Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Autumn 2007

ENVIRONMENT Subaru of Indiana Automotive: green inside and out Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) plant in Lafayette, Indiana was named a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation and is the ﬁrst automobile assembly plant in the U.S. to achieve zero landﬁll status. I t’s no secret that people are showing more concern and care for the environment these days than ever before. Environmentally-aware behaviour is rapidly becoming an integral part of the simple decisions we make every day, from recycling paper products to using energy- efﬁcient light bulbs in the home. We all want to play a part in reducing consumption because it’s an important issue – now and for the future. Of course, the automobile industry is not exempt from environmental concerns. in 2004, this facility became the very ﬁrst U.S. automobile assembly plant to directly landﬁll zero waste material. This means that 100% of the waste created in building these vehicles is reclaimed for other purposes. Even the food waste generated by employees in the on-site cafeteria is sent to a plant that uses the waste to produce electricity. Some of the systems used to help maintain this zero landﬁll status have been relatively simple to implement; for example, separate bins to recycle paper and plastic products. Other systems, such as the solvent recovery program and the paint department’s sludge reuse program, have required signiﬁcant innovation and capital investment. These high standards are being set outside the plant as well. In 2003, the 832 acres that make up the SIA facility were named a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. This was another ﬁrst for Subaru – and for the entire industry; no other automotive manufacturing plant in America has ever received this designation. The area surrounding the plant is home to many important species such as bald eagles, deer, coyotes, beavers and Canada geese. 100% of the waste created in building these vehicles is reclaimed for other purposes. Top left: 2006 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Top right: 2006 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gold Achievement Award. Bottom: Recycling station along the assembly line at SIA. Customers are demanding better fuel efﬁciency and emissions standards – and the manufacturers are delivering. But there’s another consideration to take into account: the environmental impact of a vehicle, throughout its lifecycle, right from the moment it’s produced. As with most production processes, the manufacturing of an automobile creates considerable waste – except in the case of the Subaru Outback, Legacy and Tribeca. That’s because these three vehicles are built in the Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) plant in Lafayette, Indiana, and, While the idea of a modern manufacturing facility located within a pristine wildlife habitat that produces zero waste might seem like a fantasy, Subaru has proven that it is possible to create a sustainable business that also maintains a clear focus on the environment. The other message is this: When considering the environmental impact of your vehicle, fuel efﬁciency and tailpipe emissions are just part of a much bigger picture. For more information on the progressive environmental efforts of Subaru in North America, visit www.subaru-earth.com 35

Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Autumn 2007 | Page 35