Whirlpool hits zero waste target

Benton Harbor, Michigan-based Whirlpool Corp. says it has achieved Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWtL) Gold or Platinum status at nearly all of its large manufacturing sites worldwide.

The company self-reports its status and says the two exceptions to reaching the zero waste target are a recently opened plant in Argentina and an InSinkErator waste conversion appliance facility it acquired from St. Louis-based Emerson late last year.

Whirlpool says it first set its goal to reach Zero Waste to Landfill in 2012 and has “continued to invest 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.”

The company says its goal is aligned with an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standard that requires at least 95 percent diversion from landfills.

“Sustainability is central to Whirlpool Corporation’s culture,” says Marc Bitzer, CEO and board chair of Whirlpool Corp. “We are relentless in our efforts to improve the way we produce and manufacture our products to deliver on our social and environmental sustainability goals while not compromising product performance.”

Adds Bitzer, “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. We will continue to unite our sustainable practices with our corporate purpose to support our communities and grow our business.”

The company says it issued its inaugural $300 million sustainability bond in April 2021 “to finance social and environmental projects across the organization.”

Comments Pam Klyn, Whirlpool’s senior vice president of 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.”

On its website, Whirlpool says it has 13 North American manufacturing locations, with 10 in the United States and three in Mexico. The U.S. facilities include five in Ohio (Clyde, Findlay, Greenville, Marion and Ottawa), plus plants in Ames, Iowa; Fall River, Massachusetts; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Cleveland, Tennessee; and Racine, Wisconsin.

Overseas, the company has nine manufacturing plants in Europe, six in South America and five in Asia.