As we complete the integration of the companies, we will establish new goals for our combined company, but as part of that process, we are recapping progress as separate companies through 2011, as a final report on our prior targets.
Greenhouse Gases
Ecolab pledged to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 20 percent per dollar of sales by the end of 2012 (from a 2006 baseline). At the close of 2011, we achieved a 19 percent reduction, attaining 95 percent of the goal within 83 percent of the established time frame. Since 2009 our absolute global GHG emissions have dropped 4 percent.
The Carbon Disclosure Project acknowledged these efforts naming Ecolab one of only 11 companies on the 2011 Carbon Performance Leadership Index.
Energy
Nalco had a target of reducing total energy use globally from 2007 levels by 10 percent by the end of 2012. Numerous projects over the past four years allowed us to cut energy use by 8.4 percent by the end of last year, achieving 84 percent of our goal within 80 percent of the established time frame.
Water, Wastewater and Waste
In 2009, we set ambitious goals to reduce our global water consumption, disposed waste and wastewater from manufacturing operations by 18 percent per metric ton of product shipped by 2015. Waste reduction progress was very strong, exceeding that goal and achieving a 19.8 percent drop within two years. However, our water and wastewater performance was not as strong, as both increased due to our higher production levels.
Taking Action for Improvement
While we made good progress, we realize environmental improvements are never “done” but require ongoing planning and attention. Many actions taken in 2011 continue to reap rewards and new efforts are being implemented to build on that success.
More than 24 energy reduction projects were completed in 2011 at 10 different locations will result in an estimated annual energy savings of more than 36 million kilowatt hours.
Since 2006, the 7,000-vehicle Ecolab U.S. fleet has moved to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, cutting fuel consumption 8 percent, despite an increase in number of vehicles and total miles driven. That reduced GHG emissions by 22 percent, normalized to sales.
Important water reduction projects identified in 2011, included process and equipment changes at our Joliet, Ill., plant that will cut annual water use by 24 million gallons. Our plant in Martinsburg, W. Va., is reusing material from washing lines in the next production batch, saving 2 million gallons of water per year and decreasing wastewater production.
Additional information about our environmental performance is available in the Detailed Appendix to our 2011 Sustainability Report.