Even as production increased 26 percent from 1995 through 1998 at Honda of America Mfg.'s (HAM) four plants in Ohio, the amount of waste and air emissions per vehicle produced was cut by 57 percent.
HAM has established itself as an auto industry environmental leader by standing behind a commitment to protect the environment and conserve natural resources.
This commitment stems from a "Green Factory" initiative that is among Honda's top objectives for the next decade. These initiatives will strengthen Honda's environmental performance by reducing waste and emissions, reducing energy use and improving environmental management systems. Specific Green Factory targets include a 15 percent reduction in energy consumption in 2001 from 1990 levels and an elimination of industrial wastes requiring treatment outside the factory.
HAM already exceeds all environmental requirements by federal, state and local authorities, and continues to implement new processes and methods to prevent pollution, conserve natural resources and reduce waste.
These efforts have been ongoing:
- In 1989, the East Liberty Auto Plant became the first U.S. auto plant to use water-borne paint in mass production.
- Honda of America Mfg. pioneered extensive use of returnable containers at the East Liberty plant. Since then, use of returnable containers has expanded to all HAM plants, reducing packaging waste by millions of pounds per year.
- Each year, approximately 60,000 tons of excess raw steel from stamping operations is sent to suppliers to stamp more parts and to the Anna Engine Plant to make engine and brake components.
- A new powder coat paint system at the Marysville Motorcycle Plant reduced air emissions from solvents by more than 100,000 pounds in the first year of operation.
- Associates at the Marysville Auto Plant helped develop use of new door and trunk sealer material that reduced emissions from this process by 97 percent.
Other major Honda auto plants around the world will also incorporate these new manufacturing systems. Over the next three years, Honda plans to transform the Suzuka and Sayama plants in Japan into Green Factories.
In addition, all major Honda plants worldwide meet ISO 14001, the toughest international environmental management standard.
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| Honda's Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio is one of four Honda of America Mfg. (HAM) plants committed to Honda's "Green Factory" initiative. |