Ecolab Sets New Environmental Goals
Revised targets build on strong previous environmental performance, will guide operations through 2017
ST. PAUL, Minn., April 23, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Following a strong performance on earlier environmental goals, Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, has set new five-year targets to further improve the environmental impact of its operations.
“Sustainability is core to our purpose of making the world cleaner, safer and healthier,” said Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab chairman and chief executive officer. “Through our total impact approach, we consider the economic, social and environmental impacts of our products and services to deliver sustainable results for our customers and improve our own operations.”
Ecolab merged with Nalco Company in December 2011. As individual companies, both Ecolab and Nalco were committed to sustainable operations and minimizing environmental impacts. This commitment has been strengthened through the combined company’s expanded expertise and broader reach.
Using the combined company’s 2012 metrics as an operational baseline, Ecolab has set new goals to further improve its environmental impact within the next five years. Among these new targets, Ecolab will work to achieve a five percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a 10 percent reduction in water use and wastewater discharge, and a 10 percent reduction in solid waste, per million dollars in sales.
The updated environmental performance targets build upon the success both Ecolab and Nalco had achieved toward their previous environmental goals. Both firms were pacing ahead of targets at the end of 2011, when the two companies merged and concluded their legacy programs.
Ecolab achieved a 19 percent reduction in U.S. GHG emissions from the 2006 baseline, attaining 95 percent of its stated goal within 83 percent of the time frame. Ecolab also reduced waste by 20 percent between 2009 and 2012, against a target of 18 percent. In 2007, Nalco set a target of reducing its total energy use 10 percent globally by the end of 2012, and achieved 84 percent of its goal within 80 percent of the planned time frame.
Ecolab has been recognized numerous times for its sustainability leadership. In 2012, the company was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the FTSE4Good Index, the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index for the third consecutive year and to the Maplecroft Climate Innovation Index for the third consecutive year. Ecolab also received the American Chemistry Council Responsible Care Energy Efficiency Award, the NAFA Fleet Management Association Sustainable Fleet Award and was named to Ethisphere Institute’s list of the world’s most ethical companies for the seventh consecutive year.
About Ecolab
A trusted partner at more than one million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2012 sales of $12 billion and 44,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality, commercial laundry and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world.
For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.
Follow us on Twitter @ecolab or Facebook at facebook.com/ecolab.
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Contact:
Roman Blahoski
651-293-4385
April 23, 2013
(ECL-C)
