This aligns with the same principles as the upstream Supply chain but includes all downstream activities to the point of final customer or consumer. It includes the transportation of goods leaving a site, their storage and how they are used.
The principle is that the design of a product can influence the resources consumed in the downstream value chain. For water stewardship, the interest is in water volume and quality impacts. For example, improved washing machine design can reduce water use. Another is that producers of household cleaning products can influence how much additional water a user may need. Advising consumers how to dispose of chemicals can impact water quality.
