Based on the Mazda Green Plan 2020 Mid-Term Environmental Plan, Mazda is pressing forward with environmental initiatives, with its sights set on 2020.
Based on the "Philosophy and Policies" for environmental initiatives, being premised on "Mazda's Vision of a Future Society and its Relationship with Vehicles", the plan, centered around the following three main perspectives, is developed.
Mazda considers the following as issues that both customers and society expect automakers to make positive contributions toward:
- Energy- and Global-Warming-Related Issues
Undertaking measures to reduce CO2 emissions over the entire life cycle of a vehicle. - Promoting Resource Recycling
Reducing waste from vehicles, the vehicle manufacturing and shipping processes, and disposal of end-of-life vehicles, as well as actively promoting the comprehensive recycling of resources. - Cleaner Emissions
Reducing various emissions/waste (aside from CO2) from vehicles and manufacturing processes, especially emissions with highly adverse environmental impacts. - Environmental Management
Develop environmental management throughout the entire Group and supply chain.
- Vehicles and Vehicle Technology
Contributing to a reduced environmental impact through products and technology - Manufacturing, Logistics, Office Operations, Social Contributions, etc.
Contributing to a reduced environmental impact through all activities (excluding those related to products and technology)
Mazda is making efforts to reduce environmental impact throughout the entire product life cycle. Approximately 80% of CO2 emissions occur over the period from customer use to disposal-an overwhelming percentage of overall emissions.
- Manufacturing and logistics (materials manufacturing, and vehicle manufacturing): accounts for approximately 20%
- Product use and disposal (use by customer, maintenance, disposal and recycling): accounts for approximately 80%
With the goal of a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases in developed countries by 2050 (compared with 1990 levels), a target agreed to at the G8 Summit at Toyako, Hokkaido, in 2008, the world has begun working toward the achievement of a low-carbon society with a reduced burden on the environment by revising energy-use patterns. This movement is paving the way toward a sustainable society that values recycling in order to effectively use limited resources, one that also coexists in harmony with nature, as well as allowing for the stable continuation and progress of humankind. Specific efforts include, but are not limited to, diversification of energy sources (renewable sources such as solar power, and non-CO2-emitting sources such as hydrogen and biofuels), diffusion of activities based on the three Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), and promotion of biodiversity.
Regarding vehicles, demand the world over has diversified to include preferences based on regional needs, vehicle characteristics, fuel performance and characteristics, and other factors. This demand profile will only grow more complex in the future. A multi-solution approach is needed to respond to these diverse demands. Mazda's expectation is that greatly improved internal combustion engines, alternative fuels such as biofuels, and new types of vehicles that do not emit CO2 by using energy sources such as electricity and hydrogen, and other such innovations, will provide those solutions. Going forward, Mazda believes it is necessary to push the limits of what is possible as the Company carefully plots the direction for its brand and technologies.
Around 2020, Mazda sees society on the way toward achieving a sustainable society while still maintaining the use of fossil fuels (oilbased fuels, etc.) as its basic energy source.
People will be aiming to reduce the overall environmental burden through introduction of CO2-reducing technologies in the manufacturing and customer-use stages. Many products and services will be evaluated based on their environmental performance throughout their life cycle.
Regarding vehicles, highly efficient internal-combustion engines like gasoline and diesel engines, using liquid fuels with high energy-preservation characteristics (oil, biofuels, etc.) will be used as a base, and additional innovations that contribute to increased fuel economy, such as fuel-saving technologies (idling-stop systems, regenerative braking, hybrid systems), highly efficient transmissions, and reduced vehicle weight will also be implemented. At the same time, electric vehicles, which do not emit CO2 during running, will also be introduced. On top of these trends, large-scale approaches such as reducing traffic congestion in urban areas will contribute toward the greater goal of realizing a low-carbon society.
To execute the Mazda Green Plan 2020, three committees set the following approaches and targets to promote each effort.
Mazda provides all customers who purchase Mazda vehicles with driving pleasure as well as outstanding environmental and safety performance.
Mazda contributes toward realizing a low-carbon society through achieving even greater gains in operating efficiency by introducing low-CO2-emission production technologies and unwavering actions for constant improvement in the entire Mazda Group in Japan.
Based on the three pillars of Mazda's social contribution activities regarding the environment and safety performance, human resources development and community contributions, and a groupwide, global perspective, Mazda commits to disclosure and raising public awareness of environmental issues through its main business as an automobile maker. The Company also focuses on collaboration with regional communities, including volunteer activities.
