Why Energy Efficiency is Key to Ecolab's B2B Water Solutions

Global sustainability and efficiency specialist Ecolab continues to showcase leadership through its commitment to responsible resource use and energy-conscious innovation, securing top marks on CDP’s Corporate A List, the latest edition of which was announced last week.

This recognition reflects seven consecutive years of achievement in water leadership and five in climate leadership – a sign that Ecolab’s long-term energy and environmental strategy is delivering measurable results. 

“Very proud to kick off the year sharing that Ecolab just earned a double A rating from CDP for leadership in water and climate performance – putting us in the top 4% of nearly 20,000 companies worldwide," Chris Leong, EVP, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Ecolab, writes on LinkedIn.

“This is a reflection of how our Ecolab team shows up every day – driving growth, building resilience and partnering with customers to make a real impact.

“Seven years strong in water leadership is consistency powered by passion.”

What is CDP's A List?

CDP’s Corporate A List is the only independent global disclosure platform that benchmarks companies on environmental transparency and performance.

For the 2025 list, more than 22,100 organisations reported data on their energy use, emissions and broader environmental impacts.

Using this information, CDP is able to evaluate the decarbonisation and efficiency strategies of firms. Naturally, the A List is reserved for those companies that perform best in terms of sustainability.

Sherry Madera, who is the CEO of CDP, says that "businesses earning an A score are proving that environmental ambition and commercial strength go hand in hand".

“High-quality data gives leaders the confidence to make earth-positive decisions that secure long-term competitiveness, attract capital and safeguard natural systems," she adds.

“These organisations show what is possible when transparency becomes the foundation for action.”

Ecolab's work at the nexus of water and energy

First and foremost, Ecolab is a company that works with water. For many years, the Minnesota-based firm has been one of the world's leading providers of solutions and services related to water, hygiene and infection prevention.

But while water is its focus, it is impossible to tell the story of Ecolab without mentioning energy.

Ecolab's market leading services and technologies are all about conveying and treating water in an efficient manner, which, of course, means using as little energy as possible.

The company currently operates in more than 170 countries and employs around 48,000 people, working across sectors that rely heavily on energy and water, including food, healthcare, technology, life sciences, hospitality and manufacturing.

Its technologies and services help clients improve the speed of their processes, lower emissions, reduce energy intensity and optimise water and energy use in line with global sustainability targets.

Ecolab’s position on the A List

Among nearly 20,000 companies analysed by CDP, only 877 achieved A List status – earning recognition for their significant progress in tackling climate, water and forest-related risks.

Ecolab’s double A status demonstrates its commitment to responsible energy use, transparent reporting and continuous improvement across its global operations.

Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEO of Ecolab, says: “High performance creates value – and transparency reinforces both.

“Achieving double A recognition from CDP for water and climate shows how Ecolab grows our business and delivers results the right way while having a positive impact.

“By partnering with customers, we are strengthening performance today while building resilience and fuelling long-term growth.”

This commitment reflects the growing demands of investors – 640 of whom, representing US$127tn in assets, asked CDP to gather energy and environmental data in 2025.

The scale of this request underscores how efficiency and emissions disclosure have become key measures of resilience and investment readiness.

Ecolab’s track record positions the company as a partner driving measurable progress in sustainable operations, particularly in the efficient use of energy and water resources.

Emilio Tenuta, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ecolab, is the driving force behind his company's mission to cut energy usage across the corporate world.

“Delivering water performance and climate impact are not only a measure of a company’s leadership and commitment but also a way to cut costs, mitigate risk and drive business growth," he says.

“We are delighted to receive this recognition for doing our part to combat water and climate challenges with best-in-class solutions that advance resilience and impact.”