Kohler Sustainability's Rising Star

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

This iconic quote is one of Ashley Fahey’s favorites—a firm reminder of the importance of her work. As our new Senior Manager of Global Product Sustainability, Ashley is dedicated to furthering Kohler’s work within sustainable innovation.

“I work closely with category strategy leaders to understand how we might integrate sustainability more holistically into our product road maps,” she explained. “I’m also working on developing consumer research to understand how our end users value and prioritize sustainability in terms of our products and spaces.”

Ashley is an expert in helping companies affect positive change through developing and implementing cross-functional sustainability strategies. With an undergraduate degree in sustainable business from Aquinas College (the first school in the nation to have offered such a degree) and more than 12 years working in environmental and sustainability roles, she brings a wealth of knowledge to strengthen Kohler’s longtime actions and investments in sustainable practices.

“Working for Kohler seemed like a great opportunity to impact the products that are used in homes and commercial spaces all over the world,” said Ashley. “Our leaders really understand the value of sustainability and reinforce the need for it to be top-of-mind in all aspects of business, from design to engineering to product marketing.”

Kohler’s commitment to sustainability, which is focused on improving our operational footprint and designing environmentally responsible products, is one of the things that drew Ashley to Kohler. Another was our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion—a topic she is passionate about as a transgender woman.

“The Kohler family and the company celebrate diversity and a culture of inclusion,” she added. “It makes me excited to work for Kohler now and into the future."

She’s only been here a few months, but colleagues are already taking note of Ashley’s work—and the world is too. She was recently recognized on the Environment + Energy Leader 100 List as a trailblazer in helping ensure that the world we live in continues its transformation toward a more resource-efficient, sustainable place for future generations. She was also named to the GreenBiz 30 Under 30 List in 2019 for her work in sustainability strategy.

When sustainability becomes embedded into large and small organizations in every industry all over the world, we can make a meaningful impact on global issues such as climate change, water scarcity, and resource depletion.

“One product, process, program, or company isn’t likely to make an enormous difference,” said Ashley. “But the collective efforts of individuals and companies committed to making positive changes really do add up.”