Product Sustainability

Ecolab is on a continuous journey to be a leader in product safety and sustainability. Our policies and programs have been developed to protect what is vital – People Health, Planet Health and Business Health.

When it comes to our products, we consider the total impact on both human health and the environment. Our Impacts That Matter criteria and packaging principles help ensure that Ecolab products are designed with sustainability in mind without compromising safety or performance.

Ecolab is a leader in the industry in developing new, effective solutions that help our customers drive operational efficiency, product quality, safety and compliance while minimizing environmental impact throughout a product’s lifecycle.

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Packaging Goals 

Discover Ecolab’s commitment to sustainable packaging by accompanying Nevin Sant on a tour of Ecolab’s Water University at our Naperville Campus. Nevin shares key insights into Ecolab’s circular packaging strategy and 2030 ambition to move to reusable or readily recyclable materials in our non-regulated packaging. Ecolab will continue to incorporate post-consumer recycled materials in our packaging where feasible without compromising user safety or performance.

Ecolab is committed to ensuring that our products and packaging advance safety and sustainability. We continuously improve our designs to help minimize waste and safely deliver best-in-class experiences for our customers. Our commitment to excellence in packaging is supported by a global team of more than 50 packaging professionals, including engineers, materials scientists, analysts and technicians.

By 2030, our ambition is to have moved to reusable or recyclable-by-design packaging for non-regulated products. Currently, 91% of Ecolab’s packaging by weight is reusable or recyclable-by-design.

Reducing Plastic Waste

  • In 2024, we launched Ecolab’s Disinfectant 1 Wipe, the first EPA-registered plastic-free1, readily degradable disinfectant wipe, derived from wood pulp fibers.2
  • In 2024, we launched Ecolab® ReadyDose™, a tablet-based cleaning program with a 98.8% reduction in plastic packaging waste.3
  • Aligned with circular economy principles, Ecolab continues to deliver virgin plastic resin avoidance. In 2024, we avoided 15.9 million pounds of virgin plastic resin. This impact represents 15% of Ecolab’s total plastic packaging by weight.
  • We have a long history of pioneering packaging technology. For example, our SmartPower™ technology reduces plastic use by up to 99%, as compared to traditional packaging, by replacing five-gallon plastic pails with shrink-wrapped blocks.
  • We were an early adopter of reusable containers for our concentrate products, as well as in the incorporation of post-consumer recycled plastic resin (PCR) into many of our packages. For nearly two decades, our SolidPower™ XL capsule has contained 40% post-consumer resin.
  • We pursue our plastic waste ambitions through:
    • Reduction: Packaging with reduced plastic content and concentrated product alternatives with lower plastic packaging.
    • Reuse: Packaging reuse and purchase of reconditioned plastic containers and IBCs/totes.
    • Recycling: Incorporation of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials into packaging.
Learn More About How We Are Reducing Plastic WasteLearn More About How We Are Reducing Plastic Waste
Ecolab’s Commitment to Sustainable PackagingEcolab’s Commitment to Sustainable Packaging
  1. Wipe substrate is plastic free. Soft pack packaging comprised of plastic. Represents a 90%+ reduction in total plastic compared to the total plastic mass of a wipe canister containing 160 plastic wipes.
  2. Disinfectant 1 Wipe, EPA Reg. No. 1677-263, refer to product label for use directions.
  3. Reduction in plastic waste is an approximation based on customer use of all six Ecolab ReadyDose products, assuming use of one case of each product per month over 12 months, compared with the equivalent use of Ecolab liquid products, which is enabled by the smaller, lighter package size for solid tablets.
Discover Ecolab’s commitment to sustainable packaging by accompanying Nevin Sant on a tour of Ecolab’s Water University at our Naperville Campus. Nevin shares key insights into Ecolab’s circular packaging strategy and 2030 ambition to move to reusable or readily recyclable materials in our non-regulated packaging. Ecolab will continue to incorporate post-consumer recycled materials in our packaging where feasible without compromising user safety or performance.

Regulatory

Our regulatory teams, processes, policies and practices are the foundation for keeping our customers and business ahead of ever-changing regulations.

Learn More About Our Policies and PracticesLearn More About Our Policies and Practices Links to SDS pageLearn More About SDS
Learn More About Ingredient TransparencyLearn More About Ingredient Transparency

Ethical Sourcing 

Our suppliers are held to global fundamental principles of human dignity. Our Ethical Sourcing Standards are the foundation of our global supply chain initiative, requiring our direct suppliers to protect the health, safety and human rights of their associates.

Learn More About Our Ethical Sourcing StandardsLearn More About Our Ethical Sourcing Standards

Palm Oil Sourcing

Ecolab does not directly purchase palm oil or palm oil derivatives. However, any supplier partners providing palm derived material are members of Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), to ensure sustainable and responsible sourcing.

Links to RSPO.orgRound Table on Sustainable Palm Oil

Conflict Minerals

Ecolab supports human rights organizations to end violence and atrocities in Central Africa, specifically the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and nine adjoining countries.

Our Ecolab Conflict Minerals PolicyOur Ecolab Conflict Minerals Policy

Supplier Sustainability

Our suppliers have always been part of our sustainability strategy, which is why we are collaborating with suppliers to help us reduce our absolute Scope 3 emissions by 25% from a 2022 base year of purchased goods and services, fuel and energy related activities, upstream transportation and distribution, and downstream leased assets.

Learn More About Supplier SustainabilityLearn More About Supplier Sustainability

Get in Touch with Us

Give Us a Call

With unparalleled expertise and cutting-edge technology, we partner with customers to deliver world-class results and optimized operations. Contact us to learn how we can help you.

Ecolab Inc.
1 Ecolab Place
St. Paul, MN 55102

Ecolab Customer Service: 
Phone: +1-800-352-5326

Nalco Water Customer Service
Phone: +1-800-288-0879

Give Us a Call

With unparalleled expertise and cutting-edge technology, we partner with customers to deliver world-class results and optimized operations. Contact us to learn how we can help you.

Ecolab Inc.
1 Ecolab Place
St. Paul, MN 55102

Ecolab Customer Service
Phone: +1-800-352-5326

Nalco Water Customer Service
Phone: +1-800-288-0879

Contact Us

Contact Us

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