GM Strengthens Business, Communities through Mobility

Sustainability Report outlines company’s efforts and results

2016-05-10

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Oshawa, Ontario (May 10, 2016) – The rules of vehicle use and ownership are changing rapidly, according to GM’s latest Sustainability Report (gmsustainability.com) released Tuesday. Connectivity, car-sharing, alternative propulsion and autonomous vehicles are key elements toward a future of safer, cleaner and more efficient mobility options for customers.

“We see tremendous potential in these technologies and the long-term benefits for our customers and communities around the world,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “The GM team is looking to lead this transformation of personal mobility and will continue to deliver on our commitment to responsible manufacturing.”

Independent third parties have also recognized GM’s progress.

“GM is quickly and appropriately adapting its business to our rapidly changing world, from addressing climate change through public policy advocacy to helping move electric vehicles into the mainstream,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, a nonprofit advocating for sustainability leadership.

The interactive report outlines strategic technology investments that are helping GM strengthen its core business and reshape the future of personal mobility. Here are some highlights:

Manufacturing Responsibly

The company is on track to meet all of its 2020 global manufacturing commitments. Since 2010, the baseline year, GM has accomplished the following:

Achieved 131 landfill-free facilities toward a goal of 150 including 4 facilities in Canada (St. Catharines Powertrain in St. Catharines, ON, CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll, ON, Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre, and Langley Parts Distribution Centre)
Reduced total waste by 22 per cent toward a goal of 40 per cent
Reduced water intensity by 10 per cent toward a goal of 15 per cent
Reduced energy and carbon intensity by 14 percent and 15 per cent, respectively, toward a goal of 20 per cent
Earned certified wildlife habitats at half of GM’s manufacturing operations

“Our 215,000 workers worldwide, seeking to serve our communities and build relationships both inside and outside of GM, are helping us minimize our environmental footprint while increasing our positive societal impact,” said Jim DeLuca, GM executive vice president of global manufacturing.

Repurposing Water Bottles

GM is repurposing empty water bottles into a new life; noise-reducing fabric insulation that covers the engine of the Canadian-build Chevrolet Equinox. GM demonstrates how a supply chain can become a supply web where business opportunities stem from an original project, furthering the mission and driving more social and economic impact.

The Chevrolet Equinox engine part is added to the vehicle during its assembly at both Oshawa Assembly in Oshawa, ON and CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll, ON.

GM GREEN

The GM GREEN program is focused on educating young people about human impacts on our local watersheds, providing the tools to assess and then take community-driven action towards environmental challenges. In 2015, GM GREEN reached more than 490 students in 7 communities in Canada.

Wildlife Habitat Recertification

General Motors of Canada’s CAMI Assembly, St. Catharines Powertrain, Kapuskasing Cold Weather Development Centre, Canadian Headquarters and Oshawa Assembly have all been recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council for enhancing biodiversity at the facility and engaging community partners to promote wildlife conservation and education.

CAMI Assembly, St. Catharines Powertrain, Kapuskasing Cold Weather Development Centre, Oshawa Assembly and Canadian Headquarters received Conservation recertification for the extensive wildlife enhancement and education projects done in the community.

Canadian Headquarters is GM Canada’s first Wildlife Habitat certified site, planting nearly 38,000 trees and shrubs and placed more than 40 bluebird nesting boxes on the 4.5 mile site. The facility hosts an annual Feathered Friend Festival in partnership with Friends of Second Marsh.

Awards and Recognition

In 2015, GM Canada was recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, Oshawa Assembly won the Jessica Markland Award from Durham Environmental Advisory Committee (DEAC) for their efforts in forming community partnerships, and CAMI Assembly won the Clean 50 award for their efforts in becoming landfill-free.

The road to autonomous

GM is using its 20 years of OnStar connectivity expertise to enable advanced safety technologies and car-sharing. GM is paving the way for autonomous vehicles and vehicle-to-infrastructure technology. These efforts will help reduce congestion, crashes and pollution. The company is working with stakeholders to create the largest V-to-I enabled corridor in the U.S. on 120 miles of Metro Detroit freeways. It also will bring SuperCruise, the industry’s first semi-autonomous driver-assist technology, to market next year on the Cadillac CT6.

Urban mobility

Earlier this year, the company launched its Maven car-sharing brand and invested $500 million in a strategic alliance with rideshare provider Lyft. Chevrolet also is building the affordable, all-electric Bolt EV, which will offer a more than GM-estimated 200 miles per charge.

Focus on fuel efficiency

GM is addressing climate change, in part, by continuing to provide customers with fuel-efficient models across each vehicle segment given that 77 per cent of the company’s carbon footprint comes from driving. Nine models get an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway or better, up from six last year. GM’s electrified vehicles on the road increased 9 percent to 196,861 vehicles.

Carbon reduction

Last year, Barra and 12 other automotive CEOs convened through the World Economic Forum committed to the vision of decarbonizing automotive transport. GM also signed the White House American Business Act on Climate Pledge, advocating the economic opportunity in addressing climate change.

The company is also aggressively pursuing ways to use more renewable energy. Two wind deals in Mexico and Texas will add 64 megawatts to its 106 megawatt global portfolio, enabling GM to achieve its renewable energy target four years early.

GM’s progress provides topline growth through new revenue streams such as $1 billion from recycling and reuse in recent years, to bottom-line savings through greater efficiencies, such as $237 million in energy savings since 2010. GM was the only automaker to appear on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in North America in 2015, and it earned perfect scores on climate change disclosure from CDP, a group serving more than 800 investors.

GM works with its dealers and supply chain to further reduce its carbon footprint. To date, 435 dealers joined the company’s Green Dealer program and 77 per cent of invited suppliers participate in an environmental efficiency program through CDP.

Discover more about GM’s environmental, social and economic impact by viewing the report at gmsustainability.com.

About GM of Canada

Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors of Canada Company employs more than 9,000 people across the country and is a recognized leader in green manufacturing. GM Canada markets the full range of fuel-efficient Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles and related services through Canada’s largest automotive dealer network. More information regarding GM Canada models can be found at www.gm.ca, www.gminnovates.ca or by following @GMCanada on Twitter.

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