BENTON HARBOR, MI—As part of a commitment to sustainable operations, Whirlpool Corp. has achieved zero waste to landfill status at the gold or platinum level at all of its large manufacturing sites worldwide.

The appliance manufacturer first set a goal to reach zero waste to landfill status in 2012 and has continued to invest since then in plant efficiency and waste reduction—working closely with recyclers and sustainability vendors to find new, innovative ways to eliminate waste and contribute to the circular economy.

All of the company’s large manufacturing facilities around the world are now zero waste to landfill facilities, with the exception of a new factory in Argentina that opened Oct. 28, 2022, and the InSinkErator business, which was acquired on Oct. 31, 2022.

“Sustainability is central to Whirlpool’s culture. We are relentless in our efforts to improve the way we manufacture our products to deliver on our social and environmental sustainability goals while not compromising product performance,” says Marc Bitzer, CEO and chairman of Whirlpool. “Our zero waste to landfill achievement is a significant milestone that underscores the commendable dedication and collective commitment from our team to drive meaningful change.”

Achieving zero waste to landfill status is part of Whirlpool’s commitment to world-class manufacturing, which sets the highest standards for manufacturing excellence and is the foundation for the company’s sustainable manufacturing journey. In addition to zero waste to landfill, the company is implemeting several other sustainability initiatives, including biodiversity, green buildings, renewable energy and energy retrofits.

Recognizing its climate impact, the company also announced a commitment in 2021 to reach a net zero emissions target in its global operations by 2030. Several actions have already been implemented towards this goal:

  • The company has reduced its carbon footprint by accelerating energy-saving plant retrofits and entering two virtual power purchase agreements that will generate the wind energy equivalent to 100 percent of Whirlpool’s U.S. manufacturing plant energy consumption.
  • The company issued an inaugural $300 million sustainability bond in April 2021 to finance social and environmental projects across the organization.
  • In February 2022, Whirlpool joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, which targets a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent within 10 years.
“For more than 50 years, Whirlpool has prioritized social and environmental sustainability to support its people, the communities where we live and operate, and the planet,” says Pam Klyn, senior vice president of community relations and sustainability. “This accomplishment is a testament to the meaningful work of our employees around the globe and we look forward to building on this momentum through our sustainability efforts in 2023 and beyond.”