Honda provides update on its environmental performance

Honda released their fourth annual North American Environmental Report. Some of the highlights from their report include the following:

• The United States corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) for model year 2007 Honda and Acura cars and light trucks rose to 29.5 miles per gallon, the highest level in five years, based in part on the expanded application of fuel-efficient technologies like i-VTEC® variable valve control for 4- and 6-cylinder engines, and second-generation Variable Cylinder Management™ for V-6 engines.
• Three Honda facilities in North America attained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in FY2008. Three additional facilities, two in the United States and one in Canada, will seek LEED certification in FY2009.
• 81 percent of automobiles were shipped by rail, the most fuel-efficient means of product transportation. CO2 emissions from automobile transport were reduced by 5,493 metric tons though the use of more fuel-efficient Auto-Max railcars.
• A $7 million renovation of Honda’s Ohio product distribution center, improved efficiency and reduced consumption of diesel fuel by more than 500,000 gallons.
• Promotion of “green factory” practices to more than 650 North American OEM supplier partners helped lead 85 percent of suppliers to be third-party certified to ISO 14001 environmental management standards in FY2008, up from 80 percent in the previous fiscal year.
• Total waste from manufacturing processes sent to landfills was reduced 34.5 percent in 2008, exceeding their target of a 70 percent reduction from their baseline by 2010. In 2008, Honda Canada’s two automobile plants joined four other Honda plants as “zero waste to landfill” facilities, including Honda Manufacturing Alabama which was the first automobile plant in North America to achieve zero waste to landfill status.

Zero waste to landfill facilities include Lincoln, Alabama; El Salto, Mexico; Swepsonville, North Carolina; Alliston, Ontario, Canada – Plant 1; and Alliston, Ontario, Canada – Plant 2.