Whirlpool Corporation’s Approach to the Environment
Whirlpool Corporation is committed to adopting responsible business activities that are consistent with our reputation for integrity and quality. Accordingly, we strive to meet the environmental needs and expectations of our customers, employees and other stakeholders by minimizing the environmental impact during the design manufacture, distribution, use and disposal of Whirlpool products.
Whirlpool Corporation practices environmental responsibility by:
- Making the environment a consideration in all business decisions
- Managing all aspects of our business to effectively use and preserve natural resources and to avoid depletion where it is technically and economically possible
- Developing and effectively utilizing Whirlpool Corporation's Global Standards and relevant performance measures to guide actions and assure consistency worldwide
- Complying with all applicable environmental laws and regulations, Whirlpool Corporation's Global Standards, as well as ensuring compliance through regular assessment
- Establishing goals, targets and objectives in the pursuit of continual improvement of our environmental performance in all activities, including the development of new products and processes
- Conducting worldwide employee training in these standards, communicating the expectations and managing Whirlpool Corporation's operations to meet those standards
- Communicating with our customers, employees and other stakeholders to ensure alignment of our environmental policies and performance with the needs and expectations of those stakeholders
- Proactively participating in the creation of equitable and effective environmental laws and regulations consistent with our stakeholders' expectations
The approach and corporate commitment to environmental responsibility are applicable to all Whirlpool Corporation wholly-owned and majority-owned operations around the world. Every Whirlpool Corporation employee is responsible for understanding and adhering to the Environmental Policy. The senior manager in charge of each business unit, product team or company facility has ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance within his or her area of influence. Leaders throughout the company are responsible for understanding and communicating the policy and for facilitating action consistent with the policy.
An internal cross-departmental Corporate Environmental Council is responsible for supporting the company's global efforts to comply with environmental policy requirements. The Council creates, updates and continuously improves the policy and the mechanisms and processes that enable compliance. The Council also has responsibility for leading the management of environmental issues, identifying and recommending measures to reduce or eliminate environmental risk, and assisting in the execution of actions to achieve compliance with the policy.