Suppliers Partnership for the Environment
(SP) is an innovative partnership between automobile original
equipment manufacturers and their suppliers and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). SP addresses the goals of the
membership by creating new and innovative business-centered
approaches to environmental protection that improve the
environment while providing value throughout the automobile
supply chain. SP provides a forum for small, mid-sized
and large automotive and vehicle suppliers to work together,
learn from each other and share environmental best practices.
EPA
Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe told a packed
room in Detroit January 15 that he is "proud of EPA's
relationship with SP," adding that the group was "providing
leadership" on auto industry sustainability.
"We need to develop the demand for innovation, and EPA
can't do it alone," said Perciasepe. "Partnership
creation is essential to EPA's future. Together, we need to
get out of our silos, develop tools and information resources
and education to empower partnerships," he said.
Mr. Perciasepe made his remarks before 140+ participants
at SP's 1st Quarter Membership Meeting, held at the GM Renaissance
Center.
The meeting included presentations on programs and activities
of SP’s Working Groups, as well as presentations on
environmental sustainability activities of SP members in the
auto supply chain, including Bosch and Henkel.
The meeting also featured a discussion on Integrating
Energy, Carbon and Water Management into the Business Strategy,
including SP member representatives from Chrysler
Group LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors and
American Honda Motor Co.
For more information on SP, and participation in SP activities,
please contact Kellen Mahoney, Program Manager (kmahoney@navista.net).
Chrysler de Mexico Hosts Fall Meeting of Alianza Verde Automotriz
(AVA)
On October 23, 2013, the Suppliers Partnership initative
in Mexico - Alianza
Verde Automotriz (AVA) - met at Chrysler de Mexico's
Headquarter's in the Santa Fe district of Mexico City, Mexico.
AVA's Work Groups -- Materials & Waste Management led
by Delia Rivas of Chrysler;
Energy Efficiency led by Arnulfo Berlanga
of GM; and, Water Efficiency led by Luis
Lara of Ford -- met during the day
to share best practices, advance AVA work group initiatives
and discuss emerging opportunities in Mexico. OEM and supplier
members of SP shared information and opportunities to improve
environmental performance in Mexico, and SP suppliers such
as DENSO, Lear, Nemak,
PABSA and Heritage Interactive
presented to the group.
On October 9, Tennessee's
Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Office of
Sustainable Practices hosted SP's 4th Quarter
Membership Meeting at Montgomery Bell State Park
in Burns, Tennessee. The meeting provided an opportunity to
further the objectives of SP's new Southern Supply Chain initiative,
designed to promote collaboration and sharing of environmental
best practices to support the automotive supply chain in the
Southeast United States in advancing its environmental sustainability,
waste minimization and business development goals. Read
more in SP's October 2013 Newsletter.
Pictured: Jan Compton, TDEC; Ronnie Jones,
Johnson Controls, Automotive Experience; Amanda Kurzman,
GM; Ansir Junaid, Prime Woodcraft
SP Member Electricfil Corporation (EFI Automotive) Recognized
by Chrysler FIAT Group for Outstanding Quality Performance
Electricfil
Corporation (EFI Automotive) has received an Outstanding
Quality Performance award from Chrysler FIAT Group for their
2012 performance. This award was only issued to 56 suppliers
globally!
“Your dedication and support demonstrates top level
performance in many key areas, including quality. We greatly
appreciate your persistence and commitment to strive for “Perfect
Quality”. Your company has been recognized as a role
model supplier achieving “Perfect Quality” throughout
2012” said Mr. Robert Varsanik, Head of Supplier Quality,
Chrysler Group LLC.
Electricfil Corporation, located in Elkmont, Alabama, supplies
Chrysler FIAT Group with electronic and electromagnetic solutions
for several engines and supports the company through product
launches. The achievement of this award was a result of great
team work, especially from the company’s manufacturing
operators who take great pride in their role in building quality
products. Read
more.
Pictured: Electricfil Production and
Maintenance Team Accepting Award from John Krupa, CQE, Chrysler
Supplier Quality Engineer; Pascal Auburtin, Electricfil
VP with John Krupa, CQE, Chrysler
SP Presents GM, Gage Products Company and International
Products Corporation with Sustainable Innovation Awards
The
Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) presented its
first annual membership awards at an evening reception on
June 26 as part of the first Summit on Accelerating Innovation
hosted at Oakland University's Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester,
MI. The awards recognized SP member companies for their outstanding
achievements in three award categories:
Spirit of Suppliers Partnership Award:
John Bradburn, Manager of Waste Reduction Efforts
for General Motors Company, and Chair of
SP's Materials Efficiency Work Group
Demonstrating Environmental Innovation in the
Manufacturing Process: International Products
Corporation (IPC) for its environmentally friendly
P-80® Temporary Rubber Assembly Lubricants
Creativity in Implementing Sustainable Practices
Award: Gage Products Company for
its sustainable closed-loop solvent recycling program
On June 26, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
hosted a live wecast from the Summit on Accelerating Innovation
of a panel discussion on "Championing sustainable innovation
in the North American automotive supply chain". CBS Detroit
journalist and long-time auto industry reporter Matt Roush
moderated a discussion and Q&A of panelists who highlighted
examples of sustainable manufacturing innovations currently
in practice in the North American automotive supply chain
and discussed opportunities that exist for manufacturers,
suppliers and government partners to work together to advance
sustainable innovation in North America.
The panel included SP representatives from ERA Environmental
Management, Ford Mexico, General
Motors and the US EPA. Learn
more here.
Summit on Accelerating Innovation to Drive Sustainable Automotive
Manufacturing Growth Across North America
Why
is it that advanced manufacturing and environmental innovations
with the potential to realize significant savings in key indicators
such as energy use, materials use and manufacturing costs
fail to realize their potential impact on business growth
and environmental sustainability? What strategic steps can
organizations in the automotive supply chain take to identify,
champion and drive the implementation of innovative processes
and technologies that improve the environment while providing
economic value to the North American automotive supply chain?
On June 26-27, 2013 the Suppliers Partnership for
the Environment (SP), Commission for Environmental
Cooperation (CEC) and Oakland University
co-hosted the first Summit on Accelerating Innovation
to Drive Sustainable Automotive Manufacturing Growth Across
North America on Oakland University’s
campus in Rochester, Michigan to explore this issue. Read
more about the Summit.
Covanta 4Recovery Hosts SP 2nd Quarter Meeting in Indianapolis
On May 7-8, Covanta 4Recovery hosted the
Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP)'s 2nd Quarter
Membership Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. Meeting participants
had a unique first hand opportunity to learn more about the
energy from waste process and the national Covanta network
of energy from waste (EfW) facilities through a guided tour
of Covanta's Indianapolis EfW facility during the meeting.
A
short virtual tour of the EfW process is available on Covanta's
website.
Pictured: (L) Denise Coogan, SIA; (R)
Maria Milescu, Chrysler
During the meeting representatives of SP member companies
operating in Indiana - including Chrylser, GM and Subaru -
provided strategies and case examples in support of reducing
waste to landfill while strengthening the bottom line, and
discussed the value of building supplier partnerships in finding
sustainable solutions to challenging waste streams and achieving
corporate sustainability goals. In addition, SP member companies
shared innovative technologies, processes and practices to
improve environmental sustainability across the supply chain.
Read
more in SP's May 2013 Newsletter.
For more information on participation in SP, please
contact Kellen Mahoney, Program Manager at kmahoney@navista.net.
Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) Southern
Supply Chain Network
On February 19, General Motors hosted the
Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP)'s Southern
Supply Chain Forum on Improving Materials Efficiency
at its GM Spring Hill Manufacturing Complex in Spring Hill,
Tennessee. The meeting provided a forum for over 100 automakers,
suppliers, recycling solution providers and government representatives
to discuss waste reduction challenges and identify opportunities
for collaboration in the Southeast United States.
Pictured: (L) Jim Laney, DENSO; (R) Kevin
Reinhart, Calsonic Kansei
During the meeting automotive manufacturers and suppliers
including General Motors, DENSO
and CalsonicKansei shared best practices
for recycling and reuse, and discussed opportunities for collaboration
through the supply chain in the Southeast United States to
reach waste reduction goals.
Pictured: (L-R) Pat Van Ryckeghem, Holley
Hanes and John Bradburn, GM with a birdhouse made from Volt
scrap battery cover; (R) Participants discuss environmental
sustainability collaboration opportunities
“Compared to other regions where GM has plants, the
Southeast has opportunity to build up its recycling economy,”
said John Bradburn, GM manager of waste-reduction efforts.
“By connecting local recyclers – and those with
potential – with area companies, we can start to address
the gaps and build a more robust infrastructure that will
help the auto industry and beyond to leave a smaller footprint."
For more information on participation in SP, please
contact Kellen Mahoney, Program Manager at kmahoney@navista.net.
EPA
Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe told a packed
room in Detroit January 15 that he is "proud of EPA's
relationship with SP," adding that the group was "providing
leadership" on auto industry sustainability.
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The
Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) presented its
first annual membership awards at an evening reception on
June 26 as part of the first Summit on Accelerating Innovation
hosted at Oakland University's Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester,
MI. The awards recognized SP member companies for their outstanding
achievements in three award categories: 
Why
is it that advanced manufacturing and environmental innovations
with the potential to realize significant savings in key indicators
such as energy use, materials use and manufacturing costs
fail to realize their potential impact on business growth
and environmental sustainability? What strategic steps can
organizations in the automotive supply chain take to identify,
champion and drive the implementation of innovative processes
and technologies that improve the environment while providing
economic value to the North American automotive supply chain?
