Subaru and the Business of Going Green

In a world of metal straws and linen grocery bags, going green is one of the most important steps your business can take toward success. With more information than ever available at the touch of a finger, there’s no avoiding the facts—our environment is suffering gravely at the hands of vehicle manufacturing and emissions. It’s no surprise that the biggest industry on the planet is also one of the greatest sources of harm to the environment. In manufacturing, vast quantities of waste are created. In post-sale, vehicles produce dangerous emissions.

But the automotive industry is vital to the economy—and to life as we know it. We can’t just stop making cars. Fortunately, we don’t have to.

Secure a Place in Tomorrow’s Market

It may sound like a fad, but the steps your business takes to protect the environment will do much more than temporarily draw customers. Being mindful and taking action to reduce waste and cut emissions will ensure your business has a place in the future. Today, businesses who do nothing to curb the harm being done to the environment are widely viewed as having their head in the sand. Consumers want to be associated with companies that are informed about the world we live in, and that care about the same things they care about. The value of going green is double: great for your business, and of course, great for the planet.

Additionally, many jobs in the automotive industry rely on sustainable products. According to a recent study, “Building clean vehicle technology directly supports 288,000 manufacturing and engineering jobs in the United States.”

But what does it really mean to “go green”?

• Actually, we’ve already made great progress. Tony Montana, spokesperson for United Steelworkers, said, “In 10 short years, enforceable fuel-efficiency standards have increased the fuel efficiency of the average vehicle on the street today by 25%.” Not to mention the rapid takeoff of electric vehicles, with EV sales nearly doubling to

• from 2020 to 2021. This brought the number of EVs on the road to 16.5 million as consumers grow increasingly comfortable with what was once foreign and intimidating technology.

Who We Are is What We Leave Behind

You may wish to look to Subaru for inspiration in your quest for greenness. Subaru, based in Japan, has a long-established reputation as one of the most environmentally conscious vehicle manufacturers. According to Subaru.com, the brand “is committed to being a leader in environmental initiatives while continuing to reduce its own footprint.”

BorgWarner’s cam timing system, designed to increase engine performance, was first seen in the 2011 Subaru Forester and boasted extremely low emissions and increased fuel efficiency.

• Subaru was also one of the earliest adopters of Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles, or PZEVs, and today boasts a host of the Ultra Low Emission Vehicles. PZEVs have zero evaporative emissions and meet Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) tailpipe-emission standards. According to

PZEVs are at the top of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Emissions Standard list, second only to completely gas-free vehicles. Subaru’s PZEV models include the Subaru Outback, Forester, Impreza, Legacy and XV Crosstrek. In some smog-prone areas, PZEV emissions are actually cleaner than the surrounding air. In fact, under the EPA’s Tier 3 Vehicle Emissions standards passed in 2014, by 2025 all cars sold in the U.S. will be PZEVs.

Additionally, Subaru has devoted over 40 years to perfecting their symmetrical all-wheel drive design and other technologies, achieving highway fuel economy that’s often even higher than competitive Front Wheel Drive cars, but with the added safety and control of All Wheel Drive.

What About Waste?

Cars are among the most recyclable products around. Retired vehicles are 95% recyclable—that’s higher than most paper, aluminum and glass products. Utilizing this information, a Subaru plant in Indiana became the first zero landfill auto factory in the U.S. Today, all Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants. 99% of waste from the plant is recycled, and the remaining 1% is turned into electricity. According to the World Economic Forum, this recycling reduces energy use by as much as 75%, which translates into major savings in manufacturing.

Subaru of Indiana Automotive is also the first and only plant in the U.S. to be designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. In 2020, this won the brand the Public Lands Alliance’s Corporate Stewardship Award.

Subaru is making monumental efforts to minimize waste even beyond the realm of automotive manufacturing, working to provide digital maps for America’s national parks, thus reducing paper waste.

They’ve also partnered with Amazon to create a “Subaru Recommended” category on the retail giant’s site, which features sustainable products made with minimal packaging.

Drive Your Business Forward

Subaru recognizes that the world we create now is the one our children will live in after we’re gone. While individuals can all do their part to help the environment, long-term change requires large-scale innovations from major industries. Auto manufacturers and the companies that support them are some of the most important players and must focus on eco-conscious practices. We can all look to Subaru for a bit of inspiration.