Honda Reports on its Environmental Performance in North America

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 21, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Honda has released its 2015 North American Environmental Report (NAER) detailing the company’s environmental impacts and its ongoing efforts to minimize those impacts, with a continuing strong focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to global climate change.

In FY2015, the company unveiled its ‘Green Path’ initiative, which seeks to minimize Honda’s environmental impact in every facet of its operations in North America, from the manufacture of new products to their distribution, sales, service and end-of-life disposal. This initiative supports the company’s environmental vision and Honda’s challenging goal to halve total CO2 emissions from its products and operations globally by 2050, compared to 2000 levels.

 “We are very optimistic about our ability to innovate for improved environmental performance,” said Takuji Yamada, president of Honda North America, Inc. “We have more work to do, but our vision is clear, and we have made an effort to share this vision with all of our associates in North America.”

The NAER also details Honda’s many associate-driven initiatives and community-outreach programs that support environmental activities. The report also features the company’s stance on public policies as they pertain to energy usage and development of alternate fuel vehicles and technologies.

The report is Honda’s eleventh annual report on the environmental impact of its operations in North America, including the United States, Canada and Mexico, and covers the period from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 (fiscal year 2015). 

2015 North American Environmental Report Highlights:

Product Development

• In the Honda and Acura automobile product lines, Honda has expanded the use of lightweight material, improved vehicle aerodynamics, reduced running resistance, expanded the use of more fuel-efficient powertrain technology to increase fuel mileage, all while also advancing safety and performance for its customers.

Purchasing

• Honda works with more than 650 OEM parts suppliers in North America to expand the measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in supplier facilities. In 2015, there was a 46 percent increase in the number of suppliers reporting on their GHG emissions.
• Honda has seen a 4-percent reduction in reported CO₂ emissions from North American new-vehicle parts suppliers since 2008.

Manufacturing  

• The CO₂e emissions intensity of automobile production in North America[i][ii] in FY2015 rose 1.2% from year-ago levels to 599 kg/auto, while total CO2 emissions from all North American manufacturing activity[iii] rose 3.1% to 1.11 million metric tons in the same period as a result of expanded plant operations in the region.
• Honda reduced its Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) and National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI)[iv] 8.4% from the previous fiscal year and 37% from 2003 levels, despite significant expansions in production capacity. It also reduced its Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions and has maintained those emissions well below its targeted maximum of 20kg/m² for each of the last nine years.
• Three North American manufacturing plants earned an Energy Star rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Sales and Service

• All nine U.S. parts warehousing and distribution centers achieved zero-waste-to-landfill status for the first time in FY15, and recycling activity at these same facilities has increased 197% since FY09.
• The CO₂ emissions intensity of moving new automobiles from Honda’s North American factories to U.S. Honda and Acura dealers fell 4.8% from year-ago levels and has been reduced 11.5% over the past five years.
• The CO₂ emissions intensity of transporting service parts to dealerships in the U.S. has been reduced 36.6% over the past six years.
• American Honda increased its commitment to its ‘Green Dealer’ program, which helps U.S. Honda and Acura dealers reduce their environmental impact.

Product In Use

• The unadjusted fleet-average fuel economy of Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S.[v] increased for the third consecutive year and was up 0.6% to 35.1 mpg in model year 2014 (MY14), compared to MY13 levels, also outpacing the automobile industry average of 30.6 mpg by 4.5 mpg, or 14.7 percent..
• The unadjusted fleet average CO₂ emissions of the company’s U.S. automobile fleet[vi] declined 0.4% in the same period (MY14 vs. MY13) and was 12.8% below (better than) the industry average.

Environmental Business Innovation

• In FY15, Honda extended its partnership with SolarCity to deploy a $50 million investment fund aimed at making solar power more affordable and available to Honda and Acura customers in the U.S. In the three years of this partnership, more than 4,500 solar arrays have been installed on residential and commercial rooftops in the U.S.
• Honda conducted an evaluation on the cost effectiveness of solar power at corporate facilities around the country. The study has resulted in several projects that are currently in various stages of development, including a one-megawatt AC solar photovoltaic system installed at Honda’s parts distribution center in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The site is expected to provide more than 50 percent of the site’s total electricity needs.

Additional information on Honda’s environmental performance outside of North America can be found in Honda Motor Company’s Sustainability Report, with a focus on the company’s activities in Japan – available at world.honda.com (or by clicking here).

Honda's Environmental Commitment

Based on its vision of "Blue Skies for our Children," Honda is working to advance technologies that address society's environmental and energy concerns.  The company's "Green Path" approach seeks to reduce or eliminate the use of substances of concern (SOCs) and scarce natural resources in the design of its vehicles, significantly reduce the CO2 intensity and water use of its manufacturing operations, continue to decrease CO2 emissions from the transportation of vehicles from its plants to dealers, and expand the involvement of U.S. Honda and Acura dealers as well as powersports, power equipment and marine dealers in its "Green Dealer" program.

These activities reinforce Honda's goal to voluntarily reduce its total corporate CO2 emissions by 50 percent by the year 2050, compared to 2000 levels. In 2006, Honda was the first auto company to voluntarily and publicly commit to global reductions in its CO2 emissions. In 2015, for the fifth consecutive year, Honda earned a perfect climate disclosure score of 100 and was listed in the CDP's Climate Disclosure Leadership Index.

[i] CO2e emissions for automobile production prior to FY06 include production of both motorcycles and automobiles in Honda’s plants in Guadalajara, Mexico.  Beginning with FY12 data, emissions at these plants are allocated between automobile and motorcycle production based on sales value.

[ii] Electricity emissions factors updated to eGRID2014 Version 1.0 year 2010 GHG Annual Output Emissions Rates (U.S. plants); Climate Registry 2014 Default Emissions Factors Table 14.2 (Canada plants); Programa GEI Mexico – Factor de emission electric 2012 (Mexico plants).

[iii] Total CO2e emission (from consumption of electricity and natural gas) include 15 manufacturing operations owned and operated by Honda in North America.

[iv] Includes all TRI/NPRI reported emissions from all U.S. and Canada auto-related manufacturing operations, including automobiles, automobile engines and automobile transmissions.

[v] Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2014, published October 2014.

[vi] Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2014, published October 2014 (Table 4.5).