ATLANTA — Rheem Manufacturing Co., a manufacturer of water-heating and HVACR products, released its 2024 Sustainability Progress Report on Tuesday, which was Earth Day.
In its sixth annual report, Rheem highlights its sustainable practices and the achievements made through its sustainability program, “A Greater Degree of Good.”
Rheem set an ambitious goal for 2025: To launch a new range of HVACR and water-heating products that will slash greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50% compared to its 2019 lineup. In accordance with this commitment, the company introduced a series of heat-pump products for both residential and commercial markets, with key models achieving reductions of up to 87%, according to a Rheem press release.
“We are committed to innovating with intent engineering solutions that prioritize performance and sustainability,” said Chee Wee Gan, Rheem’s senior vice president for strategy and sustainability. “With 100 years of experience and counting, we take pride in achieving our sustainable product goal with this collection of market-leading and high-efficiency products.”
This year, every Rheem manufacturing site included in its initial 2019 Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) program has achieved ZWTL status, meaning each facility diverts at least 90% of nonhazardous solid waste away from landfills, the press release said.
The company’s commitment to resource conservation is documented as far back as 1940, when an internal newsletter, the Rheeminder, highlighted the importance of reusing factory materials.
Additionally, Rheem aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its worldwide manufacturing operations by 50% by 2025. The company is making substantial strides and is on track to meet this objective by the end of the year, the press release said.
Rheem also set a goal of educating 250,000 plumbers, contractors, and key influencers on sustainable practices by 2025. As of this year, Rheem has trained more than 600,000 professionals in the industry, more than doubling its training target, the press release said.
In 2024, Rheem furthered its commitment by inaugurating an Innovation Learning Center (ILC) in Saudi Arabia that focuses on sustainable products to meet the growing demand for cooling technology in the region. ILCs are training facilities where professionals receive hands-on education tailored to their regional needs. To date, Rheem has established 27 ILCs worldwide.