DETROIT—Ford Motor Co. said it plans to reduce waste per vehicle built by 40 percent between 2011 and 2016.
The company released its new five-year global waste reduction strategy. By 2016, Ford aims to landfill only 13.4 pounds of waste per vehicle, down from 22.7 pounds per vehicle in 2011. In 2007, the company landfilled a worldwide average of 37.9 pounds of waste per vehicle.
In 2012, Ford recycled 568,000 tons of scrap metal, worth $225 million. The company currently operates one zero waste plant, Van Dyke Transmission, and has implemented paint recycling programs in several plants. Ford's new plan also addresses packaging and kitchen waste and encourages local personnel to take a role in waste reduction.
"Reducing waste is a crucial part of our strategy toward building a world-class manufacturing system," John Fleming, executive vice president of global manufacturing and labor affairs, said in a statement. "By applying standard waste reduction processes across our global facilities, we are, through our actions—and not just words—improving the quality of life where we do business."