Whirlpool Corporation announced that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility.

«Our employees are the heart and soul of our company, and we know that supporting diverse voices throughout our organization makes us better – says Kim Kavala, Whirlpool Corp. head of Inclusion & Diversity and global learning –. Every year we have received a 100 score from the HRC has been a testament to our meaningful work in this space as well as validation for how our company continues to do what’s right for our employees».

Through the efforts of the 18 employee resource groups (ERGs) who work to raise awareness for an inclusive culture, Whirlpool Corp. has received recognition throughout 2023 for its DEI initiatives. The company was named one of the 2023 Best Companies for Multicultural Women by Seramount. Playing a large role in this recognition was the Whirlpool Women’s Network (WWN) that empowers and engages women at all levels within the company and community to ensure that all voices are heard.

LG Electronics has earned a place in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for twelve years in a row. The DJSI World ranks the top ten percent of the largest 2,500 global companies based on their long-term economic, environmental, social and governance practices. Widely recognized by investors, governments and key stakeholders, the DJSI World is widely used to compare companies’ levels of sustainable management and as a benchmark for socially responsible investing.

LG achieved the highest overall score in the Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics industry category and became the sole South Korean company in this field to be consecutively included in the DJSI World index for 12 years.

The company received high scores for its environmentally-focused initiatives, actively reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and increasing recycling rates. LG is also making significant strides towards its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, having reduced total greenhouse gas emissions by 220,000 tons compared to the previous year. Additionally, the company joined the RE100 initiative, aiming to transition all its business sites to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

In order to pave the way for further growth, Miele announced in March that it would be setting up an additional production facility in the USA. The exact location has now been finalised: the German family-owned company’s first plant on the American continent will be built in Opelika in the State of Alabama. Production is scheduled to start by the end of 2024. In the first phase, 150 employees shall come on board.

«There are several good reasons for the decision to also produce in the USA in the future – the company explains –. The United States, where Miele has been represented by a sales and service company for 40 years, is the largest market outside Germany. At the same time, the company still sees a lot of potential here. The new site will enable Miele to produce the ovens and range cookers specifically designed for the USA, Canada and Mexico close to the market. Later, the matching Cooker hoods will also be produced here. This reduces the delivery time from up to ten weeks today to just a few days in a customer-friendly way and also reduces the impact on the climate».

Today, the Cooking business unit’s production is distributed as follows: Hobs and steam ovens as well as warming drawers come from the Bünde plant (approx. 730 employees), Cooker hoods from Arnsberg (approx. 250 employees) and cookers, ovens and Dialogue ovens from Oelde (approx. 670 employees). The steam ovens, i.e., ovens and steam cookers in one appliance, are produced in Bünde or Oelde, depending on the model. «The new site will give all three plants the capacity for future increases in production volumes for the other model ranges» – says Senior Vice President BU Cooking Brunkhorst.

Including the new plant, the Miele Group’s international production network will include a total of 16 locations, eight of which are in Germany and one each in Austria, China, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and the USA. In addition, there are the two plants of the Italian medical technology subsidiary Steelco Group.

For the third consecutive year ARAN World has been recognized among the top 100 companies that have achieved the most significant increases in ESG rating (Top 100 Performances) at the Sustainability Award, the recognition created by Kon Group, promoted by ELITE and with the support of the main partner Azimut Emilia-Romagna, Marche and Umbria.

«Being included in the Top 100 Performance list for three years in a row is another important step forward in a broader commitment – says Erika Rastelli, chief people officer ARAN World –. It is a privilege to be able to count on our family business to continue to promote the development of the Italian business world and the territory. We want to continue to be more and more attentive to social and environmental issues in order to constantly improve corporate governance».

As the company explains, innovation and renewal continue to be the pillars of ARAN World’s operations, validated by a meticulous analysis resulting from objectively measurable coefficients that are also contained in the acronym ESG: Environmental, Social and Governance. In these three spheres, ARAN World applies itself, year after year, to develop innovative eco-design solutions based on an idea of circular economy.

Arçelik obtained, for the fifth consecutive year, the highest score in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI), in the sector of household durable goods companies, with the result of 86/100 in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment.  This is the main global reference point on the sustainability front: based on the results obtained, companies are selected to appear in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which evaluates and rewards best performing companies in terms of sustainable attitude, based on economic, environmental and social criteria.

«In a difficult year like 2023 – commented Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Arçelik – our intent was to remain faithful to our vision of sustainability, despite the headwinds. Our dedication to building a more aware and responsible world is the underlying theme of all our activities. This prestigious recognition is a new confirmation of our leadership in sustainability and rewards our commitment».

Looking at the future Bulgurlu also added: «We continuously innovate, experimenting with environmentally friendly and energy-efficient products that have a substantial impact on reducing carbon emissions around the world. Not only that: we are committed to creating a sustainable and responsible supply chain. Let’s keep going, I’m confident we will reach new heights on our journey towards a net-zero future».

Beko launches ‘DOMINO: The Little One’, an immersive gaming experience recently presented. It is a free-to-play 2D platformer adventure game available to all and designed to raise awareness among consumers about the consequences and challenges of climate change.

‘DOMINO: The Little One’ is a single-player game that sees players progress through a series of four chapters each linked to a key issue relating to the environment. Chapters include a landscape addressing the issue of single-use plastic, an environment that highlights the impact of fossil fuels, ecological imbalance and a world devastated by deforestation. Players will assume the role of an introverted and eco-anxious child named Domino with the mission to solve pressing environmental challenges in their dreams. Along the journey, the player is accompanied by a mysterious voice encouraging Domino to overcome their fears associated with climate change as well as highlight actions to be performed to combat the issues.

«Domino is a very different kind of launch for us at Beko – said Akın Garzanlı, Chief Marketing Officer of the company –. The findings from the UN’s Green Game Jam clearly indicate that an appetite for the worlds of sustainability and gaming to join forces with 68% of gamers wanting to engage more in environmental issues. They want to engage more, learn more, and contribute more. They want to be part of the solution. Domino is our way of reaching out to them. It is a game that encourages you to think critically and act ethically by presenting you the choices that we have».

Groupe Seb nine-month sales achieved 5,532 million euro, recording an increase of 3.9% LFL and -0.5% reported. Third-quarter sales reached 1,920 million euro, +8.9% LFL and +1.4% reported.

«Groupe SEB – commented the ceo Stanislas de Gramont – maintains its momentum for a return to historical profitability levels. Our third-quarter performance is fully in line with the rebound trend anticipated at the start of the year, and confirmed in the second quarter, both in terms of sales growth and improved profitability. Our consumer business delivered solid organic growth in sales, on a par with that of the second quarter, driven by our innovation initiatives across all our regions».

The CEO added: «the global small domestic equipment market continued its normalization to underpin this trajectory. Our professional business posts very good results thanks to record sales in coffee. The Group enjoyed a number of commercial successes in 2023 with, in particular, the roll-out of major contracts, as well as a solid core business».

The company confirm its objectives for the full year, respectively mid-single digit organic revenue growth and an increase in Operating Result from Activity of at least 10%.

Electrolux reported itds third quarter 2023 results. The company’s net sales amounted to SEK 33,427 million, recording an organic sales decline of 7.9%, mainly driven by continued weak market demand and consumers shifting to lower price points. Mix was positive, supported by the innovative product offering, despite this market shift. Price was negative year-over-year as promotional activity has returned to high levels this year.

«Organic sales declined by 7.9% in the third quarter – commented Electrolux president and CEO Jonas Samuelson –. Like in the previous quarter, volumes declined significantly and as expected, net price was negative. We continued to execute well on the Group-wide cost reduction and North America turnaround program. However, the challenging market environment with demand mainly driven by forced replacements, consumers shifting to lower price points and high promotional activity, offset most of the SEK 2.4bn cost savings. Underlying operating income increased to SEK 314m compared to break-even in the third quarter of 2022. Operating cash flow after investments was SEK 1.1bn».

«With today’s announcement – the president continued – we are stepping up our cost reduction efforts significantly. This also means that we focus our growth efforts on selected mid- and premium categories under our three main brands and drive even more targeted portfolio management and simplification enabling faster cost reductions. Hence, the cost reduction target for 2024 vs 2022 is increased to SEK 10-11bn, compared to the previous target of over SEK 7bn. The new target comprises net cost reductions from cost efficiency and investments in innovation and marketing, combined. For 2023 the target is to reach cost reductions of approximately SEK 6bn, year-over-year, compared to the previous target of at least SEK 5bn. Given the time lag before the actions now put in place will have full earnings impact, we do not expect sequential improvement of underlying operating income in the fourth quarter.»

Miele has received the German Sustainability Award 2023 for the second time since 2014. Jury recognized the long-lasting products and resource-saving production of the comapny, as well as lived responsibility towards supply chains and employees and measures aimed at saving CO2.

«This new and significant award confirms our intensive pursuit of a holistic sustainability strategy and our efforts to push our commitment with consistency – says Rebecca Steinhage, responsible as executive director for Human Resources and Corporate Affairs which includes sustainability at Miele -. The comapny won its first German Sustainability Award in 2014 for ‘high-level continuity in sustainable corporate governance’. Now the company is focused on climate protection and the conservation of resources with the goal of setting up a circular value chain for domestic appliances. We aim to achieve a situation in which all materials used in our appliances are returned to the material cycle at the end of their life». Steinhage will receive the award at the ceremony in Düsseldorf on November 23.

«Our appliances are not only very good when run in the Eco programme but also prove to be energy-saving across all programmes in daily use – explains Christoph Wendker, Vice President Corporate Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs and responsible for the company’s sustainability strategy -. A glance at Miele’s CO2 balance reveals just how important this is. Around 83 per cent of this is attributed to machines during their usage phase. This is not least so high because Miele appliances are particularly long-lasting. They are tested to the equivalent of up to 20 years’ service life. The excellent repair-friendliness of Miele appliances (and not only since this has been demanded by EU legislation) contributes towards prolonged usage. In addition to this, Miele stocks just under 90,000 different functional spare parts for a period of at least 15 years after the discontinuation of production – very special in this branch of industry».

With two new dishwasher manufacturing lines, GE Appliances, a Haier company, complete the 450 million dollar transformation and investment announced in late 2021 for Appliance Park, the company’s headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. Three of the Park’s five major plants have received significant upgrades over the past two years with new topload washer models and four-door refrigerators added as well as new assembly lines and fabrication equipment.

«We are committed to U.S. manufacturing and Louisville, Kentucky – said Kevin Nolan, president and CEO of GE Appliances –. From design to production, our team is always finding a better way to bring the latest appliance technology to homes and families across America. Together, with our state and local partners, we are building a stronger state economy and community.»

GE Appliances’ manufacturing facilities, like the featured dishwasher plant, are vertically integrated starting from rolls of coiled steel. New fabrication equipment produces millions of tubs, doors, racks and other components made onsite. The plant produces five brands of dishwashers on the new lines. A key product success is the recently launched GE Profile UltraFresh System Dishwasher with Microban® Antimicrobial Technology, which is being added to other models produced at the plant.