Zep Takes a Stand for Sustainability with New Stewardship Focus
April 05 2021 - 10:07AM
Business Wire
Zep, Inc. Launches New Company-Wide Initiative
to Build a Safer and Cleaner Future
There is growing demand from employees, customers, and investors
for companies to do more than deliver financial returns. Today’s
conscious consumer expects companies to contribute positively to
environmental and social causes. Zep, Inc., an innovator, producer
and distributor of maintenance, cleaning, and sanitation solutions,
announced today the launch of Zep Stewardship, a new company-wide
initiative to make the planet safer, cleaner, and more
productive.
Zep Stewardship is an Environmental Social Governance (ESG)
strategy that aligns with Zep’s key values: Stewardship, Passion
for Problem Solving, Empowerment, Expertise, and Doing the Right
Thing. In 2020, Zep conducted an extensive ESG materiality
assessment based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Sustainability Reporting Standards to develop and inform its
priority areas.
“Zep Stewardship is only the beginning of our commitment to keep
people safe and to a build a cleaner and more productive world.
This promise starts with our employees, customers, and
communities,” said Matt Duncan, Zep’s Chief Administrative Officer.
“We built Zep Stewardship from the inside out, enlisting the
insights, leadership and support of our people and customers and
referencing reputable ESG guidelines and standards to inform our
goals and vision.”
Zep Stewardship focuses on five key areas: health and safety,
carbon emissions, water usage and effluents, diversity and
inclusion, and marketing and labeling.
Health and Safety
- We are dedicated to being our customers’ leading partner for
pandemic preparedness and biosecurity innovation. For example, Zep
Assure™ is a new comprehensive cleaning and disinfection management
compliance system that assists customer efforts to fight the spread
of COVID-19 and other micro-organisms, and to protect employees and
guests.
- Zep continues to pursue Target Zero workplace incidents, and in
2020 deployed new technology to enhance real-time reporting with
intent to reduce future employee injuries. We firmly believe
employees have a right to safe work environments, and all employees
have a role to play in enhancing our processes and practices.
Carbon Emissions
- We are committed to reducing carbon emissions from our
operations and, through our solutions, from those of our customers.
In 2020, we reduced our footprint through optimized shipment of
goods, reduced travel and reduced facility requirements. In 2021,
Zep will further refine baseline data to inform our long-term
carbon emissions reduction strategy and targets.
Water Usage and Effluents
- We are committed to reduce water use and effluents in our own
value chain, and in that of our customers. In 2020, we updated
baseline water and environmental management performance and
identified best practices with the goal to scale them across the
organization.
- Zep commissioned a major water reuse technology serving our
Chambersburg, Pa., plant and enhanced waste reduction equipment in
our Emerson, GA facility. In partnership with customers, Zep
continues to expand uniquely sustainable industry solutions such as
SureFill, DynaClean, and AFCO Smart Track.
Diversity and Inclusion
- We believe commitment to Diversity and Inclusion enables Zep to
contribute more fulsomely to society and to a more successful
enterprise. We created employee action committees and diversity and
inclusion roundtables to continue our commitment to an inclusive
workplace that reflects the uniqueness of its employees, customers,
and suppliers.
- In 2020, we filled four senior leadership positions with
diverse candidates and formed a strategic partnership with a
significant minority owned business. By 2025, we plan to
substantially increase share of business with minority-owned
suppliers and enhance overall gender and ethnic diversity by
20%.
Marketing and Labeling
- We believe in delivering customers efficacious products that
minimally impact our environment. We have implemented a
company-wide formulation policy to improve environmental and safety
performance of products and continue to support customers in
ensuring compliance to evolving chemical regulations.
“Zep Stewardship is a step toward more transparency, better
procedures for environmental and occupational safety and more
support for our communities,” Duncan said.
To learn more about Zep Stewardship and the company’s purpose to
make the planet safer, cleaner, and more productive, visit
www.zepstewardship.com.
About Zep, Inc. Zep, Inc. is a leading innovator,
producer, and distributor of maintenance, cleaning, and sanitizing
solutions for food & beverage, industrial & institutional,
retail, and vehicle care customers. Zep possesses a large portfolio
of premium brands built over an 80+ year legacy of developing the
most effective products trusted by professionals and consumers to
get the job done right the first time.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210405005188/en/
Amber Rice Amber.Rice@zep.com (470) 795-8108