Ecolab’s Barueri, Brazil, Plant

Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Case Study
Published February 2023 | Updated September 2025

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 aim to continue to achieve a Net Positive Water Impact through:

Reducing, recycling and replenishing water at operational sites. We aim 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 Barueri, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, is a key contributor to these goals. The Barueri facility produces industrial chemical solutions for cleaning and disinfection. The Barueri facility primarily utilizes municipal water from the São Lourenço Water Supply System, which draws water from the Cachoeira do França Reservoir, located in the Ribeira de Iguape River Basin. The facility obtains additional water, including potable, from the São Paulo Aquifer. Domestic and industrial effluents are sent to an outsourced industrial treatment facility before being discharged into the Tietê River.

The Barueri 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 have been implemented to reduce overall water use:

Refinement of equipment washout and cleaning processes
Improvement in reverse osmosis (RO) units to increase efficiency
Expansion of treated water reuse from filtration systems
Ongoing use of automated effluent treatment processes with performance validation
Adjustments to cleaning cycle timing and activation settings for improved efficiency
Enhanced control of cooling system temperatures and chemical dosing in air scrubbers
Strengthened leak detection and monitoring practices
Streamlined handling and organization of containers to support efficient washing practices
Application of continuous improvement methodologies to identify water reduction opportunities

Outcomes

As a result of these actions, the Barueri site achieved substantial water efficiencies. 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.

To improve the 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, in 2023, the company achieved Core Certification for Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Version 2.0 International Water Standard at its Barueri plant. The facility has continued to stay up to date on AWS certification requirements.

To identify shared water challenges in the Iguape River Basin and the local region, 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 in which we operate. For the Barueri local stakeholders the top water related challenges include water scarcity due to droughts, water pollution in the Tietê River (a major water source for the region), flooding in times of heavy rainfall and inadequate stormwater management, biodiversity loss due to unban expansion, access to clean water and inefficient water management.

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 (IWRA) 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 Barueri 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 incorporate 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 facility’s operations.

Learn More About the Ecolab Smart Water Navigator Learn More About Ecolab’s Water Stewardship Approach

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 Barueri plant 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 wastewater quality, wastewater is adjusted for pH continually. Full testing is done on a monthly basis and an annual analysis is sent to the São Paulo State’s water sanitation company and environmental agency to ensure permit compliance. Incoming water quality for drinking water is tested monthly and process water is tested daily. If a spill or water-related issue were to occur, the Barueri site has a robust incident response plan that includes a root cause analysis of the original incident, a review by the leadership team, documentation in an internal reporting platform and communication of mitigation strategies during monthly site meetings.

Prior to draining stormwater and discharging wastewater, facilities must visually inspect and test the effluent to confirm that it meets the local environmental requirements, permit limits or company standards. If there are no local environmental requirements or permit limits, company standards must be met for stormwater discharge into an adjacent waterway or wastewater effluent into a city sewer system. If a spill or water-related issue were to occur the site has a robust incident response plan that includes a root cause analysis of the original incident, documentation in an internal reporting platform and communication of mitigation strategies. Site water-related compliance information is available upon request.

Water Governance

Water Governance Approach

At the plant level, the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Department is also responsible for managing the water quality, effluent and legal wastewater discharges and steering water savings projects on site. The utilities, logistics, production and maintenance teams are responsible for executing water savings projects. The utilities department operates the effluent system, relevant sample collection, monitoring analysis reports and the legal wastewater discharge updates. 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 Report discloses any violations and associated corrective actions.

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 (IWRA) // Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Important Water Related Areas (IWRA)

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Collective Action

In addition to internal operational improvements, Ecolab’s Barueri facility’s external water stewardship activities are ongoing. Shared challenges between the plant and relevant local stakeholders include water scarcity, water quality and biodiversity loss, in times of both flooding and drought. To address these shared issues, Ecolab collaborates with other water users in the basin.

Site employees have participated in numerous social projects in conjunction with Ecolab’s Brazil sales and services teams to raise awareness about the importance of water in the community through the creation of wall art and other public works.

The facility engages with public stakeholders including the municipal water sanitation provider, a variety of private companies in the area and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Additionally, through Ecolab’s founding membership in the United Nations (UN) Water Resilience Coalition, work to launch a São Paulo chapter of the Coalition was initiated, which expands collective action engagement to medium and small companies in the area on shared water challenges.

Building on these efforts, in 2025 the Barueri facility spearheaded a series of volunteer initiatives that blended environmental education, community engagement and physical well-being. The Arte Urbana project offered workshops on conscious water consumption for teachers, who then guided students in creating water-themed illustrations. These artworks inspired murals painted by students and volunteers, coordinated by artist Jamil Santos, and were later featured in a traveling exhibition. The Planeta Mania Água initiative engaged over 30 educational institutions in designing imaginative “planets” that reflected each group’s interpretation of water-related challenges, culminating in a public exhibition visited by more than 250,000 people. Cine Solar brought sustainability-themed films to the broader community through a solar-powered mobile cinema, encouraging reflection and awareness. Additionally, the Movimenta Ecolab wellness challenge promoted physical activity among associates, with participants earning virtual coins that were converted into donations supporting clean water access and reforestation through organizations like Water is Life and One Tree Planet.

Moreover, Ecolab has committed to a project in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) through the São Paulo Water Fund. The primary objective of this project is to protect and improve water security in the São Paulo metropolitan area.

Through the São Paulo Water Fund, at least 220 hectares of forest land within the municipalities of Mogi das Cruzes and Salesópolis will be protected, both of which are located within the headwaters of the Upper Tietê Watershed. The project leverages funding to expand access to basic sanitation within rural areas by replacing rudimentary systems with advanced technologies in Salesópolis and/or Mogi das Cruzes. Not only will the project replenish 29.4 million gallons of water each year for 10 years starting in 2023, but it will also maintain groundwater storage and recharge, surface water quality and abundance, and diversity of native plant species. Additionally, it is projected to maintain or improve carbon sequestration, leading to enhanced climate adaptation and mitigation strategies and improved human health in the area.