Notes

Whirlpool Corporation manufactures and markets home appliances worldwide, under brands such as Whirlpool, Indesit, KitchenAid and Maytag. Whirlpool’s product categories include refrigerators and freezers (31% of FY2019 sales), laundry (30%), cooking appliances (23%), and other (16%). In FY2019, the company’s largest regional market was North America(56% of sales), followed by Europe, Middle East and Africa (21%), Latin America (16%), and Asia (7%).

Product governance is a crucial issue for Whirlpool and its brands. Besides marketing and improving brand image and a reputation of quality, Whirlpool needs to manage the issue of product safety. Defects during design or manufacturing could lead to accidents, triggering lawsuits and reputational damage. Besides quality and safety management, the company also needs to consider the life-cycle of its products, as companies are increasingly scrutinized by consumers and regulators on this issue. This includes environmental considerations in the design stage, taking into account energy efficiency, materials used, and recyclability. Managing issues such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, green logistics, and energy efficiencies are of high importance. These issues are increasingly regulated, but can also lead to significant cost reductions as resource inputs are reduced through efficiencies.

Whirlpool’s Board has oversight of integrating ESG principles in the business approach. In addition, regional business leaders and senior leaders in product, sourcing, manufacturing, legal, communications, government relations, and technology functions comprise Whirlpool's Sustainability Steering Committee. On product safety, Whirlpool has a safety system which includes policies, procedures, and guidelines in place for risk assessment, field monitoring, field safety investigations, analysis, and reporting potential safety hazards. Whirlpool states that it aims to deliver solutions that allow Whirlpool to implement more closed-loop models, drive recycled content, and overall circularity across the value chain at a global level. Whirlpool launched a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management System in 2018 to determine its global emissions footprint in all regions and models for products in use.