ฺBangkok--Dec 30--General Motors
General Motors, the world largest automotive manufacturer, summarised its worldwide commitment to protect human health, natural resources and the global environment in its recently issued Environmental, Health and Safety Report - the “flagship” report in the automotive sector.
Among the projects highlighted in the report is the Cruz Alta Proving Ground in Brasil - the rural area where GM successfully conducted an agricultural and environmental protection project.
GM has also committed itself to participate in various educational initiatives with the public on environmental conservation. GREEN or Global Rivers Environmental Educational Network assists students around the globe in studying and finding ways to improve the quality of their local waters.
Other projects reflect GM’s worldwide commitment to the principle of reducing waste and pollutants, conserving resources and recycling materials at every stage of the product life cycle. GM’s Holden’s Engine Company in Australia demonstrated this commitment when it was awarded the Australian government’s Energy Smart Award for overall best manufacturing performance. Holden’s Engine Company saved over $2.35 million per year on its energy bill for the past four years.
These are just three of the numerous environmental, health and safety initiatives undertaken by GM activities worldwide and included in this year’s GM Environmental, Health and Safety Report. Over the last three years, the report has evolved from an environmental report into a more comprehensive document that includes health and safety and product safety information and referred to as a “flagship” report in the automotive sector.
“This report shows that GM clearly is on the right road,” said Dennis Minano, GM vice president Public Policy and chief environmental officer. “Our company and our people share the belief that we must balance economic, environmental and social issues for the benefit of GM and the communities in which we live and work,” Minano explained. “Most importantly, we have demonstrated that there is a global commitment to take positive, constructive actions to improve the environment.”
The Environmental, Health and Safety Report is distributed to employees, suppliers, dealers, environmental groups, policy makers, and the media and is available to the public, upon request. It presents GM’s successes, challenges and opportunities for the future and is intended to be an invitation to the public for discussion of GM’s global environmental and health and safety performance.
An important component of this public dialogue has been GM’s relationship since February 1994 with the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES). CERES is a non-profit organization composed of leading environmental organizations and leaders in the investment community. GM is the third Fortune 500 company, first Fortune 50 company and only automotive company to establish a formal relationship with CERES.
According to Robert Massie, executive director of CERES, “General Motors’ Environmental, Health and Safety Report continues to focus on a willingness to be open and publicly accountable on a global basis. We commend GM on its active involvement in environmental reporting demonstrated in the use of CERES’ protocol. This is a significant step in demonstrating GM’s commitment to environmental stewardship and reporting beyond its U.S. borders. We look forward to continuing our relationship based on the CERES and GM environmental principles, which form a commitment to real programs and progress.”
GM’s commitment to its environmental principles extends into the production of the Environmental, Health and Safety Report, which was published on recycled paperand printed with soy based inks. All waste resulting from the printing and binding process is recycled.--End.