Ecolab’s Climate Targets Approved by Science-Based Targets initiative
Achieving net-zero emissions is central to Ecolab's ambition to deliver net positive water and climate impact
ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ecolab Inc., a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life, today announced that its climate targets have been approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the gold standard for climate target verification. The validation encompasses Ecolab’s near- and long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets and bolsters the company’s track record in its journey to achieve net-zero emissions across its value chain.
“Ecolab is committed to achieving our ambitious climate targets and making an even greater positive impact with our customers,” said Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEO, Ecolab. “By decarbonizing our business and empowering our customers to do the same, we are driving positive business performance while helping tackle the urgent challenge of climate change.”
As part of its decarbonization strategy, Ecolab has sourced more than 80% of its electricity globally from renewable sources and is accelerating the electrification of its vehicle fleet. Through 2023, Ecolab achieved a 25% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions,1 surpassing the 10% average reduction reported by WEF Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders members.2 Additionally, Ecolab helped avoid 3.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through collaboration with its customers in 2023.
“Science-based targets are a critical component of Ecolab’s rigorous climate resilience strategy,” said Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Ecolab. “As we proceed on our pathway toward net-zero emissions by 2050—and halfway there by 2030—Ecolab is making marked improvements in our operational efficiency while expanding our positive impact.”
Learn more about Ecolab’s ambition to achieve a net positive water and climate impact at https://www.ecolab.com/corporate-responsibility.
About Ecolab’s SBTi-approved targets:
- Overall Net-Zero Target: Ecolab commits to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050.
- Near-Term Targets: Ecolab commits to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50% by 2030 from a 2018 base year.3 Ecolab also commits to increase active annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 12.9% in 2018 to 100% by 2030. Ecolab further commits to reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, fuel and energy related activities, upstream transportation and distribution, and downstream leased assets 25% by 2030 from a 2022 base year.
- Long-Term Targets: Ecolab commits to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90% by 2050 from a 2018 base year.3 Ecolab also commits to reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 90% by 2050 from a 2022 base year.
About Ecolab:
A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life. Building on a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of $15 billion, employs more than 46,000 associates and operates in more than 170 countries around the world. The company delivers comprehensive science-based solutions, data-driven insights and world-class service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, and optimize water and energy use. Ecolab’s innovative solutions improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, life sciences, hospitality and industrial markets. www.ecolab.com
Follow us on LinkedIn @Ecolab, Twitter @Ecolab, Instagram @Ecolab_Inc and Facebook @Ecolab.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding items such as our climate targets and initiatives. Without limiting the foregoing, words or phrases such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “we believe,” “we expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “aspire to” (including the negative or variations thereof), “intends,” “could,” or similar terminology, generally identify forward-looking statements. Except as may be required under applicable law, we undertake no duty to update our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may represent challenging goals for us. These statements, which represent our expectations or beliefs concerning various future events, are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those of such forward-looking statements. We caution that undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.
Forward-looking and other statements in this news release may also address our sustainability initiatives, goals, targets and progress, and the inclusion of such statements is not an indication that these contents are necessarily material to investors or required to be disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission “SEC”). In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future and performance against our goals and targets may differ from such forward-looking statements in such event. For a further discussion, please refer to the Company's disclosures entitled “Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors,” which begins on page 16 of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other public filings with the SEC.
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1 From a 2018 base year.
2 2024 Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders annual members survey results, for the period 2019-2022.
3 The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.