Ecolab

Ecolab Inc., headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, stands as one of the world's leading providers of water treatment, sanitation, and hygiene solutions, primarily serving commercial and industrial customers. Ranked 274th on the Fortune 500, the company has built a century-long legacy of innovation since its founding in 1923. Ecolab's comprehensive portfolio of products and services spans more than 40 industries, helping millions of customers in over 170 countries ensure operational efficiency, safety, sustainability, product quality and guest satisfaction. With 50,000 employees worldwide and annual revenue exceeding $15.74 billion in 2024, Ecolab has established itself as an indispensable partner to businesses ranging from restaurants and hotels to hospitals, manufacturing facilities, and data centers.

The company's transformative acquisition of Nalco Water in 2011 for $8.3 billion marked a pivotal expansion, creating a powerhouse in industrial water treatment with more than $11 billion in combined sales. This strategic move positioned Ecolab as the undisputed leader in water technologies, combining Economics Laboratory's expertise in institutional cleaning with Nalco's industrial water management capabilities. Today, Ecolab's integrated approach delivers not just chemicals, but complete systems including equipment, dispensers, monitoring technologies, and expert service that optimize customer operations while advancing sustainability goals.

Ecolab's impact extends far beyond financial performance. In 2024, the company conserved 226 billion gallons of water—equivalent to the drinking water needs of 781 million people—and protected 1.7 billion people from foodborne illnesses and infections through its hygiene and infection prevention solutions. The company has committed to achieving 100% renewable electricity globally by 2030, having already reached 71% renewable energy usage and 100% in its European Union operations. Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Christophe Beck since 2021, Ecolab continues to drive innovation in digital solutions, expand in high-growth sectors like data centers and life sciences, and pursue its mission to make the world cleaner, safer, and healthier.

Ecolab's business model centers on a "systems approach" that began in 1928 with the introduction of its first product dispenser. Rather than simply selling chemicals, Ecolab provides integrated solutions combining proprietary chemistry, application equipment, digital monitoring systems, and expert technical service. This consultative approach creates deep, long-term customer relationships and recurring revenue streams. The company's salesforce of field specialists works on-site with customers to optimize processes, reduce water and energy consumption, improve food safety, and meet regulatory compliance requirements. This value-added service model has proven resilient across economic cycles and has enabled Ecolab to maintain industry-leading margins while delivering measurable customer ROI through operational efficiency, risk reduction, and sustainability improvements.