Subaru sells 100,000 PZEVs and sends nothing to the dump for three years
The Subaru assembly plant in Indiana has now gone three years without taking out the trash and the corners of the building still haven't filled up. Actually all the waste in the SIA plant is either reused, recycled or used to generate electricity that is fed into the grid for the city of Indianapolis.
Many of the Legacys, Outbacks and Foresters built in Indiana are certified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (ninety percent less emissions than average new vehicles) and Subaru has sold 100,000 of those PZEVs. The area around the plant is also a designated wildlife habitat with all manner of critters including coyotes, herons, ducks and more calling the area home.
Related:
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- Raw materials go in, Subarus - and nothing else - come out of zero-landfill factory
SUBARU CELEBRATES ENVIRONMENTAL MILESTONES
-- Company marks three years of zero landfill; sells 100,000th PZEV Vehicle--
CHERRY HILL, N.J., July 2, 2007 – Subaru is celebrating its three-year anniversary of zero landfill status at its manufacturing plant, Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) and the sale of its 100,000th PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions) vehicle.
Both milestones reflect the long-standing commitment Subaru has to safeguarding the environment that so many of its customers avidly enjoy.
"We are pleased to mark these milestones," said Tomohiko Ikeda, Chairman, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. "At Subaru, we are committed to not only maintain an effective environmental management system, but also to integrate sound environmental practices throughout our business."
The Subaru plant in Indiana sends nothing to a landfill. That means, if this press release was printed and not recycled, it would result in more trash sent to landfills than the entire Subaru manufacturing operations. The Subaru plant was the first US auto plant to achieve zero landfill status, with all its waste being either reused, recycled or converted to electricity for the city of Indianapolis.
The Subaru plant is also a designated backyard wildlife habitat. Deer, coyotes, beavers, blue herons, geese, rabbits, squirrels, meadowlarks, ducks and other animals live there in peaceful coexistence with the Subaru plant.
Just last year, Subaru was awarded the U.S. EPA's Gold Achievement Award as a top achiever in the agency's WasteWise program to reduce waste and improve recycling.
Subaru also manufactures PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicles) certified Legacy, Outback and Forester models, available for sale anywhere in the U.S. The PZEV certified, normally aspirated, Subaru Legacy, Outback and Forester models are SmartWay™ certified by the EPA. To date, Subaru has sold 100,000 Subaru PZEV vehicles, which have 90 percent cleaner emissions than the average new vehicle.
PZEV vehicles are the cleanest gasoline vehicles available today and they meet emissions standards that are sometimes even cleaner than some hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles. These vehicles have such tight pollution controls, with the burning of fuel so complete, that in very smoggy urban areas, exhaust out of the tailpipe can actually be cleaner than the air outside. For more information visit: www.epa.gov.
-- Company marks three years of zero landfill; sells 100,000th PZEV Vehicle--
CHERRY HILL, N.J., July 2, 2007 – Subaru is celebrating its three-year anniversary of zero landfill status at its manufacturing plant, Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) and the sale of its 100,000th PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions) vehicle.
Both milestones reflect the long-standing commitment Subaru has to safeguarding the environment that so many of its customers avidly enjoy.
"We are pleased to mark these milestones," said Tomohiko Ikeda, Chairman, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. "At Subaru, we are committed to not only maintain an effective environmental management system, but also to integrate sound environmental practices throughout our business."
The Subaru plant in Indiana sends nothing to a landfill. That means, if this press release was printed and not recycled, it would result in more trash sent to landfills than the entire Subaru manufacturing operations. The Subaru plant was the first US auto plant to achieve zero landfill status, with all its waste being either reused, recycled or converted to electricity for the city of Indianapolis.
The Subaru plant is also a designated backyard wildlife habitat. Deer, coyotes, beavers, blue herons, geese, rabbits, squirrels, meadowlarks, ducks and other animals live there in peaceful coexistence with the Subaru plant.
Just last year, Subaru was awarded the U.S. EPA's Gold Achievement Award as a top achiever in the agency's WasteWise program to reduce waste and improve recycling.
Subaru also manufactures PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicles) certified Legacy, Outback and Forester models, available for sale anywhere in the U.S. The PZEV certified, normally aspirated, Subaru Legacy, Outback and Forester models are SmartWay™ certified by the EPA. To date, Subaru has sold 100,000 Subaru PZEV vehicles, which have 90 percent cleaner emissions than the average new vehicle.
PZEV vehicles are the cleanest gasoline vehicles available today and they meet emissions standards that are sometimes even cleaner than some hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles. These vehicles have such tight pollution controls, with the burning of fuel so complete, that in very smoggy urban areas, exhaust out of the tailpipe can actually be cleaner than the air outside. For more information visit: www.epa.gov.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
derreck 10:47AM (3/06/2008)
2008 Subaru Outback 2.5i pzev
i get 19.2mpg maybe 19.5mpg!
Is there pros and cons for having pzev?
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tom dennen 5:32PM (7/18/2008)
I don't know what you folks are doing to get this good MPG but I don't. I have a 99 legacy outback and 05 legacy outback xt. With both I might get 19 is easy city driving and ~24-27 highway, only when driving very very easily. I use synthetic oil, make sure tire pressure is OK and am very light on the accelerator. 20+ city and 30+ highway.. your dreaming!
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Gina 12:01AM (10/03/2008)
I have never had a Subaru get 20mph. At worst, I post 25mph in stop and go traffic. I actually just had the dealer suggested replacement of the fuel filter and injector and noted my mph increased to 28! On a recent interstate trip I posted 30mph and that was well above the speed limit.
Despite your mileage, I can't imagine you wouldn't be saving money on maintaining your car. I spend virtually nothing maintaining my 98 Forester, and at 140,000 miles, it out shines any "American" car I've ever owned.
Other than public transportation - Subaru is my favorite way to get to work!
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Nick 1:24PM (10/31/2008)
Jason, You say "if they removed all the pollution control..."
Do you only realize what you are saying??? In a PZEV column!!?? So you would pollute a whole lot more simply to get a few more HP and a few MPG?? Imagine if everybody did that!! This pollution control equipment is mandatory in most countries in this world for a good reason. It'll stay and you are outlaw if you modify it.
Soon only PZEVs or better will be sold in California and I congratulate California for doing so. More states will adopt this regulation too, and Canada after that. Simiar is done in Europe.
Newer smart regulations don't look at what goes into the car, it's what comes out that matters. PZEV does that. It does not save money to anyone (neither does it costs), but it saves the enviroment.
It should be mandatory to every single car sold everywhere.
It might avoid some idiots from polluting and maybe get some social common sens.
If you can do something better at no cost why not do it??
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Bill 10:05AM (7/03/2007)
That's great, but mileage is still a joke (for a 4-cylinder engine)
You'll be lucky to get 20 mpg city, and the high-end versions (turbo) REQUIRE premium gasoline.
Subaru needs to bring over their new diesel engine to the U.S. ASAP.
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Ping Wang 1:14PM (7/03/2007)
Previously I would only think about fuel efficiency and low emissions when I thought about a green car company -but now that I think about it, creating zero waste is just as important, if not more important in a truly sustainable world.
After a quick google search, i find that Toyota has 3 plants that are 95% waste-free... each of which is just as about as good as Subaru.(Subaru's plant actually generates a tiny amount of trash 3%, which is burned to make energy)
http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2005/08/68448
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Joseph 4:21PM (7/03/2007)
Subaru is taking noble strides to be green, and I congragulate them on that. It is obvious that Subaru is actually serious about the environment and doesn't abuse it simply as a way to advertise.
They've been doing this for three years and only now have they made a commercial boasting how green they are. That means they actually were green, not only to save green, but for the sake of being environmentally friendly.
Nonetheless, I'd never buy a subaru b/c they have terrible mileage. Perhaps after the 35mpg by 2020 comes into affect they'll have something more cheap to run.
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Don 3:43PM (7/03/2007)
How about using some of that genius to make cars that get over 20 mpg?
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jeffrey 12:51AM (7/04/2007)
You guys are way off-base on your low MPG comments. You need to look at the segments Subaru competes in to compare mileage.
Subaru Forester, for example, is more fuel-efficient than nearly all similar vehicles, and it's the oldest Subaru model. Let's compare MPG with some similar NON-AWD models: Chrysler PT Cruiser 19/26; Chev HHR 23/30; 2WD Honda CRV 23/30; new Scion xB 22/28; Kia Rondo 21/29; Subaru Forester 23/28. The Subaru's right there with everyone else (actually tied for best city MPG), plus it has the most HP, the most torque, and all-wheel drive.
Our '06 Legacy regularly gets over its EPA rating of 30MPG highway... we've gotten as high as 33MPG on a long trip. We're averaging about 27MPG in mixed driving. For a 2.5L 175-hp AWD vehicle, this is outstanding - it's much better than the fuel economy of the 4WD SUVs many Subarus are designed to replace. Subaru has a very efficient AWD lineup, and some technology on the horizon that will only keep pushing the numbers up.
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alex 11:35AM (10/09/2007)
designated wildlife habitat? BS!
next time I drive by this plant I should take a picture for you all to see. it's in the middle of a shit hole. the trees they show in front of the plant in the TV commercial must have been digitally edited in because I've never seen them. All I see is a flat tract of shitty land right off the interstate.
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Bill 3:49PM (7/04/2007)
Sorry, but Subaru also sells plenty of mid-sized sedan models (not small SUVs)
Even those don't get much better than 20-22 mpg city.
I driven plenty of Legacys as well (company cars), and I don't believe anything above 25-27 mpg highway.
That is simply awful for a 4-cylinder sedan, AWD or not.
Like I said, they need that diesel engine here as soon as they can get it.
Those upcoming, fleet 30-35 mpg standards aren't too many years away.
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Bosko 4:27PM (7/04/2007)
I'd like to see Honda or any other manufacturer match any Subaru in mileage/performance. Sure your civic gets 100mpg... but with a 90hp engine. that's the difference. Every Subaru has at least 160hp
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John 4:46PM (7/04/2007)
Bill must not like Subaru....probably drives a Ford SUV getting 15 mpg and thinks it gets 20mpg as he has never calculated it...I have an 06 Forester that pushes 27mpg in the city, even with my lead foot. On our vacation this year it consistently attained 30+mpg with the AC, fully loaded and speeds averaging above 70mph. I doubt, no...I know, you cannot find an SUV that gets that kind of mileage while still having decent ground clearance and handling better than all but the high performance "street" oriented SUVs.
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Corey 4:48PM (7/04/2007)
I live 4 miles from the plant... I don't know if I'd call it a wildlife refuge... more like a plant built in the middle of a corn field that just happens to have deer and coyotes (hit one with my dad's truck maybe 3 months ago on 350S). I'm sure this designation will disappear, lafayette is growing in this direction. We have a new hospital being built ~ 1 mile north of subaru
If you don't know where it is... it's right off I-65 and SR38 towards Lafayette.
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Boris Jenkins 5:06PM (7/04/2007)
You guys are way off. I drive a 97 subaru impreza L and even if i dont drive conservativly I still get 27 mgg highway and city combined. You complaing thats poor for a 4 cyclinder vehicle but its running awd all the time. and if u buy a subaru u are buying it for this. They also have bigger engines than hondas and hondais running 1.8l 4 cyl, while subarus have 2.2 and 2.5 liter 4 cyclinder engines running driving ALL FOUR tires ALL THE TIME and they still get similar gas mileage. Do your homework before u make outlandish commments about things u are uncertain of.
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Greg 5:20PM (7/04/2007)
My one real complaint about my Legacy is the poor gas mileage. Obviously, the all-wheel drive is one reason the mileage is bad for a mid-size sedan, but even with those added pounds the car should get better mileage. Thankfully, I don't drive all that much, so I don't use all that much gasoline.
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Jason 6:17PM (7/04/2007)
If they would remove all the pollution controls from their cars, I'm sure the mileage would increase dramatically. Back in the '70s I ripped all that smog BS off my car and went from 15 mpg to 19 mpg. Several buddies had similar experiences. In addition, the power level went up too. All the EPA has on their mind is crippling environmental controls that cost businesses and consumers more money, to achieve their goal of instilling communism in the USA. If you disagree, you are wrong. Period.
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Tim 8:29AM (1/25/2008)
Jason?
You are a troll.
(or else you are just shallow, self-centered, and out of touch with reality)
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what 9:15PM (7/04/2007)
How come you douchebags can't acknowledge that they are trying to be a more responsible company. Instead all you can do is bitch about the mileage...
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Bill 9:48PM (7/04/2007)
We have 2 turbo Scoobies, and will soon be trading one for a Civic. My wife's commute is long-ish, and her Forester XT is costing a lot to run. That said, if her job required driving in snowy weather (it doesn't) we'd keep the XT for that reason alone. I've always felt that the penalty paid at the pump is more than offset by the fact that the car will get you where you need to be, anytime, any weather. The fact that it'll blow the doors off damn near anything short of a Corvette is just gravy. My WRX will eventually get traded in for a newer Outback XT. I guess I just have a thing for inexpensive cars that perform like expensive cars. All-conditions driveability, reliability, and performance were our criteria, and Subaru has exceeded those criteria. My wife's needs have changed, and so will one of our cars. As soon as the Subie turbo-diesel comes to these shores, we'll switch over.
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