Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2018-2019, 2020, 2021, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2018-2019
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Employee Safety
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Product Transparency
- Supply Chain Ethics
Environmental Achievements
- Saved over 10,685,170 single-use bottles from landfills in 2018-2019 through water bottle filling stations.
- Implemented green office practices, including reusable cups and responsible coffee waste disposal.
Social Achievements
- Launched the Sternberg Philanthropy Award to recognize employee community involvement.
- Established the Elkay Family Foundation to support employees impacted by natural disasters.
- Employees donated $250,796.10 to various charities in 2018-2019, matched by the company.
Governance Achievements
- Established an ethics hotline and online reporting system for anonymous reporting of ethical concerns.
- Implemented a strict non-retaliation policy for ethical concerns reporting.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Approach a net-zero footprint.
- Establish science-based targets for greenhouse gas emissions by 2024.
- Achieve 80% product coverage with Health Product Declarations (HPDs) within the plumbing organization by 2026.
- Expand supplier code of conduct coverage to 90% of Elkay purchasing dollars.
- Inventory and analyze greenhouse gas emissions across the entire organization to establish a reliable baseline.
- Increase percentage of diverse candidates presented to hiring managers to 25% and diverse hires to 25%.
Environmental Challenges
- Inconsistent levels of time, resources, and effort invested in workplace safety across different locations.
- Challenges in auditing all international suppliers repeatedly.
- Challenges in ensuring all locations engage in the annual giving campaign and employee volunteer programs.
Mitigation Strategies
- Exploring alternative approaches to establishing consistent safety performance across the company.
- Prioritizing audits for significant, long-term suppliers.
- Working to improve engagement in the annual campaign and volunteer programs across all locations.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Periodic audits to assess risks and ensure compliance.
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct (covering labor practices, environmental standards, and safety standards).
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core Option
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- ezH2O bottle filling stations
- Smartwell beverage dispensers
Reporting Period: 2020
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Stewardship
- Health and Safety
- Associate Investment and Inclusive Work Environment
- Community Support
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22%, energy consumption by 22%, and water consumption by 34% between 2018 and 2020.
- Recycled more than 13,700 metric tons of scrap metal.
- Run Dry Solutions saved 163 million gallons of water globally in 2020.
- Decreased energy usage by 862,500 kilowatts (18%) in Auburn, Ala. facility.
Social Achievements
- Pledged $1 million from the Rexnord Foundation to support racial justice and equity initiatives.
- Pledged $1 million in donated hygienic products to healthcare facilities to help fight COVID-19.
- Continued manager development and internship programs.
- Reduced Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) by 43% from 2017 to 2020.
- Increased Total Associate Engagement (TAE) scores consistently over the past several years (72% in FY20).
Governance Achievements
- Established a Board-level ESG Committee in July 2020.
- Developed multiple enterprise-wide ESG-related corporate policies (Diversity & Inclusion, Environmental & Sustainability, Product Safety, Supplier Diversity, Human Rights Statement).
- Achieved 30% women directors on the board and 8/10 independent board members as of December 31, 2020.
- 100% associate completion of Code of Business Conduct & Ethics training in 2020.
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- COVID-19 pandemic impacting supply chains and operations.
- Increased demand for hygienic products while supply chain distribution networks slowed.
Mitigation Strategies
- Supply chain management team worked to ensure seamless transitions of global teams and limited impacts on customers.
- Board of Directors engaged throughout the year on critical business decisions impacting supply chain.
- Awarded $2 million in bonuses to approximately 4,000 global associates for their efforts during the pandemic.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Touchless restroom products
- Run Dry Solutions
Reporting Period: 2021
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Health & Safety
- People
- Communities
- Governance & Ethics
Environmental Achievements
- Zurn Water Solutions engineered products saved 34 billion gallons of water in 2021.
- 70% of revenues came from sustainable products in 2021.
- 25.2% of waste from operations was recycled in 2021.
- Paso Robles facility generated 877 MWh of electricity through a rooftop solar system.
Social Achievements
- Increased associates’ paid time for company-sponsored volunteer events by 25%, from 16 to 20 hours annually.
- More than 90% of the U.S. workforce participates in the Wellness Program.
- Launched an employee-led social impact fund to support sustainability initiatives.
- Associate Inclusion Index score of 583 in 2021, ahead of the industry average.
Governance Achievements
- Became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact.
- 100% of associates trained on the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics in 2021.
- Implemented a U.S. Supplier Diversity Program, spending approximately $5 million with diverse suppliers in 2021.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Report on Scope 3 emissions and establish a science-based target for GHG reduction (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) by 2023.
- Reduce Scope 1 & Scope 2 GHG emissions intensity by 50% by 2030.
- Increase revenue from sustainable products to 75% by 2024.
- Achieve 40 billion gallons of water saved annually through products by 2024.
- Reduce energy consumed per U.S. dollar of operating revenue by 15% by 2024.
- Increase employee engagement survey responses to 80% by 2024.
Environmental Challenges
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Improving water consumption in facilities, especially in water-stressed regions.
- Maintaining a sustainable and resilient supply chain.
Mitigation Strategies
- Set a goal to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG intensity by 50% by 2030.
- Implemented the Zurn Environmental Management System (EMS).
- Expanded the Supplier Quality and Development Program to assess key environmental and social performance indicators.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Top suppliers representing 80% of global supplier spend were surveyed in 2021.
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Supplier Quality and Development Program
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Heavy rain and flooding
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI
Certifications: WaterSense
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
The report details how Zurn's products and initiatives contribute to these goals.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Hydro-X Power faucet
- Go Blue Parts
- VERDEdri hand dryer
- BrightShield suite of hygienic products
- Zurn Smart Products
Awards & Recognition
- Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies (two years in a row)
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Cleaner, safer water
- Protecting and conserving water
- Promoting sustainability in our operations and supply chain
- Prioritizing our people, our values and our communities
Environmental Achievements
- 12.7% total reduction in energy intensity through 2023 (compared to our 2021 baseline)
- 27.2% total reduction in GHG intensity through 2023 (compared to our 2021 baseline)
- 16% of electricity use was from renewable sources in 2023
- 65.5% company waste diversion rate
Social Achievements
- Launched Safety Observation Program to give associates more tools to improve safety in our facilities
- 94% Total Associate Engagement Survey participation
- 79.3% Associate Inclusion Index score, exceeding the industry average of 73%
- 5,366 total volunteer hours completed by Zurn Elkay associates
- $2.2M filter donation providing five years of clean drinking water to Milwaukee Public Schools
- $7.7M cash and in-kind donations to community organizations
Governance Achievements
- updated our Supplier Excellence Manual, which includes expectations for how to do business with Zurn Elkay
- 5.5% of supplier spend with diverse businesses in 2023
- 100% of associates trained on the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics in 2023
- 40% female and minority representation on the Board of Directors in 2023
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net zero emissions (target year not explicitly stated, but implied by 2030 and 2050 goals)
- Source at least 25% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions intensity by 50% by 2030 (compared to our 2021 baseline)
- Reduce NOx air emissions intensity per U.S. dollar of operating revenue by 15% by 2025 (compared to our 2022 baseline)
- Reduce energy consumed per U.S. dollar of operating revenue by 15% by 2024 (compared to our 2021 baseline)
- Reduce TRIR by 10% in 2023 (compared to our 2022 baseline)
Environmental Challenges
- Aging infrastructure that can contaminate water supplies
- Water scarcity issues
- Drinking water quality
- Waste from single-use plastics and paper towels
- Energy use
Mitigation Strategies
- Developed a holistic greenhouse gas reduction roadmap
- Prioritized investments in LED lighting, more efficient air compression systems, insulation
- Ensured supply chain integrity through oversight of supplier diversity, supply chain sustainability and risk
- Bolstered training initiatives and established a new target of 18 training hours per associate annually
- Reinforced commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 77 audits in 2023
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Supplier Excellence Manual
- Supplier Diversity initiatives
- ESG and Business Continuity Survey for suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather (flooding, severe storms)
- Wildfires
Transition Risks
- Carbon pricing mechanisms
- Enhanced emissions-reporting obligations
- Increased cost of raw materials
- Need for technological innovation
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
- Increased revenue from water conservation products
- Competitive market positioning
- New and emerging markets
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CDP Climate Change and Water Security Questionnaires
Certifications: ISO 14064-3 (GHG inventory verification), ISO 22301 (BCP)
Third-party Assurance: Third-party verification for Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
- Goal 13 (Climate Action)
- Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
- Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
- Goal 5 (Gender Equality)
- Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
- Goal 15 (Life on Land)
- Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
- Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)
Initiatives contributing to these goals are described throughout the report.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Filtered bottle filling stations
- Pressure-reducing valves
- Backflow preventers
- Low-flow fixtures
- Energy-efficient hand dryers
- Sensor products
- CuVerro copper sinks
- Partitions with recycled content
- PEX piping systems
- Roof drains
Awards & Recognition
- America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek (four consecutive years)