Blue Wing Honda – actions

Honda's Environmental Declaration

"As a responsible member of society whose task lies in the preservation of the global environment, the company will make every effort to contribute to human health and the preservation of the global environment in each phase of its corporate activity. Only in this way will we be able to promote a successful future not only for our company but for the entire world."
- Established and Announced in June 1992
> http://world.honda.com/green/main.html

Honda is firmly committed to environmental sustainability and takes a leading role in this activity. Honda has a policy of ensuring that not only the environmental impact of the product itself is considered, but also the impact of the design, manufacture, and disposal of the product during its life cycle. Further information on this philosophy can be found at
> http://world.honda.com/environment/organizational-structure.

Environmental Activities

Seeking to create genuine customer satisfaction, Honda has always been an industry leader in environmental R&D and the early introduction of environment-friendly products.

Since 1999, Honda has achieved all of the CO2 reduction targets it has set. Motorcycles:

• Exhaust emissions (HC) - reduced total emissions from new motorcycles by two-thirds: achieved FY2001; continues to reduce CO2 emissions year-on-year
• Fuel economy - improved average fuel economy by 30%: achieved FY2004

And Honda is improving its fuel economy through ultra-low friction and VCM technologies.

• First scooter featuring electronically controlled fuel injection (PGM-F1) produced 2004
• PGM-F1 will feature on majority of motorcycles worldwide by 2011 *
• Combustion efficiency improvements on higher cc engines will reduce friction levels and achieve up to 30% higher fuel economy over 2005 levels

* The PGM-F1 is one of Honda's core technologies to attain the goal of clean exhaust gas and fuel economy. It is gradually being applied to all model categories and in doing so targeting a larger number of Honda motorcycle users.

• "Green Factory" Manufacturing:
  – 13 of the 14 major North American manufacturing plants operating during    FY2007 were third-party certified to the ISO 14001:2004 environmental management standard
• Landfill Waste
  – Honda has reduced total waste to landfills 60% from FY2001 and is targeting a    70% reduction by FY2010
• VOC Emissions
  – From auto body painting has been reduced 45% from FY2001 to FY2006 and a  further 25% was achieved in FY2007.

4-Stroke Expansion and Emmission Standards

To enhance the appeal of its motorcycles, Honda has continued to improve convenience, safety and environment-friendliness. For example, a combined brake system that balances front and rear wheel braking force is now installed on most scooters, and anti-lock braking (ABS) is now featured on many models. Another advance now being rolled out is the PGM-FI electronic fuel injection system, which reduces exhaust emissions and boosts fuel economy.

In 2003, Honda announced compact, lightweight PGM-FI for 4-stroke 50cc scooters - a world's first. Honda now equips almost all models sold worldwide with 4-stroke engines, contributing to environmental and resource conservation through reduced emissions and better fuel efficiency.

Below is a list of models currently brought into New Zealand by Blue Wing Honda - with their applicable emmission standards.

By the end of 2008, Honda will have replaced 100 percent of its 2-stroke engines with cleaner and more efficient 4-stroke engines, with the exception of some competitive closed-course racing bikes.

Partnerships

Blue Wing Honda products are not only sourced from suppliers with a reputation for producing quality products, but their reputations in relation to sustainable practises and ethical standards are equally important considerations. Accordingly all the following suppliers to Blue Wing Honda have comprehensive environmental policies.

• http://world.honda.com/motorcycle
• http://corporate.honda.com/environment/report.aspx?id=2007
• http://powersports.honda.com/index.asp?bhcp=1

Blue Wing Honda source all motorcycles, ATVs and PWCs from Honda Motorcycle plants that meet ISO 14001 standards.

Shipping and Packaging

Honda is committed to improving its transportation efficiency by promoting sea freight, and by cooperating with other companies in joint transportation ventures. In the area of packaging, Honda continues to reduce the amount of materials used by utilising simpler packaging, reconsidering materials, refining specifications and increasing the use of returnable containers.

Corporate

• Most vehicles in the Blue Wing Honda fleet have been changed from six cylinder utes to diesel operated vehicles
• Timers have been installed at Blue Wing Honda's premises to control electrical usage e.g. lighting and AC after hours to reduce power consumption
• All computer screens have been changed from CRT's to flat screen LCD's in order to capture greater energy efficiency
• All promotional and corporate print collateral is published on "9 Lives" stock sourced from sustainable forests and processed in ISO 14001 (Environmental accreditation) factories, and printed using vegetable printing inks
• A carbon footprint assessment of Blue Wing Honda's has been completed and the company is currently implementing the report's recommendations. A first example is the introduction of paper recycling bins for each staff member, which has enabled the company to reduce landfill waste by 70%
• Blue Wing Honda communicates all dealer support material through a dealer extranet, thereby reducing paper output
• Paper and cardboard are recycled as are toner and printer consumables.

Tree Planting

Blue Wing Honda is currently investigating the best way to implement a tree planting programme to offset all remaining excess emisssions and fully neutralise their carbon footprint. In the meantime however, initial activity has commenced to establish a tree planting exercise on the private property that Honda Riders Club use for the Honda Kids Campout weekends.