| At Chevrolet, we believe we have a responsibility to consistently strive to reduce the environmental impact of our vehicles and our manufacturing facilities. We also believe that actions speak louder than words. |  |
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In 2011, we made an unprecedented commitment to reduce up to 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the next few years. This project is ongoing and when it is completed the carbon-reducing benefit will be equivalent to the CO2 emissions, during 2011, from every vehicle we sold from November 18, 2010, to December 31, 2011. This project is just one aspect, though, of our ongoing efforts to address the environmental impact of our vehicles and our facilities.
As we design and build Chevrolet vehicles, we are focused on investing in innovative fuel-saving technologies, employing alternative energy sources, reducing our facilities' emissions and evaluating our waste streams. Therefore, in 2012, we will begin displaying a label on our vehicles, describing various attributes of the vehicle and its manufacturing facility that demonstrate our commitment to reducing environmental impact throughout the stages of the vehicle's life span, from manufacturing to driving to recycling. We call this initiative: "Ecologic."
Ecologic is simply a recognition of our systematic attention to environmental responsibility and our commitment to monitoring our progress as we continuously work to reduce our environmental impact. To further emphasize our commitment, the statements on our Ecologic labels will be audited by an independent, third-party sustainability agency. The auditor, Two Tomorrows, is a market leader in the provision of independent auditing and assurance services to major companies for environmental and sustainability initiatives.
Before the Road:
Responsible Manufacturing
Reducing environmental impact is part of the DNA of a Chevrolet, well
before the vehicle ever leaves the assembly line. We are persistently
looking for ways to conserve natural resources and to reuse, or recycle,
more waste in our manufacturing facilities.
When it first opened, our LEED-Gold Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, where the Chevrolet Traverse is assembled, was the largest industrial project to receive LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Certification System. Many of our manufacturing facilities are landfill free, meaning that they reuse, recycle or convert to energy all the waste created in their daily vehicle manufacturing operations. And some of our plants use renewable energy, such as landfill gas or solar, for a portion of their energy needs, such as heating the facility.
On the Road:
Fuel-Saving Technologies
Lately we've received a lot of attention for our fuel-efficient cars like the Chevrolet Volt, the electric vehicle with gas-powered extended range (EPA est. MPGe 94 (electric); 35 city, 40 hwy (gas)), and the Cruze Eco (EPA est. mpg 28 city, 42 hwy (manual)). And in 2013, we'll begin to launch the all-electric Chevrolet Spark EV. These cars are all being designed to save you money while emitting less CO2 into the environment than conventional vehicles.
But we're also improving our vehicles' efficiency in other ways. We're enhancing designs to reduce wind resistance. We're using lower-mass components to help you save fuel. We're incorporating new technologies in our internal combustion engines, such as cylinder deactivation or eAssist, to lessen fuel usage. Even our tires are optimized to reduce rolling friction. We combine these technologies to continually improve your fuel efficiency.
After the Road:
Post-Consumer Recyclability
After years of service, even the longest-running Chevrolet vehicles reach the end of their lifespan. At that point, nearly 85% by weight of an average Chevrolet vehicle can be recycled, conserving resources and reducing landfill waste. Some of the steel is melted down and repurposed into new automotive parts. Recycled tires can be ground up and used for a variety of things, like artificial turf on sports fields.
The Ecologic Window Label
So when you're shopping for a new car or truck and interested in that vehicle's environmental impact, just look for the new Ecologic window label. The Ecologic label will debut on the 2012 Sonic, with plans to release it on the rest of the Chevrolet lineup in the 2013 model year.
In addition to the standard window label, which contains the EPA estimated MPG information for the vehicle, it will be attached to every Chevrolet, with easy-to-read features and consumer benefits.
