The Future of Refrigeration, with Pam Klyn from Whirlpool

Sustainability SmartPod

Last year, Whirlpool introduced a novel insulation technology that could represent a significant breakthrough in refrigerator design and sustainability. The technology, known as SlimTech™, replaces traditional polyurethane foam with a proprietary powder-like material held in a vacuum, addressing longstanding recyclability issues in refrigerator manufacturing.
Pam Klyn, executive vice president of corporate relations and sustainability at Whirlpool, joins the podcast to talk about SlimTech and the broader landscape for sustainable refrigeration and emissions reporting. Like many multinationals, Whirlpool faces challenges in managing Scope 3 emissions, which largely depend on product use in consumers' homes. They're developing systems to better estimate and report these emissions while focusing on tangible product improvements. Innovations like SlimTech support the company's goal for net-zero emissions in its operations by 2025 and a 25% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 compared to 2016 levels. But while appliance manufacturers like Whirlpool have made substantial improvements in energy efficiency, the source of electricity powering homes also has a major impact on emissions.
Highlights from Pam Klyn
Challenges with polyurethane in refrigeration (2:00)
What is SlimTech? (3:18)
Whirlpool's road map for SlimTech's end of use applications (5:26)
Global landscape for sustainable refrigeration (7:03)
Whirlpool's leadership in sustainability (9:12)
The role of the grid in modern home appliances (11:32)
Challenges and opportunities in reporting emissions (13:02)
Challenges in complying with different regulations worldwide (16:33)
Whirlpool's net-zero goals (19:10)

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1. The future of refrigeration (00:00:00)

2. Introduction and Guest Background (00:00:09)

3. Challenges with Polyurethane in Refrigeration (00:02:00)

4. Introducing Slim Tech Insulation (00:03:11)

5. Manufacturing and Sustainability (00:03:57)

6. End-of-Life and Circular Economy (00:05:26)

7. Global Efforts in Sustainable Refrigeration (00:07:03)

8. Corporate Reporting and Scope Emissions (00:13:06)

9. Navigating International Regulations (00:16:33)

10. Net Zero Goals and Future Outlook (00:19:10)