BENTON HARBOR, Mich.,
May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) announced today a global
commitment to reach a net zero emissions target in its plants and
operations by 2030. The commitment will cover more than 30 of
Whirlpool Corporation's manufacturing sites and its large
distribution centers around the world, spanning all direct (Scope
1) and power-related (Scope 2) emissions.
Whirlpool Corporation has also committed to a 20 percent
reduction in emissions linked to the use of its products across the
globe (Scope 3) by 2030, compared to 2016 levels. This target has
been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, and builds
on the company's 60 percent reduction in emissions across all
scopes since 2005.
"Whirlpool Corporation has a longstanding commitment to
sustainability and we established our first office for
sustainability over 50 years ago," said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool
Corporation. "Our net zero commitment is an important milestone in
our ongoing effort to improve life at home by protecting our planet
and communities."
Scope 1 and 2 Emissions
Whirlpool Corporation will achieve its target of reaching zero
emissions across its plants and operations by 2030 through its
ongoing and accelerated sustainability initiatives, including:
- Working towards 100 percent renewable energy usage through a
combination of:
-
- Wind turbine and solar panel installation, building on the
company's record low levels of energy and water usage per appliance
built.
- Entry into Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) and PPAs
with energy companies to fund wind and solar farms as the company
works to source and generate renewable energy for homes across the
world. Whirlpool Corporation broke ground on its first VPPA
financed project in Texas in
January of 2021. This will cover 50 percent of its Scope 2
emissions in the U.S. and help reduce its overall operations'
carbon footprint by nearly 15 percent.
- Energy efficiency improvements in plants and processes,
including installing LEDs and implementing Energy Management
Systems in all plants and facilities.
- Leveraging carbon removal development investments to offset any
remaining emissions that cannot be avoided.
Whirlpool Corporation is committed to robust transparency
through regular updates and detailed disclosure in its annual
sustainability report.
Scope 3 Emissions
To combat Scope 3 emissions, Whirlpool Corporation is working to
design its products to make them more energy and water
efficient. As part of this, the company is investing in innovations
that automate water levels, utilize cold water settings as default,
and help auto-dose detergents to further lower its
environmental impacts and save consumers time and money. Through
these efforts, Whirlpool Corporation is targeting a reduction in
Scope 3 Category 11 emissions by an additional 20 percent over 2016
levels by 2030, building on the 60 percent reduction in the carbon
footprint of its products in use since 2005.
"We are proud of the commitments we have made today, but we
recognize our climate impacts extend beyond our plants and
facilities," said Ron Volgewede, global sustainability director for
Whirlpool Corporation. "That's why we are committed to working with
our stakeholders to continue to drive improvements across the
entire value chain in an ambition to reach net zero across all our
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in the long term."
As plastics production and end of life are a large contributor
to greenhouse gas emissions, Whirlpool Corporation is also taking
action to reduce waste material as part of its efforts to tackle
climate challenges, including:
- Maximizing its use of materials and minimizing waste to
landfill as part of its drive to adopt World Class Manufacturing
processes. Whirlpool Corporation is working to achieve zero waste
to landfill across all global manufacturing facilities by 2022.
Over 70 percent of Whirlpool Corporation's manufacturing sites are
currently zero waste to landfill.
- Increasing the proportion of recycled materials used in
products and keeping products out of landfills by refurbishing and
reselling them.
- Working directly with its customers to prevent waste materials
from going to landfills, by providing free recycling of
packaging.
In addition, as a reduction in food waste could cut greenhouse
gas emissions by 6-8 percent according to the Food and Agricultural
Organization of the United Nations, Whirlpool Corporation is using
its unique position as a kitchen appliance manufacturer to help
prevent food waste across the globe. Its efforts include the
"Moments Not to Be Wasted" campaign, an educational campaign
designed to help raise awareness of food waste amongst families in
its Europe, Middle East and Africa Region (EMEA).
To learn more about Whirlpool Corporation's sustainability
commitments, please visit here. For more information on how to
embrace a sustainable lifestyle in your home, visit our Improving
Life at Home hub.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation
(NYSE: WHR) is the world's leading kitchen and laundry appliance
company, with approximately $19
billion in annual sales, 78,000 employees and 57
manufacturing and technology research centers in 2020. The company
markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana,
Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit and other major brand names in
nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information
about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.
Forward-Looking statements:
This press release
contains certain forward-looking statements that are not historical
facts or current facts, including those related to net zero
commitments and broader emissions and waste reduction targets,
efforts and initiatives, and reporting of progress on these targets
and initiatives. These forward-looking statements convey
Whirlpool's current expectations or forecasts of future events.
Forward-looking statements are generally identified through the
inclusion of words such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "drive,"
"estimate," "expect," "focus," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan,"
"project," "strategy," "target" and "will" or similar statements or
variations of such terms and other similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements regarding Whirlpool involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
Whirlpool's actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performances or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements
in this press release. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are
described in the "Risk Factors" section of Whirlpool's most recent
annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q. You
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking
statements contained herein, which are made only as of the date of
this document. Whirlpool does not undertake any obligation to
publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements to reflect the impact of events or circumstances that
arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.
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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation