MAINTENANCE UPDATE
agency is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that is governed by a six-
member Board of Directors, composed of two representatives from
the cities of Benicia and Vallejo, Solano County’s representative
on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and a
representative from the Solano Transportation Authority.
Bendix achieves 2019
sustainability goals
Bendix helped raise the bar for corporate sustainability efforts
in 2019 by reducing its energy consumption more than 10 million
kilowatt hours over the last five years and diverting 97 percent of its
waste from landfill.
The company has set its sights even higher for 2020 with a
commitment to realizing absolute reductions of energy consumption
and fully achieving its zero-waste-to-landfill goal at all Bendix
manufacturing locations by the end of the year.
Sustainability successes during 2019 capitalized on increases in
waste diversion and energy efficiency across the Bendix (Bendix
Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC and Bendix Spicer Foundation
Brake LLC) North American facilities. The company continues its
focus on both areas in connection with its deep alignment and
ongoing support of the United Nations’ (UN) ambitious Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 overarching environmental
objectives adopted by UN member states promote prosperity while
protecting the environment. Two of the objectives – Responsible
Consumption and Production (encompassed within SDG 12) and
Climate Action (the focus of SDG 13) – are at the core of Bendix’s
sustainability efforts.
“Our employees delivered an unmatched level of commitment to
the sustainability goals we set for the business in 2019,” said Maria
Gutierrez, director of corporate responsibility and sustainability. “Their
willingness to embrace change was remarkable. From giving up trash
cans at their desks; to active, ongoing engagement in programs
and behaviors aimed at reducing single-use plastic and our carbon
footprint; to their openness to seek out ways to further improve our
energy efficiency, our team members pitched in, enabling Bendix to
substantially exceed expectations. Seeing the support and momentum
grow was a source of pride and accomplishment for all of us.”
Approaching zero waste to landfill
Bendix edged closer to achieving its zero-waste-to-landfill objective
in 2019. Nine out of 10 Bendix manufacturing locations have achieved
zero industrial waste to landfill, and in December 2019, three Bendix
locations – the Elyria headquarters, and manufacturing locations in
Huntington, Indiana, and Bowling Green, Kentucky – made their first
trash shipments to waste-to-energy (WTE) providers. The company’s
manufacturing campus in Acuña, Mexico, will deliver its first trash
WTE shipment in the first quarter of 2020.
Also part of the company’s zero-waste effort in 2019 was a
more concerted plan to deal with challenging waste streams such
as organic waste and single-use plastic. For Elyria, that meant
continuing its sitewide composting program, completing the first full
year of centralized waste collection, and implementing a Kanban
system to restock sustainable food service items in all kitchenettes.
These efforts allowed the location to divert an estimated 87 tons of
compostable material from landfill.
Meanwhile, the Acuña, Mexico, manufacturing campus
implemented food waste digesters at three of its plants in late 2019.
When fully operational, the digesters are expected to help divert
6 | BUSRIDE.COM | MAY / JUNE 2020
over 100 tons of organic food waste from landfill per year. This action
complemented their recent elimination of Styrofoam products (cups,
bowls, and plates) in all their cafeterias, replacing them with reusable
food service ware.
Cultural changes across all Bendix sites significantly contributed
to the waste reduction efforts. The company launched a Sustainable
Food Service Policy in 2019 to eliminate single-use plastic water
bottles, as well as Styrofoam products, from all facilities in 2020.
Efforts initiated by the company’s Green Teams also helped to
create awareness and raise participation levels in its sustainability
programs. These employee-led teams, charged with identifying or
coordinating “green” projects, sponsored a range of other activities
during 2019 to help increase awareness both on and off the job.
Programs included installing recycling stations, sponsoring Halloween
pumpkin composting and Christmas light recycling programs, and
awareness activities to celebrate Earth Day and America Recycles
Day. Bendix representatives also contributed to the Manufacturers’
Education Council’s annual Sustainability & EHS Symposium in March
with a presentation on the company’s journey to zero waste.
In light of these activities, Bendix was recognized for its
comprehensive zero-waste efforts by its parent company, the Munich,
Germany-based Knorr-Bremse Group. The honors included earning
a KB Responsibility Award at the global giant’s World Meeting and
being asked to take the leadership role in the company’s worldwide
initiative on Zero Waste.
“Our primary focus in 2019 was taking a creative approach to
address some of the more challenging wastes,” Gutierrez said.
“We did this through the Sustainable Food Service Policy and
composting programs. In 2020, we will work to find innovative
solutions for the remaining wastes, particularly packaging.
Our suppliers and our customers are highly supportive of our
sustainability goals, and we look forward to actively partnering
with them to help us reach our objectives.”
A more aggressive climate strategy
Energy reduction was the other major focus area driving Bendix’s
sustainability measures in 2019, and the company continued its
mission to reduce both energy consumption and CO2 emissions
during 2019, in support of SDG 13.
In July 2019, the organization pledged to join the U.S. Department
of Energy’s Better Plants Program. By participating, the company
is one of more than 200 organizations committed to improving its
energy productivity in U.S. facilities by 25% over 10 years.
A related activity was Bendix’s Bowling Green facility receiving
ISO 50001 Ready recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy in
October 2019. The program recognizes facilities and organizations
that establish ISO 50001-based energy management systems.
In line with these programs, Bendix exceeded its goals to reduce
energy consumption by 10 percent from its 2014 baseline, by
achieving a 23 percent reduction over the past five years. With the
help of efforts like these, the company has saved more than 10.7
million kilowatt hours of energy – and an estimated $778,000 – over
the time frame, through projects focused on more efficient use of
lighting, HVAC, and compressed air.
During 2020, Bendix is preparing to support Knorr-Bremse’s
new climate strategy, an effort built on science-based targets and
the 2016 Paris Agreement. Toward this end, Bendix will need to
realize absolute reductions of energy consumption rather than
simply reductions in energy intensity. The company also hopes to
be carbon neutral by 2050, with a goal of a 50% reduction in carbon
emissions by 2030. Bendix will do this through continued energy
efficiency projects, the use of onsite renewable energy, and by
procuring green energy in the market.