As part of its global initiative to reduce the impact of manufacturing on the environment, Honda presented its prestigious Green Factory Environmental Achievement Award to eight parts suppliers in North America that have excelled at conserving natural resources, reducing energy use and eliminating waste to landfills.
Honda presented the awards during its 18th annual Environmental, Safety and Ergonomics Symposium held November 10-11 at Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.'s campus near Marysville, Ohio. In addition to recognizing top environmental achievements, the suppliers attended seminars and roundtable sessions on environmental topics ranging from energy and waste reduction to environmental compliance.
The awards recognize environmental stewardship among Honda's nearly 600 parts suppliers in North America, and reflect Honda's ongoing commitments to protect the environment through its products and operations.
"Through this symposium and awards program, Honda encourages all suppliers to achieve excellence in energy reduction, pollution prevention and conservation of natural resources," said Rich Spivey, senior manager in Honda's North American Purchasing Division. "It is both gratifying and educational to see how our suppliers are benefitting society by working to reduce their impact on the environment."
Several award winners presented their initiatives to more than 100 suppliers attending the symposium, while many other companies attending the symposium had displays showcasing their environmental improvements.
2010 Honda Green Factory Environmental Achievement Awards
Conservation of Natural Resources
AK Steel Corp.'s Coshocton Works restored more than 10 acres into native Ohio prairie land with a walking trail. The restored property at its facility in Coshocton, Ohio, includes nesting boxes for bluebirds and purple martins, as well as native flowers and grasses. The company plans to expand the prairie to more than 20 acres in the future. AK Steel produces flat-rolled steels for the automotive, appliance construction and other industries.
Energy Reduction
Delphi Electronics & Safety, Reynosa, Mexico, significantly reduced utility usage by improving the efficiency of compressed air use, including eliminating leaks, reducing air pressure, and turning off equipment during non-production and peak periods of electricity use. This facility supplies immobilizers for Honda and Acura automobiles to prevent them from operating under certain conditions.
Highland Industries, Inc., Cheraw, S.C., reduced energy use with efficiency improvements in lighting, compressed air and steam systems. Highland supplies fabric for safety airbags.
Neaton Auto Products Mfg., Inc., Eaton, Ohio, formed an "Energy Conservation Committee" to facilitate efficient use of equipment, compressed air, air conditioning chillers and use of injection molding presses. Neaton manufactures airbag modules, steering wheels, consoles and other plastic injected molded parts.
Pollution Prevention
Celina Aluminum Precision Technology, Inc. (CAPT), Celina, Ohio, reduced wastewater treatment sludge by 58 percent by assembling a team to evaluate pre-treatment operations. CAPT manufactures pistons, cylinder heads, lower blocks and brake knuckles.
Nishikawa Standard Company, LLC, Topeka, Ind., reduced landfill waste by 83 percent through the recycling and reuse of scrap rubber. Honda is the largest customer for its weather stripping, seals and other rubber materials.
TS Trim Industries, Inc., Canal Winchester, Ohio, reduced landfill waste by more than 60 percent through various activities that included recycling metal, wood and other materials, and by reducing waste in the use of adhesives. TS Trim manufactures door liners and other components for Honda and Acura automobiles.
Van Rob Stampings, Inc., Manchester, Tenn., became a zero-waste-to-landfill manufacturing facility by recycling packaging, wrapping, office paper, cafeteria waste and other materials. Van Rob manufactures metal stamped components and welded assemblies.
About Honda in North America
Based on a philosophy to build products close to customers, Honda began U.S. production of motorcycles in 1979 and automobiles in 1982 in Marysville, Ohio. Since then, the company's manufacturing has grown to nine U.S. plants among 14 major manufacturing plants in North America. In addition to the Marysville and East Liberty auto plants in Ohio, Honda has established auto plants in Alliston, Ontario; El Salto, Mexico; Lincoln, Alabama, and Greensburg, Ind., and as a result, more than 83 percent of Honda and Acura cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. in 2009 were built in North America. Honda's parts purchasing totaled more than $13 billion last year from nearly 600 North American suppliers. Honda vehicles are manufactured using domestic and globally-sourced parts.
For more information on Honda's environmental leadership, including additional initiatives by Honda's manufacturing operations and their suppliers, go to http://corporate.honda.com/environment/2010-report/
