Green logistics

A new program to improve environmental awareness has been adopted by Holden and 17 of the company's suppliers.

The program, named 'Greening the Supply Chain', is promoted by the World Environment Centre -- a non-profit organisation with a global reach -- to improve sustainability in the supply chain, the process by which suppliers' parts and material are inducted into the manufacturing process.

So far, the program has already been implemented in Mexico, Brazil, Romania and China and the WEC is already reporting reductions in energy usage and water consumption.

The WEC is consulting with Holden and the Victorian and South Australian suppliers involved in the program, to find new ways of achieving the same output at less cost to the environment.

GM has already executed a similar program in China, concluding in August of last year.

"GM Holden works on the principle that emissions and waste can be prevented or minimised by the use of innovative technologies and environmentally compatible materials," said Rod Keane, Holden's Executive Director of Manufacturing (pictured).

"We welcome the expertise of the WEC, particularly in light of the success they achieved in GM China."

The Greening the Supply Chain project is not Holden's sole environmental program in place. Recently, the company installed a computerised energy management system at the Fisherman's Bend engine-building facility to ensure the furnaces and compressed air distribution plant ran at optimum efficiency.

Water consumption has been reduced at the engine plant also, with consumption reduced from 930 litres per engine built to 576 litres -- a 38 per cent reduction.

"[This new program] gives the suppliers the chance to improve their environmental performance, while increasing their global competitiveness," said Bo Andersson, group vice president, GM Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.

"This initiative is a win-win for everyone."

To comment on this article click here