Subaru's Green Manufacturing Plant
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 08.28.06
Toyota and Honda get the lion's share of TreeHugger's automobile attention these days, with their hybrids and prototypes that promise a reduced dependence on oil and the next generation of automobile transportation; among it all, their Japanese counterparts at Subaru have remained relatively quiet on the green car front. Sure, we see promising starts, like their electric car or new hybrid prototype, but still haven't seen a big move from the carmaker (though we hear whispers that they're going to start making cars with diesel engines soon). Either way, we're glad to see that the green revolution hasn't left them in the dust: according to a back issue of Drive: The Magazine from Subaru, Subaru of Indiana Automotive's (SIA) manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Indiana recycles 97 percent of all excess or leftover materials (like steel, glass, plastic, wood, paper and glass) from the manufacturing process. The green processes include:
- "SIA's wheel supplier uses brass lug nuts to hold wheels in place during shipping. Previously, these were thrown away – 33,000 pounds of brass per year. They are now reused until they're no longer serviceable, then they're recycled. This is an example of recycling helping to reduce costs rather than raising them.
- Paint sludge formerly thrown away is dried to a powder, then shipped to a plastics manufacturer that mixes the dried sludge with other plastic compounds. The manufacturer's end products are useful devices such as parking-lot bumpers and guardrail safety blocks that absorb impact when struck by a vehicle.
- Solvents used in the painting process are cleaned and recovered through SIA's on-site recovery system. The paint shop then reuses the solvent."
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The majority of Subaru's vehicles are 'G' rated for energy efficiency, meaning they are the worst.
At best, less than a handful of their vehicles get an 'E' rating. There are only four of their vehicles in this group.
It's ridiculous that Subaru PR their green credentials for a factory that, at the end of the day, spews out grossly energy efficient vehicles.
Don't buy it.
Subaru (through Fuji Heavy Industries) is ISO 14001 certified; Their plant is zero landfill; They make the highest horsepower rated PZEV automobiles available; And they top the list of emissions for SUVs. http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/suv-07.htm
Looks like a company who cares about the environment to me.
Yeah, these ads are complete greenwash.
I own an Outback. I remember the year after I bought it I wanted to sell it because they somehow managed to change it's classification from a car to a light truck, thereby getting around the already ridiculous CAFE standards or something.
I smell something...
-DT
its great that this factory will be a pilot in future designs of factories. Its a step towards being efficient in the manufacturing industry.
Are people that blinded by reality? Toyota and Honda aren't "GREEN" in my opinion because of their hybrid cars. To produce a Nickel cell battery in one of these cars they pollute the environment more than the gas guzzling counterpart for all of their cars. Most of todays pollution is caused by either lack of recycling, so the manufacturing process has to happen over and over again and the cattle industry.. People should start doing more research on the subjects rather than listen to the media and their "subject matter experts" which is another name for the guy that tells the story the way we want you to hear it...
My Forester gulps gas like a full size truck.
When has Subaru ever been the leader on anything? It's very clear why they are not the leading Japanese auto manufacturer.
In all reality, they are more American than any other automanufacturer. They make big heavy vehicles that get poor fuel economy. And then they mislead Americans by telling them they are a green company because they don't polute the environment at the plant. Being a big fat liar and stretching the truth until it reaches deceit is the American way. Ask any elected official...
For the record, I did not buy my Forester to be green - I wanted more room than my Impreza had. If I had it to do all over again I would have bought a second Honda Fit or a Toyota Yaris.
The last time I checked, Subaru made cars.
They aren't in the business of planting trees, cleaning up the environment, trying to reduce waste...
But they are trying to do that now.
So, a big car company takes a step in the right direction and you complain (in place of a better word) about it?
What have you done to help the environment that validates these attacks on Subaru?
Get informed and stop complaining when a corporation actually tries to help out.
Gee Whiz!!
I feel bad now about trading in my Ford Explorer for my piece of crap, gas guzzling,tree killing Subaru Forrester.
I might as well just eat a steak or a cage fed chicken.
Get a life and quit complaining about every little thing.
Worry about the things that are real. Stop living in a little tiny "green bubble".
If it comes down to me or the Spotted Owl....I'll vote for me....take a picture of the owl.
I have had a Subaru Forester for two years now, and I LOVE it. I think that an SUV that gets 27 MPG on the highway is pretty good. Not to mention all wheel drive. Also, I have been hit by two people in the Forester and it has held up like a champ. I am glad to hear of any effort made by any auto manufacturer to help the environment. Kudos to Honda, Toyota and Subaru.
First, Subarus are not poorly build, overly heavy cars; they are in fact very reliable, stout automobiles. As a company, they are smaller and more focused than say Toyota or Honda. They specialize in a sector of the market so becoming the leading Japanese manufacturer will never happen. In terms of their gross vehcile weight, their cars weigh are no more than most other Japanses cars of the same class. Bear in mind that to harbor an AWD system, you must carry quite a few extra pounds over a similar FWD or RWD car (3 differentials and twice as many axles etc.). Personally, I think Toyota needs to re-think their plans a bit if they are going to claim they are "Green" (among other companies); how many SUVs does Toyota produce? What kind of mileage? I am very tied into the Green mindset, my sister is even a Green architect. Too often people focus on the end product, they rarely think of the production process (e.g. Palm oil from Borneo, Resource consumption to produce a Hybrid). Subaru is stepping in the right direction, cut them some slack. For many people, a Prius is simply not an option, either by cost or location (Colorado winters anyone?) -Chris