Among its sustainability goals is completing a million trainings for contractors and key influencers globally on sustainable products, refrigerant management, and sustainability best practices. This will include training on how to install, monitor, and maintain air and water products to perform efficiently.

“We need the partnership of our customers, contractors, and plumbers to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient and sustainable products,” said Chee Wee Gan, senior vice president of strategy and sustainability. “That's why we set this ambitious goal of over one million trainings globally in sustainability.

“That's over 400 trainings per day, every day for the next 10 years.”

In addition to the training initiative, Rheem’s goals include:

• Having an average of 90% of its packaging be reusable, recyclable, or compostable, or having at least 50% recycled content in product packaging;

• Maintaining zero waste-to-landfill practices at all factories, and onboarding new acquisitions;

• Reducing emissions intensity by 30% throughout the lifecycle of Rheem products;

• Reducing global waste intensity by 10%.

Chris Peel, president and CEO of Rheem, said with heating, cooling, and water-heating products comprising about two-thirds of energy usage in a typical home, the company has an opportunity to reduce its environmental footprint with the help of contractors.

“These will be the most challenging [goals] that we’ve ever done,” said Peel. “However, we know the recipe. As a 100-year-old private company, we’ll continue to do what we do best, and that is invest for the long term.”

Gan said the company’s research shows that it’s more profitable for contractors to adhere to sustainable products and practices. Part of the training will be to dispel common myths, such as that heat pumps underperform in colder climates.

When asked why contractors should lean into sustainability, Gan said it’s a win-win-win since it’s good for the customers, contractors, and the industry at large.

“Change is always uncomfortable, right, which is why we’re focusing on this training, these tools, and helping them understand how this is good for their business,” he said.

Launched in 2019, Rheem’s sustainability program completed its previous goals by its target year of 2025. Those included: launching product lines that achieved a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas footprint; having zero waste-to-landfill practices in global manufacturing operations; and having 250,000 trainings for professionals on sustainable products and recycling practices.

“I’m very pleased to report that we not only met those goals, but we exceeded them,” Peel said. “Now of course, that would not have been possible without the support of our contractors, plumbers, channel partners, suppliers, and the more than 16,000 Rheem employees around the world that made that happen."