Ford Aims to Reduce Waste to Landfill Per Vehicle by 40 Percent (with video)

Ford Motor Co. said it plans to reduce waste sent to landfills by 40 percent per vehicle by 2016.

The Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker said in a news release that when it achieves goal (with a 2011 baseline year) it will send just 13.4 pounds of waste per vehicle to landfills by 2016.

Ford said between 2007 and 2011 the company reduced waste to landfill by 40 percent per vehicle, to 22.7 pounds from 37.9 pounds.

Ford’s waste reduction strategy ranges from working with global suppliers to using more eco-friendly packaging to enabling employees to contribute ideas in how Ford can reach its goals.  

“Reducing waste is a crucial part of our strategy toward building a world-class manufacturing system," said John Fleming, executive vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs. "By applying standard waste reduction processes across our global facilities, we are, through our actions – and not just words – improving the quality of life where we do business."

Also, Ford generated $225 million in revenue for 2012 through the recycling of 568,000 tons of scrap metal in the U.S. and Canada.

The company’s goals for waste reduction at its facilities also includes identifying the five largest volume waste-to-landfill streams at each plant and developing plans to reduce each; minimizing waste through the Ford production system; improving waste sorting procedures to make recycling and reuse easier; investing in new technologies that minimize waste; and expanding programs that deal with managing specific kinds of waste like metallic particles from the grinding process and paint sludge.