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Corporate Responsibility
Resource Center

Material Topics & Stakeholder Engagement

Through our Corporate Responsibility structure, we monitor industry trends, regulatory developments and emerging risks and opportunities.

We formally assess environmental, social and governance topics via an annual Enterprise Risk Assessment survey and engage stakeholders to understand and address risks and impacts.

In 2024, we collaborated with a third-party consultant to develop a double materiality assessment. The findings from this assessment were thoroughly reviewed against our previously identified corporate responsibility-related material topics. Following an extensive process in which we benchmarked industry best practices, examined peer companies and gathered insights through surveys and interviews with subject matter experts, we have refined and updated our official reporting topics. We have defined the following as our material topics,1 aligned with corresponding UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

Material Topic1,2 Definition Corresponding SDGs Learn More
Material Topic1,2 Corporate Governance & Ethics Definition The system of rules, practices and processes by which our Board, executive leadership and senior committees oversee corporate responsibility and principled ethical conduct. Corresponding SDGs
16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Learn More How We Govern Corporate Responsibility
Material Topic1,2 Risk Management & Resilience Definition Identifying, assessing and mitigating any internal and external risks, through a process overseen by our Board and senior leadership to support organizational resilience. Corresponding SDGs
9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
13: Climate Action
Learn More How We Govern Corporate Responsibility
Material Topic1,2 Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Definition Protecting our digital systems, network and information from unauthorized access or misuse through a robust governance framework overseen by our Board and in compliance with major global privacy laws. Corresponding SDGs
16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Learn More Cybersecurity & Data Privacy

Material Topic1,2 Definition Corresponding SDGs Learn More
Material Topic1,2 Materials Use Definition The commitment to thoughtfully select materials that support product performance, safety, and reliability while maintaining high quality standards. Corresponding SDGs
9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Learn More Materials Use

Circularity

Products & Innovation
Material Topic1,2 Product Safety & Quality Definition Proactively mitigating consumer safety hazards and delivering the best consumer experience of quality and user satisfaction. Corresponding SDGs
3: Good Health and Well-Being
12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Learn More Product Safety

Product Durability
Material Topic1,2 Responsible Sourcing Definition Aligning purchasing practices with Whirlpool Corporation's overall environmental, social and governance strategy to enable sustainability through our supply base. Corresponding SDGs
12: Responsible Consumption and Production
17: Partnerships for the Goals
Learn More Responsible Sourcing
Material Topic1,2 End of Life Responsibility Definition Management of environmental impacts for our appliances and packaging once reuse and refurbishment options are exhausted. Corresponding SDGs
12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Learn More Circularity

End of Life
Material Topic1,2 Energy & Emissions Definition Management of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our operations, products in use and full value chain. Corresponding SDGs
7: Affordable and Clean Energy
13: Climate Action
Learn More Our Products

Energy & Emissions

Responsible Sourcing
Material Topic1,2 Innovation & Design for Sustainability Definition Designing products with the needs of consumers and the planet in mind, to reduce reliance on nonrenewable resources, lower carbon and water footprint, and maintain standards of excellence for quality and performance. Corresponding SDGs
9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Learn More Our Products

Material Topic1,2 Definition Corresponding SDGs Learn More
Material Topic1,2 Occupational Health & Safety Definition Managing and preventing workplace hazards, injuries and illnesses for our employees, contractors and visitors to our sites. Corresponding SDGs
3: Good Health and Well-Being
8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Learn More Operations
Material Topic1,2 Human Rights Definition Upholding high standards of human rights and ethics across our operations and ensuring our suppliers do the same. Corresponding SDGs
8 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Learn More Responsible Sourcing

Our People & Communities

Employee Experience
Material Topic1,2 Labor Rights Definition Operating in full compliance with labor and employment laws and regulations in each of our locations worldwide. Corresponding SDGs
8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
10: Reduced Inequalities
Learn More Employee Experience
Material Topic1,2 Pay & Equal Remuneration Definition Providing competitive total compensation opportunities that prioritize fairness and a true pay-for-performance approach. Corresponding SDGs
5: Gender Equality
8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
10: Reduced Inequalities
Learn More Employee Experience
Material Topic1,2 Employee Engagement & Workplace Culture Definition Promoting engagement and connection so that employees feel valued and empowered at work, through employee resource groups (ERGs), listening sessions, and our belonging-driven culture. Corresponding SDGs
8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
10: Reduced Inequalities
Learn More Employee Experience
Material Topic1,2 Training & Development Definition Providing access to upskilling, mentoring and career growth opportunities to help all employees build skills, capabilities and career pathways. Corresponding SDGs
4: Quality Education
8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Learn More Employee Experience

Materiality Assessment Approach

  • Assess Corporate Responsibility Topics

    Gather input from company materials, global standards, frameworks and regulations, peer and industry leader reports and our external advisors.

  • Obtain Feedback and Prioritize

    Conduct internal and external stakeholder interviews and surveys to narrow topics based on our ability to drive impact and the influence of the issues on our business value.

  • Review and Finalize

    Validate prioritization with functional and regional leadership and subject matter experts. Secure senior leadership and Executive Committee approval.

  • Engage Continuously

    Regularly assess emerging issues and shifts in prioritization with ESG Task Force and Council, including through annual senior leadership approval of corporate responsibility priorities.

Approach to Reporting

Our ESG reporting is informed by engagement with our stakeholders and assessment of external frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Universal Standards, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). We continually assess our reporting against evolving regulations, including the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) sustainability disclosure standards and other regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

See the Sustainability Data Center and 2025 Technical Report for our GRI, SASB, UN SDG and TCFD disclosures.

Technical Report

Review our previous Sustainability Reports.

  1. "Materiality," as used in this report and our materiality assessment process is different from the definition used in the context of filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
  2. In certain areas, Whirlpool Corporation chooses to report on topics beyond those identified as material. For more information, please refer to the Forward-Looking Statements section in the Technical Report.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Certain statements contained in this and other written and oral statements made from time to time by us or on our behalf do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may contain forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. As such, they are considered “forwardlooking statements” that provide current expectations or forecasts of future events. Such statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “possible,” “plan,” “predict,” “forecast,” “potential,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “commit,” “believe,” “may impact,” “on track,” “guarantee,” “seek,” “would,” “committed,” “undertake,” “target” and the negative of these words and words and terms of similar substance. Our forwardlooking statements generally relate to our strategic and transactional objectives, operational planning and implementation, financial projections, goals, and assumptions, external and macroeconomic conditions, and legal, regulatory and sustainability matters. These forward-looking statements should be considered with the understanding that such statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, and may be affected by inaccurate assumptions. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may vary materially.

This document contains forward-looking statements about Whirlpool Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Whirlpool”) that speak only as of this date. Whirlpool disclaims any obligation to update these statements. Forward-looking statements in this document may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future financial results, environmental, social, and governance efforts, longterm sustainability and Net Zero goals, including emissions reduction targets, risk management and resilience, product innovation, durability and resource efficiency, product safety and quality, second life and end-of-life initiatives, responsible sourcing and supply chain management, sustainable operations and investments in renewable energy, and efforts related to workplace health and safety, employee engagement, and community impact. Many risks, contingencies and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from Whirlpool’s forward-looking statements. Among these factors are: (1) intense competition in the home appliance industry, and the impact of the changing retail environment, including direct-toconsumer sales; (2) Whirlpool’s ability to maintain or increase sales to significant trade customers and builders; (3) Whirlpool’s ability to maintain its reputation and brand image; (4) Whirlpool’s ability to achieve its business objectives and successfully manage its strategic portfolio transformation and outsourced business unit service model; (5) Whirlpool’s ability to understand consumer preferences and successfully develop new products; (6) Whirlpool’s ability to obtain and protect intellectual property rights; (7) acquisition, divestiture, and investment-related risks, including risks associated with our past transactions; (8) the ability of suppliers of critical parts, components and manufacturing equipment to deliver sufficient quantities to Whirlpool in a timely and cost-effective manner; (9) risks related to Whirlpool’s international operations; (10) Whirlpool’s ability to respond to unanticipated social, political and/or economic events, including epidemics/ pandemics; (11) information technology system and cloud failures, data security breaches, data privacy compliance, network disruptions, and cybersecurity attacks; (12) product liability and product recall costs; (13) Whirlpool’s ability to attract, develop and retain executives and other qualified employees; (14) the impact of labor relations; (15) fluctuations in the cost of key materials (including steel, resins, and base metals) and components and the ability of Whirlpool to offset cost increases; (16) Whirlpool’s ability to manage foreign currency fluctuations; (17) impacts from goodwill, intangible asset and/or inventory impairment charges; (18) health care cost trends, regulatory changes and variations between results and estimates that could increase future funding obligations for pension and postretirement benefit plans; (19) impacts from credit rating agency downgrades; (20) litigation, tax, and legal compliance risk and costs; (21) the effects and costs of governmental investigations or related actions by third parties; (22) changes in the legal and regulatory environment including environmental, health and safety regulations, data privacy, taxes and generative AI; (23) the impacts of changes in foreign trade policies, including tariffs; (24) Whirlpool’s ability to respond to the impact of climate change and climate change or other environmental regulation; and (25) the uncertain global economy and changes in economic conditions.

Other Important Notes & Disclaimers

Various of the disclosures in this report are informed by the expectations of various stakeholders and/or third-party frameworks. Such information may not necessarily be material for purposes of our filings under U.S. federal securities laws, even if we use “material” or similar language in discussing such matters. Particularly in the ESG context, there are various approaches to materiality that differ from, and in many cases are more expansive than, the definition under U.S. federal securities laws. Furthermore, much of this information is subject to methodologies and data that continue to evolve. Over time, our approach to such matters has also evolved and is expected to continue evolving, and we cannot guarantee that our approach will align with the expectations or preferences of any particular stakeholder. For example, the processes for measuring and accounting for ESG metrics can involve substantial discretion, include assumptions or other methodological considerations that involve inherent uncertainty and may change due to evolving understanding or perception of certain matters by us or society at large. This can make it difficult to anticipate the ultimate outcomes of certain decisions in advance, as well as complicate the comparison of information presented at different times or under different circumstances or standards. Moreover, while we aim to align various disclosures set forth or referred to in this report with the recommendations of various third-party frameworks, such as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, we cannot guarantee strict adherence to these frameworks’ recommendations. Our disclosures, as well as relevant internal controls, also may change due to revisions in framework requirements, availability or quality of information, changes in our business or applicable government policies, or other factors, some of which may be beyond our control.