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Ecolab’s Greensboro, North Carolina, Plant
Certifying as Water Stewardship Leader
Published October 2024
Insights
As a global leader in water solutions and services, Ecolab remains dedicated to creating a more water secure future through smart water management, conservation and stewardship. By 2030 we plan to continue to achieve a Net Positive Water Impact through:
- Reducing, recycling and replenishing water at operational sites. We are targeting to reduce water impact by 40% per unit production across our enterprise from a 2018 base year.
- Protecting local watersheds by working to restore greater than 50% of our absolute water withdrawal volume at high-risk sites.
- Delivering outcomes through the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard by achieving AWS certification for Ecolab manufacturing sites located in high-risk watersheds.
Ecolab’s manufacturing facility located in Greensboro, North Carolina is a blend plant that primarily produces industrial cleaning and sanitizing chemicals. The Greensboro facility uses water from City of Greensboro, which sources water from three locations: Lake Townsend, Lake Brandt and Lake Higgins. Water from these lakes is treated by two local water treatment facilities, Mitchell Water Treatment Plant and the Townsend Water Treatment Plant, before it is sent to the city and then to Ecolab’s Greensboro facility. The Greensboro facility effluent water gets neutralized on-site, then is sent to T.Z. Osborne Water Reclamation Facility. The reclamation facility discharges water into South Buffalo Creek, which eventually reaches the North Atlantic Ocean.
The Greensboro facility was identified as a priority location to pursue AWS certification, enhance the site’s smart water management approach and implement innovative technologies to advance enterprise water goals.
Actions
To contribute to Ecolab’s enterprise water goals, the local team’s objective is to reduce annual water use per ton of product by 40% from 2018 to 2030.
The following projects help improve the facility’s water balance and were implemented to reduce overall water use:
- Implementation of Water Flow Intelligence: Powered by ECOLAB3D™ to provide enhanced water metering and monitoring throughout the facility
- Installation of automated valves on timers in high water usage areas
- Extruder washout optimization to reduce automatic washout duration
- Automated valves on the conveyer to reduce water use
Outcomes
As a result of these actions, the Greensboro achieved substantial savings in water. The improvements made at the site have proved to be a helpful step forward for enhancing the site’s operations and advancing Ecolab’s sustainability goals.
Featured Solutions
Leveraging Ecolab solutions to help the Greensboro facility reduce, reuse and recycle water.
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Sustainable Water Balance
Ecolab Smart Water NavigatorWater Quality Intelligence: Powered by ECOLAB3D™
With the aim to improve overall health of local watersheds, and as part of Ecolab’s efforts to create 2030 Positive Impact, we have prioritized AWS certification in high-risk watersheds in which we operate.
Good Water
Governance
✓
Sustainable Water Balance
✓
Good Water
Quality Status
✓
Important Water-Related Areas
✓
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash)
✓
Water Stewardship Journey
Ecolab is committed to sustainable water use in our facilities and collaboration with other businesses at the local level. In alignment with Ecolab’s commitment to a holistic approach to water management across its manufacturing facilities, the company is pursuing the Core Certification for Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Version 2.0 International Water Standard at its Greensboro, North Carolina facility.
To identify shared water challenges in the surrounding area, a comprehensive risk assessment was performed leveraging insights from Ecolab’s Smart Water Navigator and the World Resources Institute (WRI) Aqueduct Atlas to identify shared and site-level water challenges. Implementation of water withdrawal reduction projects were prioritized based on risk probability and impact to site-level and community stakeholders.
Ecolab’s water stewardship approach aims to make a positive impact within our operations and on the water challenges within the communities we operate in. For the Greensboro facility and local stakeholders, the top water related challenges include water quality concerns from sediment, nutrient and other pollution; water scarcity due to an increasing demand for water; biodiversity loss due to habitat loss, fragmentation, pollution and invasive species; flooding due to climate change, urbanization and aging infrastructure.
To effectively address these challenges, a strong water stewardship approach strives for continuous improvement in sustainable site water balance and water quality. Our holistic approach includes a focus on important water related areas and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and our continued progress in these critical areas depends on our strong water governance.
Using the Ecolab Smart Water Navigator to quantify the progress made against the five AWS outcomes, the Greensboro site is considered Water-Smart on the Water Maturity Curve. The Water Maturity Curve illustrates the quantified state of a site’s water strategy and management plan. A facility’s place on the curve is determined by a set of criteria that includes governance and strategy, target setting, water management practices and water stewardship. The criteria incorporates principles consistent with the five outcomes of the AWS framework, both emphasizing that strong water management includes continuous improvement and collaboration inside and outside the facilities operations.
Sustainable Water Balance
Net Positive Water
A sustainable water balance and smart water management approach within our own operations is a critical component in achieving a localized net positive water impact. Aligned with the enterprise goals, the local team’s objective is to reduce the site’s annual water use per ton of product by 40% from 2018 to 2030. The team at Ecolab’s Greensboro site regularly assesses the facility for opportunities to decrease water use across operations to meet Ecolab’s targets to create 2030 Positive Impact. Implementation of water reduction projects are prioritized based on risk probability and impact to site-level and community stakeholders.
Water Quality
Water Quality Approach
To maintain good water quality for both process water and wastewater, wastewater is tested every six to twelve months, aligned with permit requirements. Stormwater is tested via analytical analysis and visual inspection on a quarterly basis. Additionally, the facility has a spill prevention, control and countermeasures (SPCC), which includes informal inspections of oil drums and bulk storage tanks conducted by operating personnel on a daily basis when the facility is operational. Formal inspections of the facility including oil storage containers are conducted on a monthly basis.
Water Governance
Water Governance Approach
At the plant level, the Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) department is responsible for wastewater compliance, with the SHE manager ultimately responsible and plant manager accountable. The corporate environmental lead is available to consult on regulatory updates and wastewater compliance. Site water-related compliance information is available upon request, including necessary corrective action taken by the site to prevent future occurrences.
Additionally, Ecolab's CDP Water Security report discloses any violations and associated corrective actions.
At a corporate level, the corporate sustainability team is guided and advised by the Sustainability Executive Advisory Team (SEAT), which is made up of the company’s most senior business and divisional leaders. In addition, Ecolab’s Sustainability, Water Stewardship and Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) positions are publicly available and serve as commitments to and guidance on water-related issues and compliance. Ecolab’s Sustainability Position formalizes Ecolab’s global commitment to sustainability within the company and its impact on customers. Ecolab’s Water Stewardship Position reinforces Ecolab’s global commitment to responsible water stewardship by identifying opportunities for the company and its customers to use water resources in a manner that benefits business, communities and nature. Ecolab’s SHE Position outlines the company’s commitment to excellence in safety, health and environmental practices and performance across global operations.
Important Water Related Areas
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Collective Action
In addition to internal operational improvements, Ecolab’s Greensboro facility’s external water stewardship activities are ongoing. Shared challenges between the plant and relevant, local stakeholders include water quality concerns from sediment, nutrient and other pollution; water scarcity due to an increasing demand for water; biodiversity loss due to habitat loss, fragmentation, pollution and invasive species; flooding due to climate change, urbanization and aging infrastructure. To address these shared issues, the Greensboro facility has started developing community partnerships through stakeholder outreach, seeking collaboration with other water users in the basin.
Ecolab associates at the Greensboro facility continue to be engaged in collective action within their community. In 2024, team members at the Greensboro site volunteered over 28 hours of time to organizations including the Conservation Foundation, Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire District Inc, Out of the Garden Project and General Green Elementary. This work focused on civic and community development, youth education in STEM topics, and environment and conservation work to positively impact the local watershed.
On top of local water stewardship efforts, Ecolab’s global giving program, Solutions for Life, enhances the company’s mission to conserve and protect fresh water through partnership and additional projects with TNC and the Project WET Foundation.
This case study was created to comply with AWS indicators 5.1.1, 5.2.1, 5.3.1. 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 5.5.1, 5.5.2 and 5.5.3. Additional details regarding this site’s AWS work are available upon request. For more information, please contact sustainability@ecolab.com.