Water Circularity in SMEs and Family Businesses

Water is an essential resource for businesses, but its use is often not systematically monitored or managed. At the same time, increasing risks of water scarcity and flooding are creating new challenges for businesses and communities across Limburg. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and family businesses are especially important in this context, as they represent a major part of the regional economy but often have limited resources, data, and capacity to systematically monitor and manage their water use. While many businesses have already introduced measures to improve resource efficiency, water is still often treated as an abundant input rather than a valuable, potentially constrained resource.

The Water Circularity in SMEs and Family Businesses project aims to address this challenge by helping SMEs better understand, monitor and improve their water use, while identifying opportunities to move from a linear towards a more circular water management approach. The project brings together expertise from the School of Business and Economics (SBE) and the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at Maastricht University, combining business and behavioral perspectives with technical approaches such as Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). 

The project will engage SMEs and family businesses across different sectors in Limburg. Working closely with these businesses, we will map how water enters, is used, and leaves their operations, identify key inefficiencies and hotspots, and explore opportunities for water reduction, reuse, recycling, and industrial symbiosis. A key outcome of the project is the development of a practical Water Circularity Toolkit. Co-developed with businesses, the toolkit will translate water data and scientific analysis into clear insights and actionable solutions. It will support companies in monitoring their water flows, identifying improvement opportunities, comparing different interventions, and understanding potential water, environmental, and cost savings. The project will also develop a best-practice library and policy recommendations, connecting company-level insights with Limburg's wider circular economy ambitions. By engaging SMEs, municipalities, water authorities and regional stakeholders, the project seeks to create solutions that are not only scientifically robust but also practical and relevant for real-world business environments.