DENSO announces environmental action plan

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — DENSO, a Japanese-based supplier of automotive technology, systems and components, announced a new five-year North American Environmental Action Plan.

The plan takes effect in April at all DENSO group companies in North America. The environmental action plan is organized into four categories:

Eco Products: DENSO will develop products that are lightweight and energy saving and consider environmental improvement. In all of its products, DENSO will reduce its use of resources; control and reduce environmentally hazardous substances such as mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, and integrate environmental planning in the product design stage.

Eco Factory: The company will work to reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing facilities through reduced water use; reduced CO2 emissions (by 18 percent in manufacturing facilities and 6 percent in other facilities); reducing landfill waste to 75 percent of 1999 levels, and reduce hazardous substance emissions by decreasing manufacturing facility regulated emissions volume to 30 percent of 2000 levels.

Eco Management: DENSO companies will develop environmental action plans and reinforce environmental partnerships with suppliers through activities such as developing green procurement guidelines and promoting the purchase of environmentally friendly products.

Eco Friendly: The company says it will encourage and support employee environmental activities; proactive information disclosure and communication with stakeholders; environmental education, and environmental and social contributions.