Design for Life-Cycle Sustainability

We use a life-cycle approach to assess and minimize the total adverse impacts of our vehicles from a sustainability perspective – from raw materials extraction and transportation through manufacturing and use to end of life. This approach considers and works to minimize negative impacts upfront in product design decisions. Called Design for Sustainability, the approach is integrated and holistic, to ensure that we achieve a balance between environmental, social and economic aspects in our product development process.

We are continuing to advance how we apply DfS principles. For example, we have developed a Product Sustainability Index tool, which has been in use in our European product development operations since 2002. This tool helps us assess and find opportunities to reduce the impacts of our products over their entire life-cycle – including environmental impacts such as CO₂, societal questions such as pedestrian protection and economic issues such as cost of ownership. We are increasing our use of sustainable materials and eliminating undesirable materials. We are also working to reduce greenhouse gases and other emissions from our facilities and vehicles by developing cleaner and more energy-efficient production processes, improving the efficiency of our packaging and transportation logistics and introducing cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Downstream in our value chain, we are working with drivers to educate them on ways to increase fuel economy and reduce vehicle emissions through our eco-driving program. Upstream, we are working with our suppliers to increase the sustainability of our products throughout the supply chain.

The remainder of this Environment section reports on our efforts to improve the sustainability of our products, operations and supply chain. For more information on our development of fuel-efficient vehicle technologies, please see the Sustainable Technologies and Alternative Fuels Plan.