Ecolab Inc – Lobbying Governance & Transparency

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Lobbying Governance

Overall Assessment	Analysis	Score
Strong	Ecolab discloses a multi-layered system that actively governs both its direct advocacy and its participation in trade associations, with clear mechanisms for ensuring consistency with its climate objectives. The company states that it “maintain[s] a formal process to manage all direct and indirect engagement with policy makers and related organizations to ensure we have a common approach consistent with our business strategy,” adding that the process is “integrated into the annual business continuity and risk management assessment process so any activities that influence policy are evaluated for alignment… [and] if inconsistent, these are immediately flagged for action by the Government Relations team.” Oversight responsibilities are explicitly assigned: “A committee of management consisting of the Senior VP of Government Relations, the Assistant Secretary or Secretary, the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior VP of Regulatory Affairs, and the Executive VP for Global Markets reviews proposed and existing significant trade association memberships at least semi-annually,” with escalation to the CEO where misalignment is material, and “the Governance Committee of the Board of Directors reviews Ecolab’s significant trade association memberships… on an annual basis.” The company further notes that it “employ[s] a cross-functional group of leaders within the company to evaluate… policy proposals… alongside public commitments related to climate,” and confirms a public pledge to conduct engagement “in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.” Together, these disclosures demonstrate a defined policy, regular monitoring of both direct and indirect lobbying, and named senior and board-level oversight, indicating strong governance; however, the company has not published a dedicated climate-lobbying alignment audit or detailed public report that would provide full transparency into outcomes of these reviews. View Sources	B

Overall Assessment

Analysis

Score

Strong

Ecolab discloses a multi-layered system that actively governs both its direct advocacy and its participation in trade associations, with clear mechanisms for ensuring consistency with its climate objectives. The company states that it “maintain[s] a formal process to manage all direct and indirect engagement with policy makers and related organizations to ensure we have a common approach consistent with our business strategy,” adding that the process is “integrated into the annual business continuity and risk management assessment process so any activities that influence policy are evaluated for alignment… [and] if inconsistent, these are immediately flagged for action by the Government Relations team.” Oversight responsibilities are explicitly assigned: “A committee of management consisting of the Senior VP of Government Relations, the Assistant Secretary or Secretary, the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior VP of Regulatory Affairs, and the Executive VP for Global Markets reviews proposed and existing significant trade association memberships at least semi-annually,” with escalation to the CEO where misalignment is material, and “the Governance Committee of the Board of Directors reviews Ecolab’s significant trade association memberships… on an annual basis.” The company further notes that it “employ[s] a cross-functional group of leaders within the company to evaluate… policy proposals… alongside public commitments related to climate,” and confirms a public pledge to conduct engagement “in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.” Together, these disclosures demonstrate a defined policy, regular monitoring of both direct and indirect lobbying, and named senior and board-level oversight, indicating strong governance; however, the company has not published a dedicated climate-lobbying alignment audit or detailed public report that would provide full transparency into outcomes of these reviews.

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Lobbying Transparency

Overall Assessment	Analysis	Score
Comprehensive	Ecolab provides a high level of transparency around its climate-related lobbying. It names multiple specific measures it has tried to influence, including the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (S.3591), the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (S.3590), provisions in the Build Back Better legislation for an industrial water-reuse tax credit, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the proposed SEC climate-disclosure rule. The company also spells out how it engages: it “wrote a letter to leadership of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee,” “met with key Congressional offices,” “weighed in support during the consideration of the Inflation Reduction Act in Congress,” and worked indirectly through groups such as Water ReUse, the American Chemistry Council and AISE—identifying clear targets such as the Senate EPW Committee, Congressional offices, and executive-branch departments and agencies. Finally, Ecolab is explicit about the outcomes it seeks, backing provisions that “advance water recycling and reuse in the U.S.,” advocating for “a pilot program for alternative water source grants,” pressing for “an industrial water reuse tax credit program,” and supporting the IRA’s climate-mitigation and renewable-energy incentives in line with its goal of using 100 % renewable electricity by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Together, these disclosures give a comprehensive picture of what the company is lobbying for, how it does so, and the concrete policy changes it wants to see.	A