Safety is a core value that guides how we work at Ecolab. That commitment was recently recognized by ArcelorMittal Etxebarri in Spain, where Ecolab's team was honored as the Best Auxiliary Company in Safety, a recognition of the team's strong safety culture, proactive risk management and unwavering commitment to protecting people while supporting critical industrial operations.  

The award reflects the strength of a long-standing collaboration focused on helping ArcelorMittal Etxebarri improve both operational performance and water stewardship. Through a Total Water Management approach, Ecolab has worked alongside the site to optimise water use, increase water reuse and support more sustainable operations. 

The results have been significant. To date, the site has reduced its annual potable water consumption by an amount equivalent to one and a half times the yearly drinking water consumption of the entire municipality of Etxebarri. When translated into drinking water consumption alone, the savings are equivalent to approximately two and a half times the annual drinking water needs of the city of Bilbao, with a population of approximately 346,000 people. 

Building on these achievements, Ecolab and ArcelorMittal are now advancing a second phase of the project. Once implemented, Phase 2 is expected to reduce an additional 570,000 cubic meters of discharge annually - equivalent to approximately 230 Olympic-size swimming pools - while decreasing river water withdrawals by the same volume and contributing to a total water reduction of 67% compared with 2021 levels. 

While these water-saving achievements are important, they are only possible because of a strong culture of safety. Ecolab believes that protecting people, operating responsibly and using resources efficiently are interconnected priorities that enable long-term business performance. This recognition highlights how safety and sustainability work together to create value for customers, communities and the environment. 

We are proud of the team behind this achievement and grateful to ArcelorMittal for the recognition. Together, we continue to demonstrate how strong partnerships, operational excellence and innovative water management solutions can help industries improve resilience while advancing a more sustainable future.