ABSTRACT
One single component in the total water footprint of humanity stands out: the water footprint related to the consumption of animal products. About 92 per cent of humanity's water footprint is related to the consumption of agricultural products. Consumers can reduce their direct water footprint by installing water-saving toilets, applying a water-saving shower-head, etc. The water footprint concept is an indicator of water use in relation to consumer goods. The concept is an analogue to the ecological and the carbon footprint but indicates water use instead of land or fossil energy use. The water footprint of an animal at slaughter can be calculated based on the water footprint of all feed consumed during its lifetime and the volumes of water consumed for drinking and, for example, cleaning the sheds. Since food consumption gives the most important contribution to the water footprints of people, even in industrialized countries, dietary habits greatly influence the associated water footprint.
