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. 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.
Every aspect of Ecologic is verified by an independent, third-party sustainability auditor, Two Tomorrows. Find out more about the Two Tomorrows verification process.
Independent verification of the EcoLogic Label by Two Tomorrows
Two Tomorrows North America Inc, a member of the Two Tomorrows Group, has conducted an independent assessment of the claims on the EcoLogic vehicle labels and the related website. The environmental claims that are included in this independent assessment can be identified by the inclusion of the EcoLogic Audit Logo on the label or the site.
For each of the audited claims, Two Tomorrows reviewed the claim and the substantiation process supporting the claim and assessed the accuracy and content of the vehicle feature as well as the stated environmental benefit using the methodology described below.
Two Tomorrows found no errors in the information sampled by Two Tomorrows, or the processes that substantiate that information. Based on this analysis, we believe the environmental claims presented on the Ecologic Vehicle Labels, and the associated claims on the EcoLogic website, each of which is marked by the audit logo, are accurate.
Two Tomorrows (North America) Inc
San Francisco
January 2012
Todd Cort Doug Bannerman
Project Director Project Team
Scope and Boundary of the Independent Assessment
The independent assessment included the features and environmental benefits listed on the vehicle EcoLogic Label as well as associated information on the Chevrolet EcoLogic website. These claims can be identified by the presence of the EcoLogic Audit Logo.
Two Tomorrows undertook the following scope of work to assess the accuracy of EcoLogic claims:
1) Each claim was broken down into elements for assessment. For example, claims around Electronic Power Steering required verification that: a) EPS is present in all applicable vehicles; b) EPS results in fuel efficiency gains
2) For each element, Two Tomorrows sought evidence to substantiate the claim. In order of preference, the evidence was:
- Credible third party evidence (such as US Environmental Protection Agency Data or third party certification)
- Internal studies and data with described methodology and control procedures (such as environmental data collected as part of permit process)
- Interviews and affidavits as appropriate from General Motors managers and technical experts.
3) To collect this evidence, Two Tomorrows conducted the following tasks:
- Surveys of third party websites to find certifications and supporting data (e.g. US Department of Energy, US Environmental protection Agency, Society of Automotive Engineers, Wildlife Habitat Council)
- Collection and analysis of data, calculations, study methodologies and parts inventories from General Motors Product Managers and Engineers.
- Telephone interviews with General Motors Product Managers and Engineers
4) In addition, Two Tomorrows undertook a sampling approach to source data and process assessment. This involved visiting the Toledo Transmission Plant, Hamtramck Assembly Plant, Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant and Flint Stamping Plant. During these visits, we reviewed data to source documentation (e.g. invoices) for energy, waste, paint technology, wildlife habitat, LEED and other claims. We also toured each site to understand the context of the claims and to identify any irregularities between the claim and operational reality.
Documentation and Quality Control Procedures
Two Tomorrows maintains auditor notes for each EcoLogic Label which have been submitted to General Motors. These notes detail our findings and the supporting evidence for each EcoLogic claim. Two Tomorrows has documented a description and source of supporting documentation and evidence (the source documents themselves are either the property of General Motors or publicly available in the case of third parties). Procedural and project management documentation including auditor notes are maintained on Two Tomorrow’s secure database with embedded version control procedures.
In addition to document control processes, Two Tomorrows conducts work against our Quality Policy available at www.twotomorrows.com/about-us/quality-policy
Two Tomorrows Statement of Independence
Two Tomorrows North America Inc confirms its objectivity and independence with regard to General Motors. Two Tomorrows undertakes auditing, assurance and verification services against its Assurance Code of Conduct available at www.twotomorrows.com/services/assurance/assurance-code-of-conduct.
According to our Assurance Code of Conduct, we will be objective in our engagement, balancing information without bias. Although we are paid for our verification and assurance services, we will only take on engagements if we are able to remain objective. We will achieve this by disclosing in our statement all contracts we have with the client and by declining engagements where our advisory work directly contributes to the preparation of the disclosure or compromises our independence.
In the case of General Motors, Two Tomorrows undertakes no advisory work. The full scope of our services with General Motors is in an audit and verification capacity.
Two Tomorrows Statement of Credibility
Two Tomorrows is a market leader in the provision of independent auditing, assurance and verification for sustainability, non-financial and environmental information. We are the largest provider of assurance using the AA1000 Assurance Standard (AA1000AS), according to figures from Corporate Register, the online directory of CSR reports. Over the past twelve years, our team has provided independent auditing and assurance for over 100 corporate sustainability reports, more than twice that of any other provider.
The Two Tomorrows EcoLogic verification team comprises over 20 years experience in sustainability and assurance. Additional information on the experience and credentials of the Two Tomorrows team as well as contact information for additional inquiries can be found at www.twotomorrows.com/services/assurance.
Considering Environmental Impact from the Factory to the Road, and Beyond...
Considering Environmental Impact from the Factory to the Road, and Beyond