Interviews with Veolia and with Ecolab
Luis Felipe Carrillo SVP LA and LASC Market Head
VEOLIA BRAZIL
Could you remind us of Ecolab’s presence in Latin America?
In Latin America, we maintain 7,000 employees, over a dozen plants, and highly localized teams. The region is growing at 1.5 to 2 times the rate seen in our operations globally, supported by strong positions in paper and mining, particularly in Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile.
What tangible benefits can Ecolab’s solutions deliver for industrial clients?
We deliver advanced solutions that protect equipment and ensure efficient operations, even under difficult conditions, like the use of seawater in Chile and Peru. Our methods extend equipment life, improve sustainability, and support long-term competitiveness across the region.
How have recent acquisitions expanded Ecolab’s portfolio?
Ecolab’s acquisition of Ovivo, expected to close in Q1 2026, will expand our offer of ultra-pure water for semiconductor and high-performance chip manufacturing, where even trace impurities are unacceptable. We also strengthened our water purification capabilities in 2021 with the acquisition of Purolite, adding advanced resins used to remove metals and impurities to our portfolio.
Latin America’s strong potential in data centers, food manufacturing, and paper, presents opportunities for growth in advanced technologies help to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and ensure compliance with these industries’ demanding quality requirements. These acquisitions align with Ecolab’s strategy to enter these high-growth sectors requiring the strictest water standards.
What will be Ecolab’s key priority in Latin America in 2026?
In Latin America, beyond driving growth and pursuing operational excellence, our priority is expanding 3D TRASAR technology and digital tools. Globally, over 100,000 devices are connected and monitored via our Pune center and hubs in Brazil, Mexico, and Chile, with Colombia next. This scale enables customers to benchmark performance locally and globally, applying proven solutions across sites. Industrial systems face varying inputs and water quality, making aggregated data essential. More connected units generate greater insights – helping clients cut costs and optimize operations, while we continuously improve.
Pedro Prádanos Zarzosa CEO
ECOLAB
What is Veolia’s presence in Brazil and wider Latin America?
In Latin America, Veolia is present in nine countries, employing 24,000 people and generating close to €2 billion, serving 15 million people in water and sanitation, managing 10 million t/y of waste and managing more than 3,500 energetic installations.
How is Veolia implementing its GreenUp growth strategy in Brazil?
Veolia’s GreenUp strategy in Brazil focuses on decarbonization, regeneration and depollution of resources. In 2024, we avoided over 1.6 million t of CO₂ through our operations in six ecoparks. This will grow in 2025, as we now have 10 ecoparks, with the latest acquisitions of RAC, Alagoas Ambiental and Serquip. We also invest in sorting and treatment centers that recover materials, biomethane production with biogas recovery and generate refuse-derived fuel, supporting circular economy solutions.,
A €10 million project with Braskem, on top of €70 million invested previously, is further enhancing efficient industrial energy use. Additional initiatives include water reuse, soil remediation, medical medical waste treatment, and a high-tech mechanized sorting plant in Brusque.
Could you define ecological transformation for us?
For us, ecological transformation is defined by solutions that enhance resource recovery, energy efficiency, and community impact. These initiatives, while they may appear at the beginning more complex and costly, maximize environmental value and enable further knock-on savings in terms of water and energy.
In waste management, we go beyond simple treatment to minimize impacts on nearby communities, improving sanitation and quality of life. Mechanized sorting and biogas valorization projects in São Paulo and Santa Catarina states convert waste into energy, generating 12.5 MW – enough to power 40,000 homes. Future plans include producing biomethane using advanced cryogenic technology to optimize emissions. Similarly, in water management, Veolia’s operations in Santiago, Chile, recover wastewater to its maximum potential, generating electricity, biomethane, and agricultural fertilizers.