Subaru's newly launched Tribeca 3,6l flagship could probably be described as the “greenest” car on earth. The plant where the new beauty is built (in the American state of Indiana) has achieved the very rare distinction from the US environmental authorities of “zero landfill status.” 

Zero landfill status

Article Options Email to Friend Print Article Remove from Favorites Add to Favorites Remove from 'Articles to Read' Add to 'Articles to Read'

This means that not a single scrap of waste from the plant’s extensive engineering and manufacturing processes goes into local landfill sites.

Everything is recycled or re-used

Every year the Lafayette plant recycles 99,3% of excess or leftover steel, plastic, wood, paper, glass and other materials. Even paint solvents are effectively re-used. The rest is shipped to the State’s capital, Indianapolis, and incinerated to help generate steam.

Cleanest motor manufacturing plant in the world

In fact, SIA has among the “cleanest” records of any manufacturing plant of any kind anywhere in the world. For example:

- It is the first manufacturing facility anywhere in the United States to attain “zero landfill” status
- Many years ago in 1994 SIA became the first automotive assembly plant in the United States to completely ban indoor smoking
- It has been the recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gold Award as a top achiever in the agency’s WasteWise programme to reduce waste and improve recycling
- And it is the first auto assembly plant in the United States to be designated a wildlife habitat. Deer, coyotes, beavers, blue herons, geese, and turtles among other wildlife live in peaceful co-existence with the plant

Subaru - defending the environment

Says Teresita van Gaalen, MD of Subaru Southern Africa: “These are real-world benefits from Subaru’s striving to leave as small a carbon footprint as possible on our world. While protecting passengers is a defining feature of any Subaru vehicle, equally as important in the Subaru manufacturing culture is defending the environment. And in these days of global warming, we, together with our earth-friendly partners, are doing this.

“It is an integral part of the Subaru philosophy. You could say it’s what makes a Subaru a Subaru.”

Households create more waste than a Subaru plant

When you drag your black bags out to the front gate for collection this week, remember that your household is sending more domestic waste to your local landfill site than the entire Subaru of Indiana Automotive vehicle manufacturing plant.

The new Tribeca 3,6l is the only Subaru marketed in Southern Africa to be built in the United States.

For more information go to http://www.subaru-sia.com/