Clean Harbors, Inc.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2019, 2021-2022, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2019
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Fleet Fuel Management
- Air Quality
- Management of Leachate and Hazardous Waste
- Labor Practices
- Workforce Health and Safety
- Recycling and Resource Recovery
Environmental Achievements
- Avoided over 3.5 million metric tons of CO2e emissions in 2019 through used oil re-refining, solvent recycling, and destruction of ozone-depleting substances.
- Recycled 1.4 million metric tons of waste in 2019.
- Recycled more than 6.8 million gallons of solvent annually.
- Re-refined more than 235 million gallons of used oil in 2019.
- Installed solar panels at several locations, generating 2,018 MWh annually.
Social Achievements
- Completed more than 13,800 COVID-19 decontamination jobs in 2020.
- Achieved a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 1.05 in 2020.
- 90% ethnic diversity in U.S. workforce.
- 35% women on the Board of Directors.
- Invested over $2 million in employee wellness programs.
Governance Achievements
- Established an Environmental, Health and Safety Committee to oversee ESG performance.
- Implemented a Code of Conduct and Vendor Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
- 20% of management incentive plan goals tied to ESG in 2019.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Achieve a net climate benefit factor of 3x by 2030 (emissions avoided 3x greater than emissions generated)
- Increase Board Diversity to 40% women and 20% ethnic minority by 2030
- Increase recycling of key materials by 25% by 2030
- Increase alternative energy vehicles in light-duty fleet to over 10% by 2030
- Increase use of renewable energy at facilities to 3,000 MWh by 2030
- Increase community giving to $5 million by 2030
- Increase investment in training to $5 million by 2030
- Reduce TRIR below 1.0
Environmental Challenges
- Determining Scope 3 emissions.
- Reducing GHG emissions from fleet operations.
Mitigation Strategies
- Evaluating the level of effort and cost to determine Scope 3 emissions.
- Investing in artificial intelligence technology to optimize routing and reduce miles driven.
- Upgrading truck fleet with fuel-efficient systems and parts.
- Exploring alternative fuel vehicles and rail transportation.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Vendor Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Growth of recycling and re-refining services
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB
Certifications: ISO 9001:2015 (Safety-Kleen)
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Performance Plus® and EcoPower® re-refined engine oils
- ArmaKleen™ aqueous cleaners
Awards & Recognition
- Named a Top Company by Women in Trucking Association
Reporting Period: 2021-2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- 2X emissions avoided compared to emissions generated as calculated by the Net Climate Benefit Factor
- 16 million gallons of solvent recovered annually
- 1.6 million metric tons of key materials recycled
- 226 million gallons of used oil collected avoiding over 1.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
- 196 million gallons of used oil re-refined to high-quality recycled oil products avoiding more than 2.1 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
- 3.2 million pounds of ozone-depleting substances destroyed avoiding 1.4 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
- Refurbished 93 vehicles, resulting in an estimated 3 MPG improvement and emissions reduction
- Recovered over 3,000 tons of incinerated steel drums, reducing landfill volume and CO2e emissions
Social Achievements
- Established seven ERGs to increase a sense of belonging, inclusion, and collaboration among employees
- 72% participation in the 2022 Employee Survey
- Over $800,000 awarded to employees in recognition and service awards in 2021
- Completed more than 23,000 COVID-19 response projects
- Provided temporary housing and support to those displaced by wildfires in Fort McMurray, Canada
- Aided in Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico
Governance Achievements
- Substantial progress in advancing overall Board diversity toward meeting 2030 governance goals
- Established four committees: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Environmental, Health and Safety Committee, and Corporate Governance Committee
Climate Goals & Targets
- Grow the percentage of alternative vehicles in our light-duty fleet to over 10% by 2030
- Increase recovery of key materials by 25% by 2030
- Increase the use of renewable energy at our facilities to greater than 3,000 MWh annually by 2030
- Double corporate community giving by 2030
- Increase annual investment in training and employee development to $5M by 2030
- Increase Board gender diversity from 20% to 40% by 2030
- Increase Board ethnic diversity from 10% to 20% by 2030
- Grow the percentage of management incentive plan goals tied to ESG from 20% to 30% by 2030
Environmental Challenges
- Determining Scope 3 emissions
- Maintaining a TRIR of less than 1.0
Mitigation Strategies
- Continued evaluation of commitment and resources required to determine Scope 3 emissions
- Actively managing safety through inspired and focused effort from all employees and leadership
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Vendor Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB
Certifications: ISO 9001:2015
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
- Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
- Goal 13 (Climate Action)
- Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
- Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
- Goal 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption)
Clean Harbors' commitment to sustainability in services and products, care for people and communities aligns with these UN SDGs.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- KLEEN+™ base oils
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Health and Safety
- Sustainable Customer Solutions
- Environmental Commitment
- Our People
- Community Engagement
- Supply Chain
Environmental Achievements
- Recycled more than 1.6 million tons of materials in 2022, including 232 million gallons of used oil and 16 million gallons of solvent.
- Launched KLEEN+ brand base oil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 78% compared to conventionally refined base oil.
- Implemented cost-saving and recycling initiatives at facilities (e.g., El Dorado, Arkansas), recovering scrap metal and recycling plastic containers.
- Managed more than 6,000 environmental response and disaster recovery operations.
Social Achievements
- Achieved a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of less than 1.0 for the first time in company history.
- Recognized as a top company for women in transportation for the third consecutive year.
- Received the Sustainability Partnership Game Changer Award from the NWRA.
- Earned a spot on the “Top 25 Veteran Employer” list from Military.com.
- Exceeded the 2021 goal of $5M annual investment in training by 2030, reaching $5M+ in 2022.
Governance Achievements
- Expanded the Board of Directors to 11 members, increasing gender and ethnic diversity.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Reduce TRIR to less than 1.0
- Double charitable donations
- Grow alternative energy vehicles to >10%
- Increase key material recovery by 25%
- Increase renewable energy use to >3,000 MWh annually
- Increase Board gender diversity to 40%
- Increase Board ethnic diversity to 20%
- Grow ESG-focused management incentive goals to 30%
- Not disclosed
Environmental Challenges
- Not disclosed
Mitigation Strategies
- Not disclosed
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100% of suppliers governed by supplier code of conduct
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier code of conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI Standards (2021)
Certifications: ISO 9001:2015 (Safety-Kleen)
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- KLEEN+ base oil
Awards & Recognition
- SEAL Sustainable Product Award
- NWRA Sustainability Partnership Game Changer Award
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Fleet Fuel Management
- Air Quality
- Management of Leachate and Hazardous Waste
- Labor Practices
- Workforce Health and Safety
- Recycling and Resource Recovery
- Board Diversity
- Employee Engagement
- Community Engagement
- Supply Chain Sustainability
- Cybersecurity
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced GHG emission intensity to 0.32 mt CO2e / $1,000 Revenue USD
- Achieved a Net Climate Benefit Factor of >2X (GHG emissions avoided more than double those generated)
- Recycled nearly 1.7 million metric tons of materials
- Collected and processed 235 million gallons of used oil, avoiding 1.9 million metric tons of GHG emissions
- Recycled more than 16 million gallons of solvent, avoiding over 50,000 metric tons of GHG emissions
- Refurbished nearly 190 vehicle assets, improving average engine efficiency by 35%
- Constructed a new 70,000-ton incinerator in Kimball, Nebraska, increasing capacity by 12%
- Developed a Total PFAS Solution with >99.9999% PFAS elimination efficiency
Social Achievements
- Reduced voluntary turnover by more than 15%
- Promoted more than 1,000 employees (most in a single year)
- Achieved a TRIR of 0.63 (lowest in company history)
- Absorbed healthcare cost increases for employees for the sixth consecutive year
- Introduced an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
- Expanded employee benefits including parental leave and Care.com access
Governance Achievements
- Increased Board gender diversity to 45%
- Established a new Ad Hoc Cyber Committee
- Maintained 100% supplier coverage under the Vendor Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Reduce GHG emission intensity to ≤0.25 mt CO2e/$1,000 Revenue USD by 2030
- Increase recycling of materials by 25% by 2030 (compared to 2019 baseline)
- Increase use of renewable energy at facilities by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2019 baseline)
- Achieve a Net Climate Benefit Factor ≥ 3.0 by 2030
- Increase annual investment in training and development to >$5 million USD
- Not disclosed
Environmental Challenges
- Maintaining industry-leading safety performance while expanding operations
- Reducing GHG emissions intensity while growing the business
- Managing the evolving regulatory environment for PFAS
- Ensuring supply chain sustainability
Mitigation Strategies
- Investing in automation, safety equipment, and robust reporting systems
- Implementing energy-efficient practices and renewable energy initiatives
- Developing a comprehensive Total PFAS Solution
- Implementing a Vendor Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and interactive supplier surveys
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100% of suppliers governed by supplier code of conduct
Responsible Procurement
- Vendor Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (including clauses on environmental, labor, and human rights)
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products and services
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI
Certifications: ISO 14001:2015 (for central function HQ)
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
- Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
- Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
- Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
- Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
Clean Harbors' initiatives align with these SDGs through various environmental, social, and governance programs and services.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- KLEEN+ base oils
- Re-refined oil products
Awards & Recognition
- 2024 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations (Corporate Knights)
- 2023 Top 100 Best ESG Companies (Investor Business Daily)
- 2023/2024 Clean200
- 2023 Sustainability Partnership Game Changer Award (NWRA)
- 2022 SEAL Sustainable Product Award