Environmental Stewardship

Doing right by people and the environment

Environmental stewardship means managing our operations and resources in ways that respect people and the environment while constantly looking for ways to improve. That includes reducing waste, striving to use fewer resources and innovating to improve how we operate.

Instead of relying on rigid checklists or isolated metrics, we use a principle-based framework to guide our decisions. Because real, lasting progress comes from empowering individuals to use sound judgment, think long term and respond to complexity in ways that respect the environment, strengthen communities and support the success of our companies. That mindset helps us adapt, improve and pursue progress that’s both responsible and real.

Essential products. Environmental stewardship.

At Koch, we help people improve their lives by providing products and services they value more highly than their alternatives. We do this by experimenting and innovating to responsibly create more value for others while striving to consume fewer resources. The result is mutually beneficial outcomes for customers, employees, suppliers, communities and other key constituencies. Here's how.

Strides in stewardship

Check out the data around our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and the strides we've made in increasing efficiencies and conserving resources through the years.

Data based on EPA TRI final 2024 data released in November of 2025 and GHG data reported to EPA May 2025 (40 CFR Part 98). Data based on non-biogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

Less Waste

From 2014 to 2024, the amount of production-related waste generated at our U.S. facilities is down by approximately 322 million pounds. That's around 48%.

Reuse & Recycle

In 2024, Koch reporting facilities recycled, reused for energy or treated 89% (307 million pounds) of all waste produced while making the things that make life better.

Greenhouse Gases

In the U.S., Koch’s reported greenhouse gas emissions are down by 11% since 2014 (more than 3.2 million metric tons of CO₂e).

CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS

Koch companies reduced EPA criteria air pollutants – among those most common to industry – by 57% from 2008 to 2024.

INVESTING IN EFFICIENCY

We’ve invested more than $3 billion in energy efficiency projects across Koch's global facilities since 2015.

Five environmental stewardship priorities

With more than 300 manufacturing sites across the United States – and about 100 more globally – we’re one of America’s largest manufacturers. Every day, across those sites, we strive to create more value, using fewer resources than the day before. We do it through constant improvement and innovation – both in the products we make and how we make them, and by managing our resources in a way that benefits our customers, employees, partners, community members and society.

Energy efficiency

Since 2015, we’ve invested more than $3 billion, and years of hard work and innovation, in energy efficiency projects across Koch’s U.S. facilities. Across our operations, we continually work to improve energy efficiency and develop innovative technologies, which will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As an active partner and leader in the industry, we were recognized as ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Innovation

Essential to stewardship, and our long-term success, is the discovery of new technologies and methods to create more value for our customers while striving to use fewer resources, minimizing waste and improving the environmental performance and effectiveness of our products and processes. To do this we proactively seek knowledge from the best sources — inside and outside the company — rather than being satisfied with familiar sources.

Air quality

We continually seek new ways to reduce and improve air emissions. Koch companies have reduced EPA criteria air pollutants — among those most common to industry — by 57% from 2008-2024. And in the U.S., Koch's greenhouse gas emissions are down by 11% since 2014 – that’s a reduction of more than 3.2 million metric tons of CO2e. Our companies are applying new technologies to monitor emissions leaks and correct and prevent them in real time. Our companies are also investing in improvements – one Georgia-Pacific facility has decreased its sulfur dioxide emissions by 95%.

Water

Clean, plentiful water is vital to life – for humans and the countless plant and animal species with which we share this planet. We continually explore new opportunities to reduce water consumption and improve the quantity and quality of water discharge throughout our operations. Since 2010, Flint Hills Resources’ refineries have saved roughly 3 billion gallons of water through effluent recycling and stormwater recovery. During this same timeframe, Flint Hills refineries' water consumption intensity (net of volume withdrawn and returned to water bodies per barrel of crude oil processed) has improved by approximately 25%.

Responsible resource management

Stewardship encompasses the responsible management of our actions and the resources entrusted to our care in a manner that respects the rights of others. We make it a priority to ensure our resources are managed to create value for our constituencies and for Koch. From 2014 to 2024, the amount of production-related waste generated at our U.S. facilities is down by approximately 322 million pounds (48%). And in 2024, our reporting facilities recycled, recovered for energy or treated 89% of production-related waste – a total of 307 million pounds. And we’re nowhere near done yet.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honors

Koch has a long history of mutually beneficial collaborations with the EPA — from awards and recognition to programs aimed at enhancing safety and reducing emissions at operating facilities.

a blue light shining through a black background

Investments

Frontline Employees Key to Safety Improvements at Georgia-Pacific Crossett Facility

Tandem Global Certification

Thirteen Koch sites comprising more than 2,500 acres have earned Wildlife Habitat Council Certification (now part of Tandem Global) for commitment to habitat conservation and environmental education. The INVISTA site in Victoria, Texas, earned the top Gold Certification level for their commitment to wildlife habitat preservation and wetlands education. Also earning the top Gold Certification level are our Wichita, Kansas, headquarters, Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend facility in Rosemount, Minnesota, and Wildlife Learning Preserve in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Stewardship

Flint Hills Resources and Ducks Unlimited Celebrate 40 Years of Partnership

Through its financial contributions and volunteer hours, Flint Hills has supported wetland habitat restoration for four decades