Ecolab Delivers on Commitments to Save Water in Historic AI Era
This World Water Day, Ecolab reinforces its continued water leadership and highlights new opportunities for water savings driven by AI
Water is the world's most essential resource, and it's only grown more critical in the age of AI. During this transformative digital revolution, Ecolab, a global sustainability leader that maximizes growth and performance through water solutions and infection prevention services, has continued to meet its goals and work with customers to deliver profitability while advancing optimized water use.
By 2030, it is estimated that AI-related growth will demand additional power equivalent to the annual needs of India1 and as much water to meet the annual drinking water needs of the United States2. As the world navigates the growth of AI and high-tech data centers, there is a unique opportunity to leverage AI to help drive efficiency and innovation in circular water management to improve operational processes and conserve natural resources. Ecolab's mission to help protect water while driving business growth is more important than ever.
"The rapid acceleration of AI technology is increasing demands on our water and energy resources, yet it also offers unprecedented opportunity to address the water crisis through proprietary connected systems and powerful insights," said Christophe Beck, chairman and CEO of Ecolab. "By leveraging AI to reduce, reuse and repurpose water throughout business operations, we can continue to win the right way by delivering positive performance for customers while protecting natural resources."
Ecolab, together with its customers, made significant progress in 2024 to advance water stewardship and help build a more resilient and profitable future. This World Water Day, Ecolab celebrates these achievements in protecting water resources while continuing to grow. Highlights from Ecolab's 2024 Year in Water include:
- Water conservation: Ecolab helped customers conserve more than 226 billion gallons of water, equivalent to the annual drinking water needs of more than 781 million people. By 2030, Ecolab aims to help conserve 300 billion gallons of water annually, equivalent to the drinking water needs of 1 billion people.
- Business growth: Ecolab continued to grow its Global Water business through the acquisition of Barclay Water Management, helping enhance its water safety and digital monitoring solutions.
- AI-driven solutions: Ecolab collaborated with Digital Realty to deploy an AI-driven water conservation solution in 35 of Digital Realty's U.S. data centers, aiming to improve water use efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
- Water treatment partnerships: Nalco Water, Ecolab's water and process management business, partnered with Danieli to enhance industrial water treatment for the metals industry, aiming to improve production processes, reduce carbon and water footprints, and lower costs.
- Consumer engagement: Ecolab elevated awareness of the importance of water during New York Climate Week with its "Every Drop Counts" exhibit in Bryant Park. It also continued its annual Ecolab Watermark™ Study, which reports on the state of water stewardship around the world.
- Leading certifications: Ecolab continued pursuing Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) certification, bringing its total count of AWS-certified facilities to 12. Ecolab also earned the Water Stewardship Verified (WAVE) certification for its leading water stewardship efforts.
- Innovative funding: Ecolab participated in a $10 million funding round led by Emerald Technology Ventures to accelerate the global deployment of an innovative PFAS treatment technology, the LEEF System®.
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Convener of water action: As cofounder of the Water Resilience Coalition (WRC), an industry-driven, CEO-led initiative under the UN Global Compact, Ecolab is committed to addressing the global water crisis. Over the past year, Ecolab helped the WRC make significant strides towards its 2030 roadmap:
- Investing in Safe Water and Sanitation: Along with Microsoft, Starbucks, Xylem, Reckitt, Gap Inc. and others, Ecolab contributed to the Water & Climate Resilience Fund by WaterEquity. This innovative impact fund has raised more than $100 million, aiming to provide safe water or sanitation access to 15 million people across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
- Championing California's Water Resilience: As Basin Champion for drought-stricken California, Ecolab convened the second annual forum of the California Water Resilience Initiative (CWRI). This private sector initiative accelerates coordinated, collective action to achieve a water-resilient future for California, aligning with public sector goals.
- Recognition: Ecolab received public accolades for sustainability, climate and water leadership from CDP, JUST Capital, the Dow Jones and Barron's, among others.
- Smart Water Navigator: Ecolab continued to offer its informative digital tool to help businesses understand the full value of water in their operations and achieve water goals.
Ecolab's mission to protect vital resources and deliver business growth is more critical now than ever in the age of AI. By prioritizing smart water management, Ecolab is helping businesses perform while building a more resilient and positive future. Learn more at: https://www.ecolab.com/expertise-and-innovation/water.
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 more than a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of $16 billion, employs approximately 48,000 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, high tech, life sciences, hospitality and industrial markets. www.ecolab.com
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1 Bloomberg Law, "AI Computing on Pace to Consume More Energy Than India, Arm Says," April 2024. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-computing-on-pace-to-consume-more-energy-than-india-arm-says.
2 Ecolab analysis of data from Lei, N., & Masanet, E. (2022) and Goldman Sachs (2024).
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Kim Del Alcazar
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