ST. PAUL, Minn., Apr 16, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ecolab Inc. has pledged to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by
20 percent per dollar sales from 2006 to 2012. The company has committed
to the reduction goal as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) Climate Leaders program, which Ecolab joined in 2005.
Climate Leaders is an EPA industry-government partnership that works
with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies.
Partner companies commit to reducing their impact on the global
environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse
gas emissions based on a quality management system, setting aggressive
reduction goals and annually reporting their progress to the EPA.
Through program participation, companies create a credible record of
their accomplishments and receive EPA recognition as corporate
environmental leaders.
"Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Leaders
program demonstrates our corporate-wide commitment to improving the
environment and increasing the efficiency of our operations," said
Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Ecolab. "Managing our environmental impact to improve the
sustainability of our operations and products is just part of the way we
do business every day, and is part of our vision to make the world a
cleaner, safer, healthier place."
To achieve its goal, Ecolab is focusing on its two largest GHG emissions
categories - sales-and-service vehicles and facilities. Facilities
include manufacturing plants as well as the corporate headquarters and
research and development facilities. The company has developed an energy
and GHG reduction program for its facilities and will be moving toward
more fuel-efficient vehicles and vehicle service routes, as well as less
GHG-intensive fuels when feasible.
Ecolab's U.S. GHG emissions from direct and indirect energy uses total
approximately 200,000 metric tons annually. The company is committed to
using environmentally responsible and sustainable energy sources and
investing in improving energy efficiency in its operations as part of
its Global Sustainability Principles.
With nearly a million customers around the world, Ecolab is also
committed to helping them reduce their environmental impact by providing
solutions and services that conserve resources, improve safety and
reduce waste.
With sales of $6 billion and more than 26,000 associates, Ecolab Inc.
(NYSE: ECL) is the global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety
and infection prevention products and services. Ecolab delivers
comprehensive programs and services to foodservice, food and beverage
processing, healthcare, and hospitality markets in more than 160
countries. More news and information is available at www.ecolab.com.
(ECL-C)
SOURCE: Ecolab Inc.
Ecolab Inc.
Jennifer Kirscher, 651-293-2846
Copyright Business Wire 2009