Reducing Waste Production
We are conscious about the impact our operations have on the environment. That is why we have an aggressive goal in place: to be the leading automaker in waste-reduction efforts. We recycle more waste from our worldwide facilities than any other automaker, and no other automaker has as many facilities contributing zero waste to landfill.
Whether it’s one of our 85 landfill-free manufacturing facilities, 20 landfill-free non-manufacturing facilities or one of the many that are nearly there, every site is serious about finding ways to reduce and reuse waste. In doing so, we reduce our impact while encouraging innovative ideas that strengthen our revenue stream.
Reducing
Our employees consistently challenge conventional manufacturing operations, thinking of ways to create efficiencies, reduce scrap and design products with the environment in mind. This led to cutting total waste from global operations by 43% and reducing non-recycled waste by 73% from 2000 through 2010. In 2011, we reduced total waste generated per vehicle by 2% at our global manufacturing facilities. Our goal is to reduce waste 10% by 2020 from our 2010 baseline.
Reusing
We like to think of waste as a resource out of place. Our employees and suppliers work together to keep materials in their use phase, and one of our favorite tactics is turning byproducts from routine manufacturing operations into components for new vehicles.
Here are some examples:
Cardboard shipping materials from various GM plants are recycled into a superior sound-dampening material into 25% of the headliner in the Buick Lacrosse and Verano to help keep the cabin quiet.
Plastic caps and shipping aids from the Fort Wayne facility are mixed with other materials to make 25% of the radiator shrouds for the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups built at the plant.
Test tires from our Milford, Mich. Proving Ground, thanks to their elasticity and durability, are shredded and used in manufacturing of air and water
Whether it’s one of our 85 landfill-free manufacturing facilities, 20 landfill-free non-manufacturing facilities or one of the many that are nearly there, every site is serious about finding ways to reduce and reuse waste. In doing so, we reduce our impact while encouraging innovative ideas that strengthen our revenue stream.
Reducing
Our employees consistently challenge conventional manufacturing operations, thinking of ways to create efficiencies, reduce scrap and design products with the environment in mind. This led to cutting total waste from global operations by 43% and reducing non-recycled waste by 73% from 2000 through 2010. In 2011, we reduced total waste generated per vehicle by 2% at our global manufacturing facilities. Our goal is to reduce waste 10% by 2020 from our 2010 baseline.
Reusing
We like to think of waste as a resource out of place. Our employees and suppliers work together to keep materials in their use phase, and one of our favorite tactics is turning byproducts from routine manufacturing operations into components for new vehicles.
Here are some examples:
Cardboard shipping materials from various GM plants are recycled into a superior sound-dampening material into 25% of the headliner in the Buick Lacrosse and Verano to help keep the cabin quiet.
Plastic caps and shipping aids from the Fort Wayne facility are mixed with other materials to make 25% of the radiator shrouds for the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups built at the plant.
Test tires from our Milford, Mich. Proving Ground, thanks to their elasticity and durability, are shredded and used in manufacturing of air and water