How Ecolab is Enhancing Supply Chain Sustainability
Ecolab, a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions, has published its 2024 growth and impact report.
With more than 10,000 indirect supply chain partners, Ecolab is ensuring each of its suppliers and partners are focused on implementing responsible and sustainable practices.
To date, the company owns and operates around 300 manufacturing plants, distribution centres and other facilities, with 450 offices and research and development centres globally.
Sustainable supply chains
Ecolab is dedicated to limiting the effect of its operations on the environment, with consideration for the amount of waste it is generating and sending to landfill.
Beyond its own eco-friendly practices, the company works with supply chain partners to identify how GHG emissions can be reduced. It holds its suppliers accountable through supplier surveying mechanisms.
As a result of these biannual ethical and environmental sourcing surveys, Ecolab can monitor and improve sustainability performance across the chain.
Through its collaboration efforts, Ecolab placed on CDP’s 2024 Supplier Engagement Assessment Leaderboard as recognition for its thorough engagement with supply chains.
In 2023, Ecolab and other industry players launched the Minnesota Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Hub in a bid to tackle the large amounts of GHG emissions produced by aviation. It continued its collaboration in 2024, taking these measures to reduce aviation carbon footprint.
Last year, Ecolab ensured it remained a sustainable company, moving towards its 2030 100% renewable electricity goals. The company achieved 70% renewable electricity globally due to its 100% renewable electricity usage across European Union operations.
As a result of Ecolab’s progress in meeting GHG emissions targets, it gained recognition and approval from the Science-based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
Reflecting on Ecolab’s practices, Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEO of Ecolab, comments: “In our own operations, we improved water use efficiency, reduced our carbon footprint and cultivated a winning team that reflects our communities and champions our culture of safety.”
Ethical standards
Ecolab is committed to building resilient supply chains, developing growth through education and networking opportunities. Through this investment in supplier engagement and development, both Ecolab and its suppliers are seeing economic growth.
- US$601.8m in revenue was earned by suppliers and businesses
- 2,283 jobs were supported through purchases made with certified suppliers
- US$181.2m in cumulative income was earned in the jobs supported through our initiatives
Elsewhere, Ecolab sponsors Disability:IN and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Chemical Industry Accelerator, boosting supply chain resilience and creating opportunities for diverse and underrepresented communities.
Moreover, Ecolab’s suppliers must meet its supplier ethical assessment, which actively addresses human rights within supply chains.
Its partners must be able to verify they meet Ecolab’s criteria of ethical practices, particularly in areas where there is a higher risk of slavery and human trafficking.
The impact
Supply chains, including those concerned with water supply, bear the brunt of global disruptions such as climate change, economic fluctuations, population growth and public health concerns.
As a result, many companies are seeing increased operating costs and a shortage of resources.
The World Resources Institute projects a 56% water deficit by 2030, so Ecolab is working to identify and implement water reduction and reuse solutions.
Ecolab efforts have helped billions of people around the world, both from a financial and safety perspective.
Emilio Tenuta, SVP and CSO of Ecolab says: “Our unique business offerings in 2024 helped our customers save 226 billion gallons of water, protect 1.7 billion people from foodborne illnesses and infections, avoid 4.6 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and ultimately, help our customers achieve US$9.1 billion in cumulative value since 2019.”
Following the success of the past year, Ecolab looks on track to meet its future goals.
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