Honda Issues 2010 North American Environmental Report

Honda today released its sixth annual report on the company's environmental footprint in North America, and efforts being made to minimize the environmental impact of Honda's operations in the region. The report also includes a detailed review of the various technology approaches that Honda is taking in its efforts to address the issue of global climate change, perhaps the most serious and far-reaching environmental issue facing society today. The 2010 North American Environmental report, published in electronic format only, can be viewed and downloaded here.

"Despite the severe business conditions of the past year, Honda remains strongly committed to innovation and to the continued development of new products and technologies that minimize our environmental footprint and that help address society's most pressing environmental concerns," said Tetsuo Iwamura, chief operating officer of Honda's North American Regional Operation. "Thanks to the efforts of Honda associates at all levels and in all areas of our operations, we continue to make significant progress in improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, and eliminating potentially harmful substances from our products, production operations and sales activities in North America. "

Highlights of the 2010 report include:

• American Honda's Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) for model year 2009 (MY2009) rose 1 mpg to 31.3 mpg, a 3.3% increase from MY2008 and a 7.2% rise from MY2005, outpacing the company's voluntary goal (set in May 2006) to achieve a 5% increase over MY2005 CAFE levels by MY2010.
• Waste to landfills from manufacturing activity was reduced 87% from the FY2001 baseline and 65% from the previous fiscal year, with eight North American plants achieving zero waste to landfill, as Honda moved closer to its goal of achieving zero waste to landfill for all 14 of its plants in the region by April 1, 2011.
• Total energy used in manufacturing was reduced 8% from the previous fiscal year, while energy use per automobile produced rose 2.4% as a result of lower production volumes.
• Average CO² emissions¹ per automobile produced rose only 1% despite an 8% decrease in the volume of automobile production.
• "Intelligent" paint booth technology was implemented on all automobile paint lines in North America, reducing energy used in auto body painting by as much as 25%.
• Emissions of volatile organic compounds from auto body painting were reduced 9.8% from FY2008 levels to 13.8 grams/m², exceeding Honda's target of 20 grams/m².
• Two new on-site parts consolidation centers - at the Marysville, Ohio, auto plant and Timmonsville, SC, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) plant - are estimated to reduce CO² emissions from supplier parts shipments by nearly 1,300 metric tons annually.
• Honda's North American Purchasing Division launched a Supply Chain Sustainability Initiative to promote actions aimed at reducing CO² emissions from supplier activity.
• A new port facility in Richmond, Calif., Honda's third west coast port facility, is expected to reduce truck travel by 2.7 million miles annually, cutting CO² emissions from product distribution by an estimated 4,500 metric tons.

The 2010 North American Environmental Report covers the company's operations during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 (FY2010) and utilizes a lifecycle assessment (LCA) model to report on the environmental impact of Honda's R&D, manufacturing and sales activities in the North America region, encompassing the United States, Canada and Mexico. The report looks at the environmental performance of the company's automobile, powersports, and power equipment products, its 14 major manufacturing plants operating in North America in FY2010, and the corporate activities of 15 Honda group companies in the region.

To help reduce the environmental impact of its environmental reporting activities, the company is publishing the report in electronic format only. Highlights of the report can also be viewed at www.corporate.honda.com. The full report is also available for download at the site and at Honda's U.S. media web site at www.hondanews.com.

Additional information on Honda's environmental performance outside of North America can be found in Honda Motor Company's Environmental Report, with a focus on the company's activities in Japan - available at world.honda.com.

¹ CO² emissions from the consumption of electricity and natural gas, representing about 96% of total direct CO2 emissions from Honda's North American manufacturing operations.