Today, many companies claim a legacy of sustainability, but which ones can really back that up? Well, Whirlpool can. By the 1960s, research about human impact on the environment was at the forefront of public discourse. From the beginning, Whirlpool had designed its appliances with an eye toward efficiency, saving consumers electricity and water as well as time.
But Whirlpool Corp.’s leadership recognized that supporting communities meant protecting their water and air as well. Shortly thereafter, Whirlpool introduced programs in its factories to dispose of hazardous waste and increase energy efficiency. In 1970, Whirlpool also established the Office of Environment Affairs to improve product efficiency and shape U.S. federal conservation policy.