THE NETHERLANDS. Global restaurateur HMSHost International marked World Water Day (22 March) by underlining the impact of its collaboration with Dutch charity Made Blue Foundation.
The partnership works towards providing remote communities access to clean drinking water in the form of purified water supply systems. HMSHost’s contribution is based on donations of four litres of clean drinking water for every beverage served in HMSHost’s operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
In a statement, HMSHost pointed out that the “availability of clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, however over 771 million around the world people lack access”.
Through its collaboration with Made Blue, HMSHost has donated over 1.2 billion litres of water to communities in Indonesia and Vietnam, among others, since the beginning of the partnership in 2014.
According to the company, this represents the provision of ten years of water supply for nearly 17,000 people.
The Made Blue Foundation’s mission is to provide everyone on earth with access to clean drinking water.
Since its foundation at the end of 2014, Made Blue has provided over 137,000 people with access to water on behalf of more than 400 ambassadors through balancing water savings or usage. |
HMSHost International Vice President Commercial Bas van Asten said: “As an international company serving travellers from all over the world, we feel a responsibility to find ways to impact the communities around us in a positive way.
“We care for the planet and nurture people. Through our partnership with Made Blue Foundation, we create a link between our operations and providing a basic human right; fresh drinking water to remote communities.”
Made Blue Foundation Co-founder Machiel van Dooren commented: “We’ve calculated the average water footprint of a drink served at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol being four litres of water. That same amount is being made available as clean water in developing countries for every drink consumed.
“We’re very excited about the HMSHost International Made Blue partnership that launched in 2014 and now has delivered such massive impact.”
By eliminating the need for remote communities to clean polluted water by boiling over an open fire, the partners have also prevented approximately 8,400 tonnes of carbon emissions and saved 179,000 trees from being used as firewood.
“Building on that is the nearly 600 million items of plastic waste that has been prevented through bypassing the need for purchased bagged or bottled water,” HMSHost International noted.
In Vietnam the partners’ focus is on realising access to clean water and hygiene for the Dien Quang municipality in the Ba Thuoc district. The municipality is mainly inhabited by the Muong, a minority group.
“Our joint effort aims to provide 3,572 people with clean drinking water and thereby improve their health and quality of life,” HMSHost added.
Earlier in the partnership, communities in Bandung, Indonesia have been supported. HMSHost and Made Blue are looking to partner elsewhere in Asia.
As part of the Autogrill Group, HMSHost International has been pursuing sustainability initiatives for many years.  With the climate crisis and social challenges prompting an increase in commitments, the Group recently announced a new vision of sustainability. ‘Make It Happen’ is based on three strategic pillars: nurturing people, offering sustainable food experiences and caring for the planet. |
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