BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (March 10, 2009) – Whirlpool Corporation today announced it has been named one of the 100 best corporate citizens by Chief Responsibility Officer (CRO) magazine. This is the eighth time the company, which ranked 51st this year, has been named to the list. “We're honored to be named one of the 100 best corporate citizens,” said Jeff M. Fettig, chairman and CEO, Whirlpool Corporation. “Whirlpool has a long history of strong corporate citizenship and we believe this recognition reflects the efforts by our company and our employees to conduct business the right way.” CRO’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens List is the only such list based on 100 percent publicly-available information and ranks Russell 1000(R) companies on their performance in seven key areas: Environment, Climate Change, Human Rights, Philanthropy, Employee Relations, Financial and Governance. Over the past nine years, companies on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List have out-paced the remainder of Russell 1000 companies by an average of 26 percent in 3-year total return. Whirlpool Corporation’s track record as a good corporate citizen recently served as the foundation of its Green Touch(TM) Program for the building community. This program was designed to make green living options a reality by making it easier to design, build and market sustainable homes. It provides builders with a variety of practical solutions, such as sustainable products, design tools and marketing assistance. Additionally, the company manufacturers more ENERGY STAR(R) qualified appliances under its family of brands, including Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid and Amana, than any other appliance manufacturer. Whirlpool Corporation provides numerous appliance packages that save water and energy and promote healthy indoor air quality. First published in 2000 by Business Ethics Magazine, the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List(R) published by CRO Magazine is the most-recognized Corporate Responsibility ranking of Russell 1000(R) companies. The List is based 100 percent on publicly-available information and is compiled for CRO Magazine by Portland, Maine-based IW Financial, a leading provider of SRI rankings to institutional investors. In addition to being included in the “100 Best Corporate Citizens” by Chief Responsibility Officer magazine, Whirlpool Corporation recently was named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by Ethisphere magazine, one of the “Top 50 Most Respected U.S. Companies” by the Reputation Institute and one of the “Best Places to Launch a Career” by BusinessWeek. Additionally, the company’s Whirlpool brand was named one of the 10 top greenest brands by U.S. consumers, according to a BrandWeek magazine survey. About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation works to exceed expectations with appliances that help building professionals create homes of distinction. The company’s The Inside Advantage(TM) Program offers Powerful Brands, Innovative Products, Targeted Services and Consumer Insight to support building professionals. Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $19 billion, 70,000 employees and 69 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. For more information on Whirlpool Corporation and its offerings for building professionals, please visit insideadvantage.com or call 1-800-253-3977.
