At Ford, sustainability is not a buzzword. Sustainability is lived day in and day out through our green pillar, which guides everything we do as a company from where we choose to set up shop, down to the materials that end up in our vehicles. Our commitment to sustainability is helping us achieve our vision of building great products, a strong business and a better world. We’re pleased that Interbrand named us the world’s greenest brand for 2014; similarly, the Ethisphere Institute recognized us as a global leader in business ethics and sustainability. We wouldn’t be true to ourselves and we wouldn’t be true to our mantra—Go Further—if we didn’t rise to face today’s challenges. Here are a few highlights of the 2013/14 Ford Motor Company Sustainability Report.

 

Tackling Climate Change: Greenhouse Gases

We have strategies and goals in place to minimize our environmental impact. By sticking to our strategies, we’re proud to claim that we’ve dropped greenhouse gas emissions from our facilities by 9 percent per vehicle compared to 20121. Our range of alternative fuels and electrified vehicles—hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles—are also playing a growing role in that mission. The year 2013 marked the age of the electrified vehicle (EV) as drivers embraced this technology, and sales of our EVs doubled from the previous year2.

 

Greenhouse Gases Initiatives

Ford Sustainability Greenhouse Gases Infographic

 

Driving Further: Fuel Economy

We’re drivers too, so we’re always looking for ways to minimize trips to the pump. Through constant electrical system improvements, weight reductions, aerodynamic engineering and through engine and transmission development, we’re able to make your fuel last longer3. We’ve made our award winning EcoBoost™ engine—which significantly improves fuel economy while reducing CO2 emissions—available in 90 percent of our vehicles in North America and Europe (80 percent globally). Our goal was to produce 1.5 million EcoBoost™ engines globally by 2013 and we smashed through that target by producing half a million more units in the same timeframe.

 

Refreshing Solutions: Water Usage

Vehicle manufacturing would be impossible without water, as it is used in everything from cooling towers to painting operations. That said, using water responsibly is of utmost importance to us because water scarcity and degradation is one of the biggest threats to our planet. In 2011, we set a goal to reduce our water use per vehicle by 30 percent globally from 2009-2015. We achieved our goal in 2013—two years ahead of schedule! Sharing what we’ve learned by actively collaborating with our suppliers to decrease their water footprint as well is a task we’re always eager to help with.

 

Water Use Initiatives

Ford Sustainability Water Use Infographic

 

A better world starts with people working together to do the right thing—and we’re excited to play our part by building vehicles that help you live your life to the fullest and also support a healthier planet. Head over to the downloads section to read the 2013/14 Ford Motor Company Sustainability Report in full or to check out the summary.

 

 

1 “We decreased CO2 emissions from our facilities per vehicle produced by 9 percent, and we reduced waste to landfill per vehicle produced by 14 percent compared to 2012.” (Taken from page 5 of 2013/14 Ford Motor Company Sustainability Report Summary Paragraph 6)

2 “In 2013 Ford sold over 87,000 EVs including battery electric vehicles (BEVs), HEVs, and PHEVs – an all-time record for Ford. EV sales accounted for 3.5 percent of company sales, up from 1.6 percent share in 2012.” (Taken from page 221 of 2013/14 Ford Motor Company Sustainability Report Paragraph 4)

3 “To do this, we have introduced a wide variety of new engine and transmission technologies – as well as electrical system improvements, weight reductions and aerodynamic improvements – that deliver significant fuel-economy benefits for millions of drivers in the near term.” (Taken from page 221 of 2013/14 Ford Motor Company Sustainability Report paragraph 3)