We like to say that we are a people company, and that is intentionally reflected in our strategic priorities. In fact, the results of our 2020 ESG Materiality Assessment, a tool to determine what our stakeholders deem important, reinforced this, identifying two of our top five key priorities as health and safety and diversity and inclusion – both areas intended to put our community first.
We have a huge responsibility this year especially with the COVID-19 pandemic putting health and safety in the spotlight on a global scale. Understanding the importance of cleaning and disinfecting the shared spaces that have traditionally brought us together, we created Zep Assure™, a comprehensive cleaning and disinfection management compliance system for segments such as commercial passenger transportation, education, offices and venues, and other business operators.
The evidence-based infection control strategies embedded in our Zep Assure Program help our clients deliver an unprecedented level of protection, now and in the future.
And just as we focus on the health and safety of our customers, we also believe it is critically important to take care of our own team. Without a team that feels safe and protected, we cannot make such significant strides in enabling public health and safety. So Zep has enhanced its data relevance by deploying new technology, which provides real-time reporting on workplace incidents to reduce future injuries among employees.
Care also requires prioritizing and protecting the mental and emotional health of our team, too – not just their physical safety. We do this through creating an intentionally inclusive and diverse workforce. We are stronger when we benefit from diversity of thought, ideas and perspectives – that is what drives innovation.
Zep has created employee action committees and diversity and inclusion roundtables to continue its commitment to an inclusive workplace that reflects the uniqueness of its employees, customers and suppliers. In 2020, we filled eight senior leadership positions, five with ethnic minorities or women. By 2025, Zep plans to increase the use of minority-owned suppliers and overall gender and ethnic diversity by 20%.
“We want our customers to have confidence in our products and processes,” said Matt Duncan, Zep’s Chief Administrative Officer. “But we also want our customers to understand that we built Zep Stewardship from the inside out, and that starts with our people and our culture.”
We know our employees and communities are our most valuable resources. When we put employees first, they are better able and more motivated to contribute to our mission – and we need each and every person on our Zep team working together to achieve our goals.
We believe the social aspects of Zep Stewardship are foundational and that only by allowing a people-first mindset to guide our strategy can we achieve a better tomorrow.
]]>2020 marked the year that Zep began an integrated effort toward a more unified ESG strategy, paving the way for Zep Stewardship. We began Zep Stewardship with a materiality assessment that helped us identify the areas where we could have the most immediate impact over the next five years: carbon emissions, water usage and effluents, marketing and labeling, diversity and inclusion, and health and safety.
As we begin our journey toward greater sustainability, we are reviewing our internal processes to determine how we can make a bigger contribution toward a greener planet. This includes how we help our customers, particularly those in the Food and Beverage industry where safe solutions are critical for the health and safety of consumers.
“At our Chambersburg campus, we are looking at ways to reduce water use. We’re striving toward a 0% effluent goal and making progress as we innovate on new ways to migrate water through our treatment units,” says Bob Klinetob, senior vice president at AFCO. “This strategy helps us to make progress on our own goals and also our customers’ goals.”
In 2021, we’re reviewing each of our facilities water treatment plans for best practices to build a more rigorous, enterprise-wide standard. Then Zep will be partnering with a third-party water stewardship group to ensure that our practices meet their criteria for water sustainability.
Zep is committed to reducing carbon emissions through a number of internal initiatives and customer solutions.
In 2020, we began optimizing logistics in shipping and among our workforce to reduce our footprint by maximizing shipment trailer space, expanding our remote work policies and reducing our office space by more than half. These efforts will be used to create a baseline understanding of how we can continue to lower our footprint.
Another important focus will be increasing Zep’s usage of post-consumer waste (PCW) in our packaging, thereby reducing virgin plastic applications. By 2025, we will increase our usage of corrugate with recycled content to above 40% and increase our usage of plastic with recycled content to above 5%.
Not only are we working toward our own goals, we’re able to help our customers with their goals, such as reducing their own natural resource footprint or lowering costs through the use of efficient technology. We have a to meet our customers’ needs while maintaining emissions and reducing waste.
Part of our Vision 2025 goals is to be our customers’ top resource for biosecurity needs. Keeping them informed in a changing regulatory landscape is a top priority. We have several strategies in place to ensure that customers are receiving compliant formulas without business interruption.
Our purpose at Zep is to make the planet safer, cleaner and more productive. Each incremental step is one closer to our collective goals that serve our communities.
Vision 2025 and Zep Stewardship is our commitment to do the right thing for our employees, customers, communities and the planet. We look forward to sharing more progress in the future as we advance Zep Stewardship.
To learn more about how we can help you reach your sustainability goals, please contact your local sales representative or visit Zep.com.
Contact Us ]]>Each day, we innovate to improve the health and safety of our customers’ environments, reduce wastewater and effluents, optimize energy efficiency, protect people and achieve better business results.
Our focus is to develop solutions that support today’s needs and tomorrow’s generations. Zep has a and services designed to meet customer needs and create sustainable results.
Zep offers several environmentally focused solutions to reduce water consumption and mitigate wastewater.
: The MOBTM (Mobile Organic Biofilm) process is a novel and sustainable wastewater treatment process developed by Nuvoda to improve settleability, increase treatment capacity, provide simultaneous nutrient removal, and optimize process stability.
: This water recovery system dramatically reduces your water and sewer costs by 60% or more while delivering a high-quality wash.
: Zep’s exclusive multi-stage filtration system is the best way to effectively clean dirty, greasy parts at a lower cost and reduced risk. Used parts washing solvents are one of the largest hazardous streams generated by industries. Zep parts washers greatly reduce waste solvents and help facilities reduce costs through efficiency.
: This system reduces water consumption substantially while also reducing caustics usage in major areas by up to 90%. It goes years without a need for replacement, making it a good long-term sustainability choice.
Our product offerings include solutions focused on maximizing energy efficiency for consumers and customers.
Bulk Brake Cleaner Program: Zep’s Bulk Brake Cleaner Program reduces cost-per-ounce versus cost-per- can by 40% or more – making it a competitive, green solution. Each drum is equivalent to 452 spray cans of brake cleaner and reduces the environmental impact associated with spray cans.
: EcoClear sanitizes food processing and refrigerated facilities from harmful biohazards and increases equipment lifespan – making it an ideal choice for the food and beverage industry. Other benefits include:
: This comprehensive biosecurity program is backed by EPA-certified products and scientific expertise to help protect your business and reduce exposure to harmful microorganisms. From simply providing you with EPA-certified products, to delivering a full training and certification program backed by the latest CDC guidelines, the Zep Assure™ Program can be customized to fit your business needs.
At Zep, we are committed to continually improving our sustainability efforts by offering customer-driven solutions that make the planet safer, cleaner and more productive. As we advance Zep Stewardship, we will be sharing more progress in the future so please check back for updates.
To learn more about Zep products visit or speak with one of our local solutions experts or distributor partners.
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