On May 24, 2012, Alianza Verde Automotriz (AVA) hosted its second meeting at Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) in Mexico City.  

Benjamin Teitelbaum, CEC and Tom Murray, US EPA

AVA is a new initiative organized in collaboration with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to provide automobile original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers the opportunity to address new, innovative and voluntary environmental sustainability projects and activities that will improve their environmental performance while providing value throughout the automobile supply chain in Mexico with the foster and support of the Mexican Government. The project is modeled after an innovative partnership  already on track in the United States - the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP).      

Participants at the May 24 meeting shared environmental sustainability activities and practices currently underway within the auto industry in North America, as well as established a program of new value-driven projects and activities that AVA would address in 2012. Presentations from the May 24 meeting are now available on the SP-US website.  

Luis Lara and Dionisio Menchero, Ford Motor Company, led AVA's Water Efficiency Work Group discussion and provided an overview of a number of projects now underway at Ford to address water resource challenges and opportunities. In addition, Work Group participant Oscar Cross, Gayle Technologies discussed new water efficient technologies that are now available to the auto sector that can provide reduced use of water within the automobile manufacturing process.

Dionisio Menchero, Ford Motor Company leads the AVA Water Efficiency Work Group Discussion

Arnulfo Berlanga, General Motors Mexico, led AVA's Energy Efficiency Work Group discussion and shared a number of energy efficiency activities that GM Mexico currently is engaged in. Mr. Berlanga discussed strategies, tools and technologies to save energy, such as the concept of an Energy Sufficiency Plan and Plan Zero Energy. Work Group member Pedro Zuviri, Nemak then provided a presentation on activities at Nemak that have resulted in both environmental and economic success related to Energy Efficiency. 

Arnulfo Berlanga, GM leads the AVA Energy Efficiency Work Group Discussion

Delia Rivas, Chrysler leads the AVA Waste Management / Resource Creation Work Group Discussion

Following Ms. Rivas' presentation, Work Group members Miguel Velasco, Continental Guadalajara Services, Ben Cano, Heritage Interactive and Don Harris, ChemicoMays discussed projects and activities in the supply chain related to waste management and resource creation. Mr. Velasco shared Continental's waste management programs as well as discussed corporate social responsibility initiatives with local non-profit groups in Mexico to promote increased recycling. Mr. Cano shared Heritage's innovative by-product management process that it uses to reduce its clients waste to landfill. And, Mr. Harris discussed ChemicoMays' work to manage chemical use and increase chemical reuse among its clients.  

Miguel Velasco, Continental, discusses Continental's Waste Management programs

The meeting participants engaged in strategic discussions and agreed to three specific activities/projects that each AVA Work Group would address. Each of the AVA Working Groups are now organizing conference calls to move forward with the action items identified at the meeting.  In addition, the next membership meeting of AVA is being organized for September 5, 2012 in Mexico City.