Honda embraces a three-pillar philosophy that is a balance
of green, safe and fun
The automobile industry has been facing environmental challenges for at least the past three decades. New technologies have continued to be developed that have allowed the industry to address the issues of air pollution or smog, and to improve fuel efficiency. Today the issue is energy sustainability or fuel economy and alternate fuels.
The auto industry, which is currently the poster child for environmental issues, is about more than just the automobile. How many consider the infrastructure necessary to move vehicles efficiently? How about the manufacturing facilities required to produce them? How about the planning that goes into ensuring that a vehicle's total life cycle respects the environment? These environmental impact factors are all taken into consideration when Honda designs and builds a vehicle. In fact, a Honda Environment Statement sums it up nicely:
As a responsible member of society whose task lies in the preservation of the global environment, Honda will make
every effort to contribute to human health and the preservation of the global environment in each phase of its corporate activity. Only in this way will we be able to count on the successful future not only for our company, but for the entire world.
Because of this commitment, Honda can boast an impressive list of environmentally friendly accomplishments, including, being the first auto maker to introduce low-emission vehicle and hybrid technology to Canada, the leader in fuel-cell technology and one of North America's most fuel-efficient car companies. Perhaps "boast" is the wrong word for a company that is world-renowned for going above and beyond what even the strictest government laws require, all in its usual humble manner.
As under-the-radar as Honda's environmental policy has been, it's an effort that has not gone unnoticed by the folks we depend on to be our planetary guardians, however. The Union of Concerned Scientists, for example, recently named Honda the "Greenest Auto Maker" for the fourth consecutive time. In Fortune magazine's April, 2007, report, Honda was included as one of the "10 Green Giants."
In mid-March, the Canadian government recognized the Honda Civic Hybrid among the vehicles eligible for its ecoAuto rebate.
Now, some cynics may retort that saving the environment is simply the price of entry - something that should be expected of every concerned corporation that calls itself a citizen of this globe. But what about safety? What about fun? A little spoonful of sugar with the medicine, in other words, if you please.
Well, anyone who knows Honda knows they've had those boxes checked for a long time. And they continue to be frontrunners when it comes to occupant safety. In fact, it is a value Honda embraces wholeheartedly - a three-pillar philosophy that is a balance of Green, Safe and Fun. In Honda's own words, "We offer pride of ownership because we do not sacrifice safety for the environment. Each customer can have confidence in Honda's products because they have chosen the right balance in the marketplace. We call it the 'Honda Benefit'."
If the "Honda Benefit" reads a bit like a company mission statement, that's because it is. Today it is a refreshing rarity to hear a large company talk about "what's in it for the consumer," for a change. But would we expect anything less from Honda?
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