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Subaru of Indiana Becomes WasteWise's 2006 New Partner of the Year
Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) has pulled into the fast lane of waste reduction. Within a matter of four years, the automaker cut their waste per car by almost half. As a result of their inventiveness and dedication, Subaru was honored as the WasteWise New Partner of the Year for 2006.
Based in Lafayette, IN, SIA is the sole Subaru auto assembly plant in the United States. In 2003 SIA asked their employees for ideas on how to reduce or eliminate waste. More than 250 suggestions came pouring in, and SIA began identifying materials that could be reduced, reused or recycled. Among other materials, cardboard, plastics, polystyrene foam, and solvent-soaked rags were targeted.
The results have been impressive. In 2002, the manufacturing at SIA produced an average of 459 pounds of waste per car. By 2006, that average had dropped to 270 pounds of waste per car with a 2007 goal of 264 pounds. By targeting and eliminating or reducing unnecessary packaging or materials, SIA continues to meet its goals. Take polystyrene foam, for example, which SIA identified early on as perfect for continued reuse. In 2006, more than 2,378 metric tons of polystyrene foam and other such packaging were sent back to Japan, some pieces for the fifth time! SIA no longer has a need for new polystyrene.
During 2006, SIA recycled more than 11,240 tons of scrap metal, 1,540 tons of cardboard and paper, and 963 tons of wood. This enormous effort conserved the equivalent of 31,000 trees. In addition more than 10 billion gallons of water were saved- enough water to meet the daily fresh water needs of 143,733 Americans everyday.
According to Denise Coogan, SIA's safety and environmental compliance manager, "SIA benefits from a top down appreciation for the benefits of good waste management." The general understanding is that "waste is money" and reductions on the floor are paramount for doing business. To keep themselves on track, every week, a different department makes a presentation on what it has done to improve safety and reduce environmental impact.
Much of Subaru's waste prevention and reduction work can be quantified in saved energy savings. As a WasteWise partner, Subaru of Indiana receives annually an individualized climate profile with detailed information to help them track their waste-related climate footprints. For instance, Subaru's 2006 WasteWise-related activities saved an equivalent of 713,000 gallons of oil.
Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.’s recycling and waste reduction initiatives exemplify the types of activities encouraged by our own Resource Conservation Challenge within the national priority area of Municipal Solid Waste and Recycling.
