How CBRE is Improving Water Efficiency With Ecolab

CBRE is collaborating with Ecolab in a move to improve water efficiency across commercial real estate.

This partnership takes CBRE one step closer to its sustainability goals. 

Together, the companies are helping clients cut costs and reduce their water waste.

Building sustainable supply chains

CBRE is a global real estate services and investment company, with more than 500 offices to support its clients in more than 100 countries. 

It blends propriety technology with data and market knowledge in order to help clients transform their businesses with strong real estate decisions.

To create a positive impact on its own business and the communities in which it operates, CBRE has three main areas of sustainability and corporate responsibility which it focuses on.

They are:

• Low Carbon Future - driving towards zero carbon and doing so across its entire value chain
• Thriving Workplace - building a strong and resilient workforce by encouraging employees to constantly learn, engage communities and leverage diversity
• Leading with Integrity - instill the highest ethics and integrity into every business decision and action

In its latest move to further its supply chain sustainability and ethics measures, CBRE is now partnering with Ecolab.

Ecolab is a global sustainability leader which offers water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions, ensuring people and resources are safe.

It uses science-based solutions and data-driven insights to ensure high standards of food safety, maintain clean environments and optimise water conservation.

The partnership will see higher standards of water efficiency and quality across commercial real estate.

Driving business growth

Water is essential to building operation, especially when it comes to data centres and advanced manufacturing. 

CBRE has a network of almost 8 billion square feet around the world. It estimates that these properties use more than 100 billion gallons of water every year. 

As part of its sustainability initiatives, it is hoping to reduce water usage, improve water quality and enhance operational performance through its partnership with Ecolab. 

"We are focused on creating value for our clients by solving their biggest sustainability challenges, and water is increasingly important, especially in sectors like data centers, life sciences and advanced manufacturing," says Rob Bernard, Chief Sustainability Officer at CBRE.

"The combined expertise and scale of CBRE and Ecolab creates an advantage for companies in addressing their end-to-end water needs and has the potential to transform water use in the industry."

Ecolab provides its services to millions of customer locations in more than 170 countries. It has a wealth of resources and knowledge which has helped businesses drive efficient operations and business growth alongside end-to-end water conservation. 

Through this partnership, CBRE's client list will have access to Ecolab's water technologies as well as CBRE's real estate services. As a result, they can drive real business transformation across their sustainability measures. 

Clients will receive a holistic water management solution, allowing them to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs by reducing water use and unlock supply chain value. 

A sustainability leader

 Ecolab is well-versed in helping customers around the world develop smarter water use across their supply chains.

In 2024 alone, its programmes helped customers save 226 billion gallons of water, reduce 4.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and conserve 65 trillion BTUs of energy.

As well as that, it delivered US$9.1bn in cumulative value, proving that positive sustainable solutions and business development can work together. 

"Water is central to operational impact and profitable growth for many businesses," adds Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab.

"In manufacturing, up to 75% of energy flows through water systems-making water efficiency a powerful lever for climate resilience and business performance. Through our partnership with CBRE, we're working to help clients unlock value through smarter operations, improved efficiency and measurable impact."

Every company relies on water for at least some of its business operations. Through this partnership, CBRE's clients can create positive environmental impact by optimising their water usage and still seeing business growth.