The Kohler path to sustainability
The recent 97th PGA Championship, held at Kohler’s stunning Whistling Straits course, showcased to the world the company’s long-held commitment to sustainability.
Morning glory at Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin.
Five pillars of Sustainability were encompassed in the course during the Championship, these being: Maintenance, Irrigation, Concessions and Food Service, On-site Transportation and Waste recycling.
Maintenance
Maintenance – particularly in the form of irrigation – is limited to only the fairways, greens and tees, leaving the hardy Fescue grass unmowed and in its natural state beyond the fairway.
Major maintenance happens in the early hours at the Whistling Straits course.
Irrigation
Irrigation is designed to conserve water with electronic sensors used to measure the moisture of the soil under the greens and tees. This way irrigation is fine-tuned to only those areas in need – and water is conserved.
Concessions and food service
All food and beverages are locally sourced with the food vendor committed to responsible food sourcing, reduced food waste and environmentally friendly serving ware.
On Site transportation
On-site travel relies on 55-passenger motor coaches that are fuel efficient and limit the carbon footprint of each event. The large capacity coaches also reduce the number of individual shuttle trips.
An early start on the course.
Waste recycling
All waste was processed via recycling containers placed throughout the course and when full, taken to designated sorting locations. Cleaning products were certified safe and non-harmful by Green Seal and the EPA.
Sustainable development has become a corporate mantra for the Kohler Company (and its global manufacturing plants). The company began its journey to Net Zero in 2008 with the global goal to be carbon neutral by 2035.