aerial view of a river flowing with lush trees on both sides

See Water Clearly

The global mark for water quality, efficiency, and ethics.

Why Water Matters

Water is the essential ingredient for life as we know it, but we have learned to not see it.

The water used in the products we eat, wear, and use every day is largely invisible and unregulated. Its quality, origin, and impact vary dramatically. That variability is a risk we can’t afford to ignore.

There has never been a universal standard for the water inside our products.

Until now.

1Watermark is the global standard for good water.

We help consumers choose products backed by pure, responsibly sourced water. And we help brands earn credit for doing the right thing.

The Standard

Not all water is equal. We evaluate the entire water lifecycle.

Quality

More than just safe

Ethics

Transparent and accountable

Efficiency

Responsible water stewardship

Our certification goes far beyond the basics to measure quality, efficiency, and ethics.

Our certification helps consumers trust that the water used in these products is responsibly sourced and independently tested for alignment with 1Watermark’s rigorous standards.

We look for safeguards:

Process equipment, filters, barriers, disinfection systems.

Practices and policies (e.g., CIP, GMP)

laundry worker in the process of working on an automatic machine for carpet washing

We assess:

Where water comes from

How much is used

How it's used and treated

How it's returned to the environment and community

1Watermark delivers a complete picture of water risk and stewardship, bringing trust and transparency to what was once invisible.

Why It Matters: The Hidden Problem

The Water Behind Everyday Products. There is More to the Story

When we think of water, we picture...

glasses filled

or rivers flowing

Yet water’s story runs deeper, woven into nearly everything we touch

collection of assorted food and drink items on a table

from food to fashion to technology.

Water Scarcity: A Global Hindrance to Sustainable Development and Agricultural Production

Cambridge Prisms: Water

January 2025

The Dilemmas of Water Quality and Food Security Interactions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Frontiers in Water

November 2021

From Farm to Kitchen: The Environmental Impacts of U.S. Food Waste

Environmental Protection Agency

April 2025

It's Raining PFAS

Green Science Policy Institute

August 2022

These are not isolated cases. They are symptoms of a system with no standard.

That’s why 1Watermark exists.

For Consumers and Brands

If you're a consumer:

You look for labels like organic, fair trade, and cruelty-free. It’s time to expect the same transparency from water.

With 1Watermark, you can see which brands take water seriously and make better choices for your health and the planet.

If you're a brand:

Build trust and command a premium

Lead with responsibility, not just compliance

Integrate seamlessly with ESG and sustainability frameworks

Making the Invisible, Visible

Water is everywhere. From the coffee we drink to the clothes we wear to the cosmetics we use.

Yet, its story is almost never disclosed. It's more than quality.

We identify emerging threats that other standards overlook

We evaluate the full context of water use and impact

We empower smarter choices and better practices