2Sustain

Earlier this week, Ford Motor Company released its tenth annual sustainability report. The 2008/9 report, “Blueprint for Sustainability: Our Future Works,” contains detailed updates about the company’s progress in key areas of climate change, fuel economy, mobility, vehicle safety, and human rights.

Here are a few of the company’s sustainability highlights from 2008 and early 2009:

• Ford cut global water use by 24% and improved the energy efficiency of its North American facilities by 4.5% in 2008, resulting in savings of approximately $16 million. Since 2000, Ford has cut energy use at global facilities by 34% and CO2 emissions by 45%.

• The company remains on track to reach its goal to reduce by 30% the CO2 emissions of its new U.S. and European vehicles by 2020, compared to the 2006 model year.

• Ford has accelerated development of battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which it plans to introduce in North America from 2010 to 2012.

• The company introduced the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic model which has the lowest CO2 emissions of any family car sold in Europe at 98g/km. In addition, Ford launched two new hybrids in North America: Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid. These are the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans in North America at 41 mpg in city driving.

• Ford also developed EcoBoost(TM) engine technology which uses direct injection and turbo charging to deliver up to 20% better fuel economy, up to 15% fewer CO2 emissions, and superior driving performance compared to larger-displacement engines.

• Ford received the most Top Safety Picks from the U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of any automaker and introduced a range of safety innovations to its vehicles globally in 2008. In the most recent Euro NCAP assessments, the Ford Kuga, Fiesta, European Focus, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy received best-in-class, five-star adult protection and four-star child protection ratings.

• The company conducted human rights and working conditions training sessions in China and Mexico, in conjunction with the Automotive Industry Action Group and other automakers. These initiatives reached nearly 1,000 Tier 1 suppliers and 7,700 Tier 2 suppliers and were cascaded to more than 66,000 individuals.

• In addition, Ford joined the United Nations Global Compact in April of 2008, reinforcing its commitment to human rights and other important responsibilities of global companies.

Ford is an active member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), and according to the report, the company recognizes the need for “considerable increases in fuel economy globally, as well as the development of lower-carbon fuels, including clean electricity.” That’s the kind of commitment that I have been waiting to hear from U.S. auto manufacturers for decades, and of course, we’ll all be keeping a careful eye on their progress.

 The report also makes it clear that Ford's sustainability platform has become integral to its overall business plan and fundamental to future success. “Our economic and environmental goals are aligned. In fact, we believe that the best way for us to be more profitable is to make our business and products more sustainable,” says William Clay Ford, Jr., Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company.