Environment

Michigan Recognizes GM’s Local Environmental Leadership

Sep 19, 2012 5:00 PM ET
Campaign: GM Resource Preservation

(3BL Media) Lansing, MI – September 19, 2012 – General Motors continues to lead all Michigan organizations in Neighborhood Environmental Partner awards, receiving six more acknowledgements of superior community environmental projects and partnerships from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

This year’s winners are Lansing Delta Township Assembly, Orion Assembly, Warren Transmission, Flint Assembly, Romulus Engine and Flint Metal Center. GM has won more of these awards than any other Michigan organization since the competition began in 2007.

These sites integrate into communities GM efforts to reduce its worldwide facilities’ environmental impact through energy efficiency, resource preservation and waste reduction.  

Examples include:

  • All participated in GM GREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network) by monitoring rivers with local students and examining significant watershed impacts.
  • All celebrated Earth and Arbor Day with activities like tree plantings and butterfly house builds, many of which involved collaboration with area schools.
  • Three plants feature areas certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council, which are developed to enhance and protect wildlife and educate people on conservation.
  • Two plants are landfill-free, contributing zero waste to landfills.

“The DEQ created the Neighborhood Environmental Partners program to showcase those who go beyond what’s required of permitted facilities,” said DEQ Director Dan Wyant. “Laws and regulations can only do so much. Sustained environmental protection and improvement comes from what community leaders do voluntarily.

“General Motors demonstrates this kind of leadership consistently, and we applaud them for their work to protect and enhance Michigan’s environment.”

The winning six plants also work with the Flint River Watershed Coalition, Flint Classical Academy, the Michigan Forest Association, the Clinton River Watershed Council, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, Friends of the Rouge, Eaton Conservation District, Waste Management Eagle Valley Landfill, Michigan Audubon Society and Greater Lansing Adventist School.

“General Motors is focused on improving the communities where our employees work, live and play with their families,” said Levon (Lee) Hachigian, director of environment and sustainability, GM Real Estate and Facilities. “Talking to our neighbors and collaborating with various environmental organizations in the cities where we operate allows us to spread our environmental knowledge and inspire more eco-friendly action.”

To be eligible for the Neighborhood Environmental Partner award, an organization must be a designated Clean Corporate Citizen and Pollution Prevention Partnership facility. Recipients are compliant with all applicable state environmental regulations and improve their immediate environments and communities.

For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

 

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