Amazon.com, Inc.

At a Glance

Industry

Internet, Software, Hardware and Technology Services

Project Types

Data Analysis, Engagement and Behavior Change, Goals/Targets

Year

2024

Location

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Summary

Shruti helped Amazon with water supply management and optimization across operational sites to enhance Amazon's water sustainability, reduce environmental impact, and support their long-term environmental goals.

Goals

Amazon onboarded the Climate Corps fellow Shruti to optimize water consumption across its operational sites to support their sustainability initiatives. The project aimed to address inefficiencies in water usage, with a focus on reducing reliance on raw water sources, such as borewells, and increasing the use of treated and recycled water. Additionally, Amazon aimed to identify opportunities for implementing rainwater harvesting systems and promoting sustainable water management practices that would reduce environmental impact and align with Amazon's broader goals of improving resource efficiency and supporting long-term sustainability.

Solutions

To optimize water consumption at Amazon India's operational sites, Shruti adopted a data-driven approach by analyzing water consumption data provided by the Amazon team. With a focus on identifying inefficiencies in raw water use and underutilization of treated water, she compared water consumption across multiple sites, correlating it with operational intensity and seasonal trends. Based on this analysis, the key solutions proposed were the following. 1. Increasing the use of treated water for non-potable purposes, such as cleaning and cooling, especially at sites where water treatment infrastructure was underused; 2. implementing rainwater harvesting systems to reduce borewell water dependency, particularly in water-scarce regions; 3. expanding water recycling efforts across all sites and closely monitoring water consumption to track efficiency improvements form a long-term sustainability perspective. These recommendations are practical and scalable and support Amazon's broader commitment to sustainability as they will help Amazon reduce its environmental footprint and conserve water resources.

Potential Impact

By implementing the above recommendations, Amazon could reduce its reliance on raw water, especially in regions with water scarcity, and increase the use of treated and recycled water across its sites. These changes will lead to more efficient water management, lowering operational costs and minimizing the company's environmental footprint. The introduction of rainwater harvesting systems will further diversify water sources, promoting long-term sustainability. Overall, Shruti's work provides a practical, scalable framework for Amazon to conserve water resources and strengthen its alignment with environmental goals.

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