Stewardship

Explore the links below to discover how we put our stewardship commitment to work.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

AT Koch

Making life better.

Protecting our tomorrows.

Vice President EH&S, Koch, Inc.

From my early days of working on water quality improvements in Minnesota and in the Pacific Northwest, to my years leading Environmental Health & Safety initiatives at Koch, my career has focused on environmental performance. I’m proud to work for a company that cares deeply about how we use our resources and how we treat the world around us. That commitment is embedded in our Vision and Values, and in our company’s DNA. As we innovate and manufacture the essentials that help people make their lives better, we take our stewardship role seriously – and continuously work to improve our performance. I hope our commitment makes you feel proud to work here, too.

Sheryl Corrigan

Future

Present

PAST

Before it was cool

PAST RESULTS

The April 2001 issue of Koch’s employee newsletter featured a cover story about our conservation support of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, the only National Park System site of its kind in Kansas. It mentioned how our company’s co-founder, Fred Koch, worked to reintroduce native grasses to the ranchlands he purchased in Kansas, Montana and Texas during the 1940s and ‘50s, which Koch owned and operated until 2021.

The July 2001 issue celebrated the introduction of an ultra-low-sulfur fuel made at Koch’s Pine Bend Refinery in Minnesota. This ultra-low-sulfur gasoline was offered to the public four years before the federal government mandated such fuels.

At the same time, some things haven’t changed. Like our passion for the environment and conservation.

Two decades later, we’re far more diverse – employing 120,000+ people worldwide, most of whom have been with the company less than five years. Refining now is just a fraction of our business.

Our Pine Bend facility was named among the most energy-efficient refineries in the U.S.

Our sustainability model has Proven to be effective, as shown by

Our performance.

40% reduction

down by 275 million pounds

48%

Decreased our EPA Criteria Air Pollutants by

Between 2008-2021

Koch's greenhouse gas emissions are down by

17%

Between 2014 through 2022 (the most recent reporting year), the amount of production-related waste generated at our U.S. facilities is down by approximately 275 million pounds. That's around 40%. And better yet, 90% of the remaining waste was recycled, recovered for energy or treated. That’s a major accomplishment for any business – especially when you consider we increased our manufacturing during that time through the acquisitions of Molex and Guardian Industries and expanded our existing businesses.

Next: The Present

since 2014

In 2001, Koch was largely a Midwestern chemical and refining company with around 10,000 employees, many of whom had long careers with the company.

proven to be effective, as shown

Our sustainability model has

by Our performance.

Proven to be effective, as shown

Between 2008-2022

50%

Decreased EPA Criteria Air Pollutants by

Koch’s US EPA Reported Scope 1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions are down by

since 2014

17%

Data based on EPA TRI & GHG final 2022 data released in October 2023. Data based on non-biogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

our

PRESENT PROGRESS

We help people improve their lives by providing products and services they value more highly than their alternatives. We experiment and innovate to responsibly create more value while consuming fewer resources. We seek mutually beneficial outcomes with customers, employees, suppliers, communities and other key constituencies.

For this reason, we aren’t likely to make Koch-wide broad-brush stewardship commitments or statements like other companies do. What you will see is our Koch businesses continuing to develop capabilities in our people while we advance new technologies and new methods to improve our performance even more, and build preferred partnerships with our constituents.

Vision

Stewardship framework

50%

Koch’s overall Criteria Air Pollutant emissions are down through fuel changes, abatement projects, and other measures.

Environmental Stewardship Priorities

Innovation

Openly Communicate

REward our partners

water

Engage our communities

Energy Efficiency

Air Quality

Responsible Resource Management

Discover new technologies and methods to create more value for our customers while using fewer resources, minimizing waste and improving the environmental performance and effectiveness of our products and processes. This benefits our customers, employees, investors, the communities in which we operate and society as a whole.

INNOVATION

Download the complete stewardship framework.

Reducing Criteria Air Pollutant Emission

energy efficiency

Continually improve energy efficiency and develop innovative technologies, which will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Seek new ways to reduce and improve air emissions.

air quality

Explore new opportunities to reduce water consumption and improve the quantity and quality of water discharge.

water

Ensure our resources are managed to create value for Koch and our constituencies.

Responsible Resource Management

Openly communicate with employees, contractors, customers, regulators and the public regarding our environmental, health and safety performance as well as community engagement.

Openly communicate

Collaborate on projects and initiatives in our communities that are valued by our partners and consistent with our culture.

Engage our communities

Give preference to suppliers, vendors and partners who are committed to excellence in operations and EHS performance.

Reward our partners

Koch

Air Criteria Pollutants 2008-2022

One of the ways we’re improving is by continuing to find new ways of reducing emissions, especially air emissions. Looking at Koch in aggregate, we’ve reduced EPA criteria air pollutants — among those most common to industry — by 50% from 2008 to 2022.

Thousand Tons

250

200

150

100

2008

2011

2014

2017

(2022 data are the most recent data available.) *Criteria pollutants include volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

59%

Thousand Tons

2013

Great results like these can be found throughout Georgia-Pacific. Overall, Georgia-Pacific’s facilities have realized a 59% reduction in SO emissions — nearly 30,000 tons — during the last four years, with even more reductions on the way.

YEAR-over-year So Emissions

Georgia-Pacific’s (companywide)

2014

2015

2016

2017

Reduction

94%

Reduction

Thousand Tons

2007

Our investment in converting this facility’s coal-fired boilers to natural gas in 2007 dramatically reduced its sulfur dioxide emissions (an EPA criteria pollutant) by 94% — while at the same time boosting energy efficiency.

Annual reported SO Emissions

Georgia-Pacific’s Broadway Mill in Green Bay, Wisconsin

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Reduction

Land conservation and stewardship are important to Koch. Our 11 sites comprised of more than 2,500 acres have earned Wildlife Habitat Council Certification for commitment to habitat conservation and environmental education. Of the 11 certified sites at Koch, three have earned Gold status in recent years: The Flint Hills Resources refinery in Pine Bend, Minnesota, has been recognized for preserving habitat and increasing biodiversity for more than 20 years. The INVISTA site in Victoria, Texas, has been recognized for preserving habitat and providing wetlands education for 25 years, offering thousands of children the opportunity to experience nature firsthand. Our headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, has been recognized for conservation efforts initiated at the campus.

Responsible land management

Some companies of our size and scope have identified broad corporate sustainability goals based on national or international NGO (non-governmental organization) goals. We approach things differently. At Koch, we use our Vision as a North Star to guide us toward new ways of creating mutual benefit for our constituencies — which include employees, suppliers, customers, communities, regulators and others. Every day we strive to listen, understand and deliver what they value, always in compliance with all laws and regulations.

Energy efficiency and innovation

When we talk about energy, questions on climate are frequently raised. The Earth’s temperature has risen approximately 1 degree Celsius since 1880. At the same time, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased. Some of the temperature increase can be attributed to the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide. People play a role in these changes. We seek continued knowledge and understanding of the science related to climate, recognizing that science and our understanding of it will continue to evolve as new knowledge is obtained. We encourage further discovery through open and civil discourse, free from sensationalism, bias or politicization.

more than

2,500

Acres have earned wildlife habitat council certification

Energy stewardship, in particular, is something we’ve practiced for many years. For decades, our sites have been investing in engineering and equipment to use waste streams, byproducts and natural gas to fuel onsite heaters and furnaces. We’ve also been installing heat transfer systems to capture waste heat for reuse in our steam systems, processes and onsite electrical generation. These investments have made our facilities more efficient, which means fewer emissions of criteria air pollutants and CO2 versus other alternatives.

Since 2014, Koch’s greenhouse gas emissions are down by 17%. We’ve repeatedly been recognized by the EPA and others for these energy efficiency efforts. Most recently, our Pine Bend Refinery was named among the most energy-efficient refineries in the U.S. by an independent benchmarking company. Likewise, Georgia-Pacific’s Muskogee, Naheola, Palatka, Leaf River and Brewton sites, Koch Ag & Energy Solutions’ Beatrice, Enid and Fort Dodge sites and Flint Hills Resources’ Pine Bend Refinery all earned recognition from the EPA as participants in its ENERGY STAR program in recent years. These latest kudos are in addition to our recognition as ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. (The ENERGY STAR program recognizes energy-efficiency improvements that enhance air quality.)

Because of the diversity of Koch companies, it doesn’t make sense for all our companies to be working on the same priorities. Rather, each Koch company works on the priorities most important to its customers and other constituencies – with company-specific strategies that change over time and focus on creating virtuous cycles of mutual benefit.

Next: The Future

Hover over priority circles to look deeper.

Give preference to suppliers, vendors and partners who are committed to excellence in operations and EHS performance.

Reward our partners

Collaborate on projects and initiatives in our communities that are valued by our partners and consistent with our culture.

Engage our communities

Openly communicate

Water

Energy Efficiency

Discover new technologies and methods to create more value for our customers while using fewer resources, minimizing waste, and improving the environmental performance and effectiveness of our products and processes. This benefits our customers, employees, investors, the communities in which we operate and society as a whole.

Innovation

Next: The Future

Land conservation and stewardship are important to Koch. Fourteen Koch sites comprising nearly 1,700 acres have earned Wildlife Habitat Council Certification for commitment to habitat conservation and environmental education. Most recently, our headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, earned Silver Certification for conservation efforts undertaken at the campus. INVISTA’s Victoria Wetland interpretive site has hosted thousands of students during the last 20 years.

2022

2020

Openly communicate with employees, contractors, customers, regulators and the public regarding our environmental, health and safety performance as well as community engagement.

Ensure our resources are managed to create value for Koch and our constituencies.

Responsible Resource Management

Explore new opportunities to reduce water consumption and improve the quantity and quality of water discharge.

Seek new ways to reduce and improve air emissions.

Air Quality

Continually improve energy efficiency and develop innovative technologies, which will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Thousand Tons

250

200

150

100

2008

DID YOU KNOW?

At INVISTA’s plant in Orange, Texas, an innovative manufacturing process developed by Koch has significantly reduced benzene emissions.

As part of our ongoing company focus on automation as a key strategy for creating competitive advantage, we’ve invested nearly $35 billion in tech-related opportunities – including the acquisition of Infor in early 2020. These investments are transforming the way our company operates by providing new opportunities for employees to learn and grow, and by helping us to identify ways to improve our processes and systems to minimize waste.

"I’m inspired every day by the stories of environmental stewardship in action I see across Koch. To be inspired yourself, check out more examples of how we manage our resources in ways that create more value while using fewer resources in Koch's Newsroom. You can also access more information about how we operate, our organizational ethics and our environmental practices." - Sheryl Corrigan, Vice President of Environmental, Health & Safety

FUTURE

our

(where you come in)

Using technology to safely detect and repair leaks

SEE NOW

FIVE priorities

that create more value while using fewer resources

Responsible Resource Management

Energy efficiency

Water

Innovation

Air Quality

Protecting endangered species

Of course, helping promote best environmental practices at Koch requires more than just making a website. That’s why, moving forward, we are challenging ourselves to innovate and implement new technology and methods that will drive even more environmental excellence. In small ways. In big ways. Wherever we are and whatever we do, there’s an environmental stewardship Koch story that’s just waiting to be told.

environmental Stewardship at koch

Let's write the next chapter, together.

SEE NOW

READ NOW