Summary
This case study explores how Bocar systematically manages water risk through comprehensive assessments and strategic mitigation planning. By partnering with Waterplan, Bocar addresses key challenges such as understanding local water risks, identifying vulnerabilities, defining priorities for resource allocation, and developing a long-term water management roadmap. The collaboration has resulted in enhanced decision-making alignment, centralized access to high-quality data, and the identification of priority sites for action.
Introduction
Bocar, a leading manufacturer and full-service supplier of aluminum and plastic products for the automotive industry, is committed to sustainable mobility solutions. Responsible water management is a cornerstone of its CEERO Sustainability Framework.
By 2030, Bocar aims to increase its overall water use efficiency by at least 20% across its North American productive facilities. To achieve this, the company has partnered with Waterplan to assess water risks, quantify potential financial impacts, establish actionable plans, and streamline sustainability reporting.
Leveraging Waterplan’s advanced technology and water management expertise, this partnership focuses on:
Measuring water risks through a comprehensive, two-step process: a water risk screening followed by an in-depth assessment with risk scenario modeling. This is conducted in collaboration with site leaders to build a business case.
Streamlining reporting by aligning with international standards and frameworks, such as CDP.
Respond to water risks by developing a strategic roadmap based on identified water risks.
Raising awareness within the organization about the importance of water management through specialized training sessions led by Waterplan’s experts.
Water risk management using a SaaS platform
Water risk screening and prioritization with high-quality data
Water risk is inherently local, requiring granular, site-specific data to make informed decisions. For Bocar, collecting high-quality local data across diverse regions was challenging and time-consuming.
This challenge was addressed by leveraging Waterplan’s AI-driven platform, which integrates and scores data into actionable water risk indicators, providing a comprehensive understanding of each site's water risk profile. The assessment considers water scarcity, quality, flooding, infrastructure status, and regulatory and reputational risks. Data is continuously updated to allow ongoing monitoring and proactive management of water risks.
Following the risk screening, each site is assigned a "priority score" based on predefined criteria, including:
Water risk exposure, with scarcity, flooding, and quality being the most critical factors.
Water withdrawal needs and the site's maturity in water management.
The site's current and projected business importance to the company.
Impact on local communities.
Sites are then strategically prioritized based on watershed conditions and the company's operational needs, enabling targeted and effective mitigation efforts.
Identifying risk mitigation opportunities and developing an action plan
For every analyzed risk scenario, Waterplan’s water experts collaborate with Bocar teams to identify effective mitigation strategies.
"Waterplan’s team offers exceptional expertise, ongoing support, and a commitment to going the extra mile, which has been instrumental in understanding risks and supporting the development of effective mitigation plans." - Fred Inti Graichen, Technical Control Expert (Water) at Bocar.
Raising awareness
Waterplan's team of experts has conducted a series of workshops with various teams at Bocar to raise awareness about water risk management. These workshops provided participants with valuable insights into the complexities of water risk and their implications for the organization, fostering a culture of proactive water stewardship.
Key Takeaways
This collaboration highlights the importance of technology, high-quality water data, and expert guidance in enhancing water risk management. Through its partnership with Waterplan, Bocar has established a structured water risk management process, gained a detailed understanding of each site’s water risk profile, and identified priority sites for risk mitigation. This proactive approach aligns with Bocar’s sustainability objectives and reinforces its position as a leader in the automotive industry’s water sustainability efforts.
Waterplan’s platform delivers high-quality, detailed water risk data, allowing us to understand local water risks and effectively prioritize our mitigation efforts.
Juan Carlos Cortés
Head of Sustainability at Bocar
