Reducing Water Consumption Sustainably While Remaining Competitive
How can food and beverage manufacturers sustainably reduce water consumption, reuse water and remain economically competitive at the same time? These were the key questions addressed during the joint expert event "Water Efficiency in the Food Industry", hosted by EnviroChemie together with the German Federation of Food and Drink Industries (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Ernährungsindustrie e. V., BVE) on 16 June 2026.
Numerous representatives from the food and beverage sector took the opportunity to learn about the latest developments, regulatory requirements and innovative technologies for future-proof water management while exchanging experiences with industry peers.
Water Becomes a Strategic Success Factor
The event clearly demonstrated that water has become far more than a production resource. Increasing regulatory requirements, growing water scarcity and ambitious sustainability targets are turning water management, resource efficiency and secure water supply into strategic success factors for food manufacturers.
At the same time, innovative technologies are creating new opportunities to use water more efficiently, close water loops and reduce operating costs over the long term.
High-Calibre Programme with a Strong Practical Focus
The diverse programme explored water efficiency from multiple perspectives and presented practical solutions across the entire value chain.
The event opened with a presentation by Dr.-Ing. Robert Lutze (EnviroChemie), who introduced innovative concepts for water recycling and sustainable water management in the food industry. Dr.-Ing. Veronika Zhiteneva (Waterloop Solutions) then outlined the regulatory framework and permitting requirements for water reuse projects. Wilma Heinzen (Heinzen-Konzept) complemented these insights by highlighting the importance of hygiene and safety concepts for the successful implementation of water recycling solutions.
The afternoon sessions focused on economic aspects and practical implementation strategies. Julia Daus (ifB Unternehmensberatung) presented current funding opportunities for investments in innovative water technologies. Valuable industry insights were provided by representatives from Arla Foods and Intersnack, who demonstrated through real-world examples how water recycling and resource efficiency can be successfully integrated into production processes. Additional presentations addressed strategic obsolescence management and future-proof plant concepts.
Together, the presentations illustrated that sustainable water management can only succeed through the combination of innovative process technology, sound economic frameworks, regulatory expertise and practical implementation.
Knowledge Exchange Drives Innovation
One of the event's greatest strengths was the open dialogue between industrial companies, associations, researchers and technology providers. The discussions clearly demonstrated that the complex challenges of industrial water management can only be solved through collaboration.
Key topics included:
- How can water consumption in production processes be reduced sustainably?
- What opportunities does water reuse offer?
- How can economic performance and sustainability be successfully combined?
- What role will digitalisation and intelligent process control play in the future of industrial water management?
The intensive exchange of experience generated valuable ideas for future projects and once again highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing sustainable and economically viable solutions.
Our Expert Events: Sharing Knowledge, Driving Innovation, Strengthening Networks
The event reflects EnviroChemie's commitment to bringing together leading experts from industry, academia and professional associations to discuss key future topics with a practical focus while actively promoting knowledge transfer across the sector.
Our expert events cover topics including:
- Water efficiency and sustainable water management
- Water recycling and circular economy
- Legal and regulatory developments
- Technical solutions for greater resource efficiency
- Hygiene concepts and food safety
- Digitalisation and intelligent process control
- Industrial best practices
- Funding programmes and investment opportunities
Through these events, we create platforms for knowledge exchange, networking and innovation. Participants gain valuable insights into sustainable production, responsible water management and future-oriented investment and sustainability strategies.
Thank You for an Inspiring Exchange
We would like to sincerely thank all speakers, participants and our event partner, the German Federation of Food and Drink Industries (BVE), for the open discussions and valuable insights.
We are already looking forward to continuing this dialogue with renowned experts from the food, beverage and process industries and to jointly advancing innovative solutions for sustainable water management.
Together, we are shaping the future of a resource-efficient and sustainable food industry.
Interested in joining one of our future expert events or learning more about our water efficiency and water recycling solutions? Contact us—we look forward to hearing from you.
