest enterprise for capture of the industrial reuse water in South America and the fifth largest in the world, located in the ABC region, in the state of São Paulo. With it, we have been able to transform the treated sewage into industrial reuse water, and currently, the initiative brings benefits to other industries outside the Petrochemical Hub. Additionally, the project prevents Braskem from capturing water equivalent to the supply of 35,000 people per day.

It is important to understand that, with an increasingly integrated world economy, the issue regarding the lack of water crosses borders and ceases to be ours alone. That is why we urgently need to join forces to address this issue and ensure a decent and quality future for everyone.

* André Ramalho is a Sustainability Specialist at Braskem.