Towards Sustainability

The story so far

Our journey to renewable energy and zero waste

Rheem has set some big sustainability goals for 2025, and we’re already on the path to achieving them – but quick fixes won’t do. Big problems require thoughtful, comprehensive solutions, so we’re making sure our approach addresses Rheem's three sustainability pillars: Intelligent Products, Responsible Processes, and Inspired People. We’re proud of our progress and hope you’ll join us on our journey to renewable energy and zero waste.

Degrees of Innovation

Degrees of Innovation

We are focused on innovating with intent, engineering solutions with lifetime sustainability in mind – from material selection to smart features to responsible recycling.
Degrees of Efficiency

Degrees of Efficiency

We strive for operational excellence, working smarter and more sustainably to consume fewer resources, generate less waste and ensure simpler, safer processes.
Inspired People

Degrees of Leadership

We hire and inspire our teams to be next-generation thinkers and responsible stewards of our industry, the greater community and the environment.

We’re committed to Aotearoa – the land, the people, and our future.

Intelligent Products

Degrees of Innovation

Our 2025 global goal: launch a line of heating, cooling and water heating products that boast a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas footprint. 1

We’re Innovating

We’re Innovating

Rheem Vitreous Enamel-Lined Water Heaters are more sustainable than ever.

All Vitreous Enamel water heaters’ insulation meets or exceeds NZ MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards), reducing the energy demand of the product.

We fit the heaters with a sacrificial magnesium anode to provide additional corrosion protection to the cylinder in adverse water conditions, giving the product a longer life cycle.

We use Solstice ZD Blowing Agent for foam insulation, which has very low GWP & zero Ozone-Depleting properties.

The recyclable cardboard packaging goes only on the top rim of the water heater, meaning there is no unnecessary waste.

The cylinder’s jacket, tank and valves can all be stripped and recycled.

Learn More

Rheem Solar Installation
Rheem Solar Installation
Rheem Solar Installation
Rheem Solar Installation

Rheem Factory Solar Installation

Earlier this year, we installed solar panels on the Rheem factory in Avondale...

This gave us a chance to see our new Rheem Solar Solutions in action firsthand, while also lowering the overall energy consumption of the factory. In the month of May, the solar panels produced, on average, 214 kwh per day. To put this in context, the average NZ home uses around 20 kwh per day.

This means that Rheem Avondale is now making meaningful use of a renewable energy source, lowering both its carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment. The energy produced by the solar panels also resulted in roughly $1395 of savings in May 2023 alone – and this was a cloudy, wet month!

Find out more

ultra-low Global Warming Potential
All foam used in our products has ultra-low Global Warming Potential and zero Ozone Depleting Properties
Rheem storage water heaters
Rheem storage water heaters (mains and low pressure) have recyclable steel jackets.

REDESIGN
Recycle
REDUCE
REUSE

Rheem & Sustainability brochure
Responsible Processes

Degrees of Efficiency

Our 2025 goal: reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and achieve zero waste to landfill in our global manufacturing operations. 2

Degrees of Innovation
Degrees of Innovation
Degrees of Innovation
Degrees of Innovation
Degrees of Innovation
Degrees of Innovation

Zero Waste Audit, Avondale 2023

With a goal of zero waste to landfill by 2025, we needed to assess how much of our current waste was being recycled sustainably.

Earlier this year, the Rheem Global Sustainability team joined us and a bunch of generous volunteers to spend three days collecting and counting trash.

The occasion: the 2023 Rheem Avondale Waste Audit.

It may not be the cleanest of jobs, but the waste audit was an essential part of our overall sustainability strategy. Our goal is zero waste to landfill by 2025, which means we needed to assess how much of our current waste was being recycled in a sustainable way. And as zero waste is a global goal, we were lucky enough to have the Rheem Global Sustainable team fly all the way from America to help us with the audit.

On Wednesday 8th February, the waste audit started at 6am and would continue for 24 hours. The plan was to collect all the waste the Rheem Avondale factory and office staff produced in a 24-hour period, and then work out what recycling processes are working well, and where there is room for improvement.

The way we measure the sustainability of our waste management is by calculating the “Diversion Rate”. Simply put, the diversion rate measures the portion of waste not sent to the landfill. The greater the diversion rate, the more sustainable the waste management processes, so tracking the diversion rate over time is a great way to measure the effectiveness of reuse, recycling, and organic composting programs.

On Thursday morning, the 24-hour sample period was complete and we all gathered at 10am to start processing the waste. We were fortunate enough to be joined by a group of wonderful volunteers who helped us sought and document the waste.

With the waste processed, we were finally able to see the results of the audit and discuss our areas for improvement at a ‘lunch & learn’ on the Friday. In short, we collected 105.5kg of waste – three cubic metres – over the 24-hour period.

Most of that waste was able to be diverted with our current recycling streams. This included bottles & cans, cardboard, paper, food, paper towels, metal, plastic wrap and E-waste. The EPS, enamel bags, mixed soft plastics, PPE masks, PPE, plastic plugs & gaskets and foam cutouts can also all be diverted under existing recycling streams.

This was a great start for Rheem Avondale, but still a long way off our goal to have zero waste to landfill. We are dedicated to achieving this goal, so we’re currently working hard to find recycling solutions for all our waste.

If we hit our targeted 98.8% Diversion Rate, we will save per year:
Diversion Rate
We are working on three of the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals:
Diversion Rate
65%
of our products have little or no packaging
Current Diversion Rate:
84.7%
Estimated Diversion Rate with Ideal Practices:
87.6%
Estimated Diversion Rate with Ideal Practices & New Diversion Streams:
98.8%
*Calculated using 12 months of global data (January 2022 – December 2022)
Inspired People

Degrees of Leadership

Our 2025 global goal: train 250,000 plumbers, contractors and key influencers on sustainable products or sustainable installation and recycling best practices.

Patrick Troute
Patrick Troute
Operations Manager
For me, sustainability means doing everything we can daily in manufacturing to mitigate polluting the earth and its atmosphere.
For me, sustainability means doing everything we can daily in manufacturing to mitigate polluting the earth and its atmosphere.
Jessica Bensley
Jessica Bensley
Human Resources Manager
Creating a culture of sustainability requires a comprehensive approach involving all aspects of the organisation. We are working towards creating a sustainable workplace by implementing environmentally friendly practices.
Creating a culture of sustainability requires a comprehensive approach involving all aspects of the organisation. We are working towards creating a sustainable workplace by implementing environmentally friendly practices.
Stephen Parslow
Stephen Parslow
Technical Trainer
A handful of people talking about global sustainability just isn't going to cut it – we need millions of us actively involved! Polar explorer Robert Swan summed it up: "The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it."
A handful of people talking about global sustainability just isn't going to cut it – we need millions of us actively involved! Polar explorer Robert Swan summed it up: "The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it."
Mark McCutcheon
Mark McCutcheon
General Manager
Sustainability is an issue that one person, city or nation cannot solve on their own. We all have a responsibility personally and corporately to be part of this solution before it is too late. We have reversed the depletion in the ozone layer which is now healing, so we can do this too!
Sustainability is an issue that one person, city or nation cannot solve on their own. We all have a responsibility personally and corporately to be part of this solution before it is too late. We have reversed the depletion in the ozone layer which is now healing, so we can do this too!
Save the kiwi
Save The Kiwi Logo
We have proudly partnered with Save the Kiwi to help protect New Zealand’s national bird. The team at Save the Kiwi work alongside whānau, hapū, iwi, conservation groups, communities, organisations, and the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai to reverse the decline of the national kiwi population and create more kiwi-safe habitat in Aotearoa.
We hire and inspire our teams to be next-generation thinkers and responsible stewards of our industry, the greater community and the environment.
We have formed a sustainability team within our staff who will be driving new initiatives at Rheem.
Rheem is a member of the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand, SEANZ.
SEANZ Logo
We proudly support EECA & Ara Ake
EECA and Ara Ake logo

Progress we’re proud of

Our 2023 Sustainability Progress Report details how we’re tracking against our 2025 goals. See the report — and how we’re doing.
Amplifying Our Impact

1 Rheem’s goal is to release by 2025 a line of heating, cooling, and water heating products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% as compared to products available in 2019. Reduction calculations will be based on the products’ use phase emissions only and utilise average emission factors to account for variability in electricity grids. Reduction calculations will not consider upstream or manufacturing impacts, but use phase emissions account for the majority of the products’ impact. At this time, these figures have not been independently verified by a third party.

2 Rheem’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2025 from a 2018 baseline. This metric will be based on intensity emissions normalised by units produced and includes Scope 1, 2, and elements of Scope 3, as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. At this time, these figures have not been independently verified by a third party.

Solar made simple

Rheem Solar Solutions

Switching to solar can dramatically reduce your impact on the environment – and it’s never been easier. Our goal is to make converting to solar simple for Kiwis, no matter where they live in NZ. Install a Rheem Solar Solution and join the smart energy revolution.