Mapping the Nexus Between Water Footprint Publications and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12): A Bibliometric Analysis (2006–2026)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Identifying water footprints helps individuals and organizations develop strategies - reduce water use. Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures disrupt the hydrological cycle, increasing pressure on freshwater resources and highlighting the importance of sustainable water management in the region. Within the context of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, increasing awareness of water footprints can support more sustainable resource use in the future. This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of water footprint publications indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection between 2006 and June 2026 and classified under the Web of Science SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) filter. Of the 4,632 publications identified using the keyword “water footprint,” 2,594 met the SDG 12 classification criteria and were analyzed using VOSviewer. Co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, country collaboration, and citation analysis were performed. The findings show that publications on water footprints have increased substantially, particularly since 2020. Most publications are English-language articles indexed in the SCI-Expanded database. China produced the highest number of publications, followed by the United States and the Netherlands. The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Twente were the leading institutions, and Arjen Y. Hoekstra was identified as the most prolific author. Keyword analysis indicated that “water footprint,” “life cycle assessment,” “carbon footprint,” and “sustainability” were the dominant research themes. Overall, this study demonstrates how applying the Web of Science SDG 12 classification provides a sustainability-oriented perspective on water footprint research, revealing thematic priorities, collaboration patterns, and underexplored research areas that are less visible in the broader water footprint literature.
Source: Journal of Sustainability
DOI: 10.55845/jsyqga61
Authors: Eda Yaşa Özeltürkay, Deniz Akgül
Institutions: Çağ University, Altınbaş University
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7203835667