Whirlpool Corporation has issued an update on progress towards achieving the Net Zero targets that the company first announced in May of 2021. As part of this update, Whirlpool Corporation, building on its long history of climate action, is accelerating its commitment to sustainable operations through investments in renewable energy, manufacturing plant retrofits and on-going energy, water, and waste reduction projects.
“Our vision at Whirlpool is to improve life at home. We know fulfilling that vision requires us to think not just in terms of the four walls around us and the communities in which we live, but of the planet that sustains us,” said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corp. “Over the course of our history we have consistently developed products and technologies that deliver on this vision.”
Demonstrating Action*
In 2021, Whirlpool Corporation:
- Drove a 27 per cent reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally, for all Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions compared to a 2016 baseline, accelerating the company’s progress to meet its Net Zero target by 2030.
- Achieved 14 per cent Scope 3 Category 11 emissions reduction, in line with its target reduction of 20 per cent by 2030, compared to 2016 levels (with Scope 3 emissions in EMEA having reduced by 60 per cent since 2005).
- Issued its first Sustainability Bond, with the proceeds allocated to drive positive environmental and social impacts.
- Continued to develop innovative technologies and products that reduce its environmental impact.
“In the UK we are proud of our colleagues and partners that have enabled us to switch all our plants and operations to only use renewable energy as well as achieve zero waste to landfill at both our Peterborough headquarters and manufacturing centre in Yate near Bristol,” said Andrzej Tuleja, UK General Manager. “It’s actions like these that have helped us recently be awarded gold medal status with Ecovadis* across the EMEA region as recognition of our achievements across Environmental, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement.”
Looking ahead, in the UK, the company is:
- Launching an ambitious programme to replace 50per cent of its fleet with electric vehicles by 2025.
- Providing clear guidance on our 10 year parts warranty to encourage consumers to make appropriate choices between repairing or replacing their products.
- Offering free removal and recycling of packaging when delivering a new product directly to a consumer’s home.
- Working with Youreko on brand websites to help consumers understand the financial benefits of energy saving programmes (e.g eco-wash cycles).
- Announcing a new competition called Purposeful Innovation tasking secondary school pupils close to the Whirlpool UK headquarters in Peterborough to re-design popular kitchen appliances to be even more environmentally friendly.
Whirlpool Corporation’s approach to fostering long-term, sustainably resilient operations starts with innovative design and technology to improve energy and water efficiency, as well as recyclability. Continuous improvements as part of the World Class Manufacturing process have been rolled out in plants and operations across the manufacturing process and supply chain, to produce the highest quality appliances with the lowest possible waste.
“Whirlpool takes a holistic, long-term approach to environmental sustainability,” said Ron Voglewede, Director of Sustainability. “It’s not too far into the future that we envisage manufacturing home appliances in plants that are 100 per cent renewable-powered with off-site and expanded on-site wind farms and solar panels, and an end-of-life product recycling programme which directly feeds into our own supply chain for new products.”
Through expanding on-site renewables, additional Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs), and green energy procurement, the company targets a nearly one-third reduction in its global carbon footprint in its operations. The company is prioritising the use of on-site renewables, and in the UK all sites are powered by 100 per cent renewable energy generated by wind and hydro power. While it looks to overcome the barriers preventing the use of on-site renewables across the region, the company is exploring pan-European VPPAs to reduce energy usage at all EMEA sites.
Further, the company is on track to achieve its Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWtL) goal for all manufacturing sites by the end of the year. Currently, 90 per cent of its sites have achieved Gold or Platinum ratings using the UL ECVP 2799 Zero Waste to Landfill standard, and in EMEA approximately 98 per cent of the waste generated is diverted rather than landfilled or incinerated without energy recovery. Over the past five years, it has also achieved a 34 per cent reduction in water usage in its operations globally (40 per cent across EMEA, compared to 2017 levels).
Advancing a Sustainable Future Through Our Products
Whirlpool Corporation’s average refrigerators use less energy than a 60 Watt light bulb, its clothes washers have 57 per cent more capacity than they did in 1992, and they use 78 per cent less energy**, all without compromising quality and function. Overall, Whirlpool Corporation has reduced 60 per cent of its product emissions since 2005, and continued to invest in innovation to launch leading products that improve performance, while lowering overall carbon footprint.
An initiative in Europe has led to the removal of expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging from cooking products and dishwashers sold to one of its large retail customers. The company also considers how it can use its scale, and its presence with, on average, a product in every UK home, to drive sustainable behaviours, from educating consumers about not needing to pre-rinse dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, to using connected appliance features to run their appliances during the best times to have the least impact on the electrical grid.
*To learn more about Whirlpool Corporation’s progress, please view the recently released 2021 Sustainability Report.
*EcoVadis January 2022. The EcoVadis Rating covers a broad range of non-financial management systems including Environmental, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement impacts. https://ecovadis.com/.
** AHAM Energy Survey Report 2020.
Ends
Image caption:
- Andrzej Tuleja, General Manager, UK and Ireland, Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited
About Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited:
Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited is managed by Whirlpool EMEA, part of Whirlpool Corporation.
Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited fully supports the AMDEA safety initiative, Register My Appliance, and is committed to encouraging householders to register their appliances: www.registermyappliance.org.uk
About Whirlpool Corporation:
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is committed to being the best global kitchen and laundry company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. In an increasingly digital world, the company is driving purposeful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit and Yummly. In 2021, the company reported approximately $22 billion in annual sales, 69,000 employees and 54 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.
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8th March 2022
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