The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2015 Report listed water crises as the highest impact global risk. Water consumption and pollution is often associated with human activities. Globally, agricultural production consumes most of the water resources, and there are quite a number of water used in industrial production and human life.

To manage water resources effectively, some countries and regions have introduced product water label, labeling the product that has high water efficiency or reaches related standards in the process of production, use, processing, to provide information and guidance in making a conscious purchasing decision. At present, China, the United States, Europe countries, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and other countries and regions have carried out the water-saving product certification, such as the water efficiency labelling scheme, mainly for water-using products such as sanitary products, household electrical appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, etc.), garden products and water treatment products. Most of the label scheme is voluntary, New Zealand and Singapore have mandatory scheme that require related products’ water efficiency must be evaluated and achieve standard before being sold in the domestic. The implementation of these water label effectively promote the sustainable development of the industry, at the same time improve the consumers’ water-saving awareness.

In addition to water efficiency, water footprint is getting increasing attention. Water footprint is forwarded by the Dutch scholar Arjen Hoekstra Y. in 2002, referring to the total water consumption of all the products and services consumed by a country, a region or a person, in a certain period of time. Calculating water footprint can  help countries, regions, enterprises and individuals to better understand the use of water resources, identify risks associated with water, cope with the effects of water shortage. Product water footprint refers to the sum of water used in the production of products of the whole supply chain, reveals the contact behind the product consumption and water use. In July 2009, two British health and Food lobby (Food Ethics Council and Sustain) advice that food and beverage products should be labeled so that consumers can understand more information about the product water footprint.

In order to provide water footprint assessment method, in 2011, the Water Footprint Network released the first international methodology for water footprint assessment standard “The Water Footprint Assessment Manual”, formulated the procedures and standards of water footprint evaluation, providing references for policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and the public. In 2014, the international organization for standardization (ISO) released "ISO 14046: 2014 Environmental management--Water footprint--Principles, requirements and guidelines", detailing the principles, requirements and guidelines of the water footprint assessment of product, process and organization based on life cycle assessment (LCA).

Water footprint and water footprint assessment is gradually understood and recognized by the government, enterprises and consumers. More and more international organizations have carried out water footprint assessment. Water footprint label is being popularized. In April 2009, Finland food company Raisio labeled the water footprint on the packaging of its oatmeal product, became the world's first food company to add water footprint label on the product packaging. Since 2009, Borealis, C&A, the Tata group, Coca Cola, HP, Dole, and other enterprises had completed water footprint assessment of the product or the organization. In July 2015, UK Carbon Trust pioneered a water footprint certification and label project, inviting companies to participate in. The popularity of water footprint assessment and water footprint label is just started in China, domestic enterprises has begun to pay close attention to product water footprint and water footprint assessment, but water footprint label system has not been formed for now.