How are global leaders tackling water scarcity? Amazon, Gap, Starbucks and Ecolab unite for Water.org's Get Blue initiative, mobilising business leadership to tackle the global water crisis Nearly a quarter of the global population, approximately 2.1 billion people, lack access to safe water, while 3.4 billion people lack access to safe sanitation. To address this perennial challenge, Water.org announced the launch of a corporate-led programme known as Get Blue in Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum's 2026 Annual Meeting. The announcement follows Davos's theme of a "blue thread", highlighting the role of water ecosystems in global trade and livelihoods. Water.org was founded in 2009 by Gary White and Matt Damon, with the aim of bringing solutions that break down barriers between people and access to safe water. Since, the non-profit organisation has reached 85 million people with lasting access to safe water or sanitation to date. Businesses leading sustainable action. The launch of Get Blue helps Water.org move closer towards its goal of reaching 200 million people by 2030. Gary White, CEO and Co-Founder, says: "Solving the global water crisis is possible if the business community comes together and focuses on measurable change. Water sits at the centre of opportunity in the global economy. "Get Blue gives companies a way to lead on an issue their industries depend on and to help scale solutions that are already reaching millions of people who need them. This is the kind of leadership required to end the water crisis within our lifetimes." Get Blue is a global movement which aims to mobilise brands, creators, consumers and capital to help solve the global water crisis. The initiative is designed to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation through aligning global business leadership and funding behind Water.org's solutions. Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, says: "The water crisis requires sustained, meaningful action and Get Blue is an example of what the private sector can do to help raise awareness and work together to drive solutions and impact. "This approach builds on Amazon's aim to be a responsible water steward in communities - and water-stressed regions - where it operates, as it works to reduce water use across its operations through investment, innovation and implementation." Cross-sector collaboration. Water.org has partnered with Gap, Amazon, Starbucks and Ecolab to launch Get Blue, with the companies providing products, content and experiences to help fund water access. The launch of the project for consumers is planned for later in 2026. Richard Dickson, President and CEO of Gap, says: "At Gap Inc., we bridge gaps to create a better world - and the gap between people who lack access to water, let alone clean water, is far too big. Through the launch of Get Blue, we're uniting some of the world's most influential brands behind a shared mission." Get Blue aligns with Starbucks's business values, with the aim of tackling water scarcity in agricultural areas where the company's supplies are grown. Marika McCauley Sine, Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks, says: "In some coffee, tea and cocoa farming regions, people lack access to clean water and sanitation. For Starbucks, helping these communities thrive is both the right thing to do and strengthens our business and supply chain." Emilio Tenuta, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, said on LinkedIn: "Get Blue is designed to enable consumer and B2B companies to treat water as a core operating and market issue - something that is foundational to Ecolab. "Business Chief know that when Business Chief help customers use water smarter, Business Chief unlock growth, value and impact. "By joining forces with global leaders to expand access to safe water, we can tackle global water scarcity and strengthen the communities in which we all operate." Discussing the initiative on LinkedIn, Kara wrote: "Nearly one in four people around the world don't have access to safe water. That means mothers are walking for hours - every day - to collect water for their families. Children are getting sick and missing school. "The global water crisis is real, but we believe it's not insurmountable - and together, we can make a difference."

Get Blue at WEF: Water.org, Amazon & Ecolab's water strategy. Water.org has joined with Gap, Amazon, Starbucks and Ecolab to launch Get Blue, a global initiative to help fund access to safe water and sanitation Today, 2.1 billion people lack access to safe water, which is nearly a quarter of the global population, while 3.4 billion people lack access to safe sanitation. To help address this issue, Water.org has announced the launch of Get Blue in Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum's 2026 Annual Meeting. This follows Davos's theme of a "blue thread" throughout the event, highlighting the importance of water ecosystems in global trade and livelihoods. What does Water.org do? Water.org was founded in 2009 by Gary White and Matt Damon, with the aim of bringing solutions that break down barriers between people and access to safe water. To date, the non-profit organisation has reached 85 million people with lasting access to safe water or sanitation. The launch of Get Blue helps Water.org move closer towards achieving its goal of reaching 200 million people by 2030. Gary White, CEO and Co-Founder of Water.org, says: "Solving the global water crisis is possible if the business community comes together and focuses on measurable change. "Water sits at the centre of opportunity in the global economy. "Get Blue gives companies a way to lead on an issue their industries depend on and to help scale solutions that are already reaching millions of people who need them. "This is the kind of leadership required to end the water crisis within our lifetimes." About Get Blue. Get Blue is a global movement which aims to mobilise brands, creators, consumers and capital to help solve the global water crisis. It is designed to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation through aligning business leadership and funding behind Water.org's solutions, helping to reach families and communities in need globally. Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, says: "The water crisis requires sustained, meaningful action and Get Blue is an example of what the private sector can do to help raise awareness and work together to drive solutions and impact. "This approach builds on Amazon's aim to be a responsible water steward in communities - and water-stressed regions - where it operates, as it works to reduce water use across its operations through investment, innovation and implementation." What are sustainability leaders saying about the launch? Water.org has partnered with Gap, Amazon, Starbucks and Ecolab to launch Get Blue, with the companies providing products, content and experiences to help fund water access. The launch of the project for consumers is planned for later in 2026, with the companies developing solutions across the fashion, food and beverage and technology sectors. Emilio Tenuta, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, said on LinkedIn: "Get Blue is designed to enable consumer and B2B companies to treat water as a core operating and market issue - something that is foundational to Ecolab. "Sustainability Mag know that when Sustainability Mag help customers use water smarter, Sustainability Mag unlock growth, value and impact. "By joining forces with global leaders to expand access to safe water, we can tackle global water scarcity and strengthen the communities in which we all operate." All sustainability, net zero and sustainable supply chain leaders should attend: * Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5 * Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22 Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected. Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available. Each of the founding companies brings a different perspective and area of expertise to the initiative, helping with the mission of bringing water to everyone, everywhere. Richard Dickson, President and CEO of Gap, says: "At Gap Inc., Sustainability Mag bridge gaps to create a better world - and the gap between people who lack access to water, let alone clean water, is far too big. "Through the launch of Get Blue, Sustainability Mag is uniting some of the world's most influential brands behind a shared mission. "By coming together, we can help make safe water accessible to every person on the planet and demonstrate what's possible when our industry steps up as a force for good." Get Blue aligns with Starbucks's business values, with the aim of tackling water scarcity in agricultural areas where the company's supplies are grown. Marika McCauley Sine, Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks, says: "In some coffee, tea and cocoa farming regions, people lack access to clean water and sanitation. "For Starbucks, helping these communities thrive is both the right thing to do and strengthens our business and supply chain." This cross-industry partnership demonstrates the scale of the initiative, as well as the importance of cross-sector collaboration and cultural reach. Kara Hurst said on LinkedIn: "Nearly one in four people around the world don't have access to safe water. "That means mothers are walking for hours - every day - to collect water for their families. "Children are getting sick and missing school. Entire communities are going without a basic necessity so many of Sustainability Mag take for granted. "The global water crisis is real, but we believe it's not insurmountable - and together, we can make a difference."

Water.org partners with Gap Inc., Amazon, Starbucks, and Ecolab to launch Get Blue, advancing Water.org's goal of reaching 200 million people by 2030. Founding partners will activate products, content, and experiences that help fund access to safe water and sanitation through Water.org's proven solutions Share your coffee stories with Comunicaffe International by writing to [email protected]. DAVOS, Switzerland - Water.org, Gap Inc., Amazon, Starbucks, and Ecolab today announced the launch of Get Blue(TM). The global initiative is designed to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation by aligning business leadership, consumer engagement, and capital behind Water.org's proven, market-driven solutions, reaching families and communities in need around the world. Today, 2.1 billion people - nearly one in four worldwide - still lack access to safe water, while 3.4 billion people lack access to safe sanitation. When families have access to safe water and sanitation at home, the benefits are immediate and lasting - supporting improved health, time gained for education and income, and opportunity. Get Blue is designed to be a long-term platform that enables companies across consumer and business-to-business sectors to treat water as a core operating and market issue. By recognizing water as a growing business imperative, the campaign gives enterprises a way to turn leadership, collaboration, and customer participation into sustained investment in solutions that Bring Water Home(TM). "At Gap Inc., we bridge gaps to create a better world - and the gap between people who lack access to water, let alone clean water, is far too big. We believe everyone should have access to clean water," said Richard Dickson, president and CEO of Gap Inc. "Through the launch of Get Blue, we're uniting some of the world's most influential brands behind a shared mission. As an industry, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to lead - using our scale, creativity, and influence to turn awareness into action. By coming together, we can help make safe water accessible to every person on the planet and demonstrate what's possible when our industry steps up as a force for good." Water is foundational to business performance, underpinning the systems and supply chains companies rely on and the communities they serve. As the water crisis intensifies, more companies are advancing water stewardship, reducing operational water use, managing supply-chain risk, investing in access and conservation projects, and supporting community education. "Solving the global water crisis is possible if the business community comes together and focuses on measurable change. Water sits at the center of opportunity in the global economy. Get Blue gives companies a way to lead on an issue their industries depend on, and to help scale solutions that are already reaching millions of people who need them. This is the kind of leadership required to end the water crisis within our lifetimes," said Gary White, CEO and co-founder of Water.org. Water.org was founded by Gary White and Matt Damon with a shared belief that access to safe water and sanitation is foundational to health and opportunity. Through the organization's WaterCredit solution, families use small, affordable loans to access safe water and sanitation at home. To date, Water.org has reached 85 million people with lasting access to safe water or sanitation, working toward an ambitious goal of reaching 200 million people by 2030. The Get Blue campaign will help Water.org extend its reach as part of a broader portfolio of strategies. Get Blue will mobilize scalable, partner-enabled capital through corporate brands, enterprise partnerships, and integrated business and consumer activations. A portion of proceeds will drive funding support to Water.org's market-driven solutions, helping families finance, maintain, and sustain their own long-term water and sanitation solutions. The launch to consumers and commercial customers is planned for later in 2026, with Gap Inc., Amazon, Starbucks, and Ecolab already developing activations across fashion, food and beverage, and technology - demonstrating the initiative's scale, cross-sector collaboration and cultural reach. "I've been fortunate to work with Gary and Matt for years and have seen firsthand the transformative impact of their work," said Kara Hurst, chief sustainability officer at Amazon. "Access to safe water is foundational to healthy communities and building a more sustainable business. Through Get Blue, we're using Amazon's scale and innovation to show what's possible when companies work together toward a common good." "The water crisis requires sustained, meaningful action, and Get Blue is an example of what the private sector can do to help raise awareness and work together to drive solutions and impact. This approach builds on Amazon's aim to be a responsible water steward in communities - and water stressed regions - where it operates, as it works to reduce water use across its operations through investment, innovation and implementation. Globally, Amazon has announced more than 40 water replenishment projects that are expected to return upwards of 18 billion liters of water annually, once complete. As part of that work, Amazon set a goal to return more water to communities than it uses across its data centers by 2030, and is already more than halfway to meeting that goal - and the company set a goal to return more water than it uses across its entire operations in India by 2027," Hurst added. Each of the founding partner companies has prioritized water as an issue that is important to their business, their stakeholders, and their communities. Each also brings a distinct value proposition and perspective to helping everyone, everywhere gain access to safe water. "Clean water is essential to healthy families and communities," said Marika McCauley Sine, chief sustainability officer, The Starbucks Coffee Company. "In some coffee, tea, and cocoa farming regions, people lack access to clean water and sanitation. For Starbucks, helping these communities thrive is both the right thing to do and strengthens our business and supply chain. By partnering with Water.org and investing $50 million in WaterEquity, we're helping bring clean water and sanitation to those who need it most. So far, we've proudly helped more than 700,000 people. And by teaming up with Get Blue, with other companies we can make a meaningful difference for more people and the planet, together." "Ecolab is built on the belief that when we help our customers use water smarter, we unlock both business growth, value and social impact," said Christophe Beck, chairman and CEO, Ecolab. "Through Get Blue, we're joining forces with global leaders to expand access to safe water and strengthen the communities where we all operate." "Get Blue is already starting to bring together a community that recognizes everyone's individual roles in helping end the global water crisis. When brands especially use their influence this way, progress proliferates - and that's exactly what this movement is designed to do," said Matt Damon, co-founder of Water.org. Water.org is inviting companies across industries to join Get Blue and help tackle the water crisis. To learn more about partnership opportunities, contact Ben Albert at [email protected].