Subaru champions waste
Subaru make fast ICE cars that have no long-term environmental benefit. But they do have a manufacturing process that employs a clear waste hierarchy.
Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc., a factory in the US has pursued green initiatives since its launch 20 years ago via employees at every level of the plant
looking for ways to save energy, reduce waste and generally make processes more efficient.
One measure of its success is a 14% reduction in electricity consumption on a per-car basis since 2000. An even bigger achievement: It has not shipped any waste to a landfill since May 2004.
How does it achieve this? With a waste hierarchy like this:
1. To burn material for energy is better than sending it to a landfill.
2. To recycle it is better than burning it.
3. To reuse material is better than recycling it.
4. To reduce the amount needed is better than reusing it.
5. To eliminate the need for material is better than reducing it.
It’s a great way of ranking an initiative or a business promise (Reduction focused, Recycling focused, etc). And it’s a great way of, well, living.
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