J.B. Hoyt 

Whirlpool Corporation

During his tenure at Whirlpool Corporation, J.B. Hoyt developed appliance recycling programs that hauled away 100,000 units nationwide each year. 

In 2005, Whirlpool reached its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent. In 2017, the corporation met its global energy and water reduction goals three years before its own 2020 deadline. At its LEED-certified global offices and technology research centers in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, Whirlpool has initiated programs like water recycling in its laundry lab. Now, when appliances are tested to determine their lifespans, all water is filtered and reused. Another sustainability goal, Whirlpool plans on creating zero waste-to-landfill at its 47 manufacturing facilities around the world.

“He was the catalyst for getting where we are today with sustainability initiatives,” said Maureen Stroud, senior manager of North American sustainability for Whirlpool. Stroud says. “It was his idea that we have a sustainability team, not just actions in small pockets. He really pushed for dedicated resources to look at these issues. He left us that legacy.”

The Whirlpool Corporation has a long history of being environmentally conscious, reaching back to 1970 when the Clean Air Act was adopted. Whirlpool has also had a longstanding partnership with EnergyStar, the government-backed program that provides simple, credible, unbiased information about a product’s energy efficiency to consumers and businesses.

J.B. Hoyt co-founded Michigan’s Great Southwest Sustainable Business Forum, which later merged with Michigan Sustainable Business Forum to create the largest membership program for sustainability practitioners in the Midwest