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Corporate Responsibility
Resource Center

Operations

Through strategic investments and strong facilities management systems, we continue to make our manufacturing and distribution network stronger, delivering best-in-class, global operational excellence.

Management Approach and Targets

Whirlpool Corporation’s “We Care” Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainable Operations (EHSS) Management System is guided by our We Care Policy & Standards Manual. Aligned to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2015 and 45001:2018, our We Care operating framework clearly defines our company EHSS requirements.

The We Care framework establishes four vital commitments for employees at every Whirlpool facility:

  1. Protect our people, including contractors and visitors
  2. Preserve the environment
  3. Enable the business and our people to act sustainably
  4. Share the responsibility
We Care

Whirlpool Corporation employs World Class Manufacturing (WCM) methodology, which serves as the operational system for improving safety, productivity and quality. WCM supports sustainability by focusing on reducing waste and losses within production systems. Implemented in all production sites, WCM features dedicated pillars to Safety, Environment and Energy, which guide efforts to prevent injuries and reduce our environmental footprint. We also use real-time data and analytics, artificial intelligence and equipment connectivity to maintain a best-in-class manufacturing and distribution network.

World Class Manufacturing

Safety
Cost
Deployment
Focused
Improvement
Autonomous
Maintenance
Workplace
Organization
Professional
Maintenance
Quality
Control
Logistics and
Customer Service
Early Equipment
Management
People
Development
Environment
and Energy

Our WCM methodology supports:

1

Safety and Workplace Organization

Within the WCM methodology, Safety is the first pillar, underscoring that a safe and well-organized workplace must be achieved before focusing on other technical pillars. This aligns with our We Care framework, which outlines how environment, health, safety and sustainable practices must be embedded within operations.

2

Driving Operational Efficiency and Decarbonization
(GHG/Energy Management)

Energy Use Reduction: WCM’s Environment and Energy pillar focuses on systematically managing and improving energy use through monitoring, innovation and efficiency. Energy consumption is reduced through WCM efficiency projects and facility retrofits, such as the optimization of boilers and HVAC systems, reductions in compressed air use and LED lighting projects.

Decarbonization Projects and Renewables Integration: We prioritize electrification paired with renewable energy (solar, wind and biofuels) in our work to decarbonize manufacturing and warehouse operations. WCM’s Environment and Energy pillar supports project prioritization and implementation at each site. Integrating renewable energy enhances WCM by reducing operational costs, lowering carbon emissions and improving energy security through predictable and sustainable power generation.

3

Resource Management (Water and Waste)

Water Management: The WCM Environment and Energy pillar also plays a crucial role in managing our water resources. The pillar uses a cost analysis tool to address losses in our systems and prioritize projects that help our sites efficiently manage resources. Projects we have implemented include wastewater treatment and recirculation for non-potable uses, and reduction of evaporation losses in cooling towers.

Waste Reduction (Zero Waste to Landfill — ZWtL): Our primary waste reduction program follows the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) ECVP 2799 ZWtL landfill standard, focusing on diverting materials from landfills and incineration without energy recovery. These initiatives are supported by the WCM Environment and Energy pillar, which facilitates investments in projects aimed at reducing waste generation, increasing recycling efforts and promoting material reuse.

4

Systematic Improvement

Through WCM’s continuous improvement approach, employees learn problem solving, lean tools and project management skills. WCM drives improvements in productivity and quality and reduces waste and losses through committed employee involvement and the rigorous application of methods and tools.

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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.

We Care