GM Outlines Latest Sustainability Report

By setting global manufacturing commitments, paving the road to autonomy, providing urban mobility, focusing on fuel efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions, General Motors has been able to fortify its own business and the communities it provides service to. And it’s not going unnoticed.

“GM is quickly and appropriately adapting its business to our rapidly changing world, from addressing climate change through public policy advocacy to helping move electric vehicles into the mainstream,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, a nonprofit organization advocating for sustainability leadership.

“We see tremendous potential in these technologies and the long-term benefits for our customers and communities around the world,” said Mary Barra, GM CEO and chairwoman. “The GM team is looking to lead this transformation of personal mobility and will continue to deliver on our commitment to responsible manufacturing.”

How has GM been able to do this? Well, in regards to autonomy, GM has been working with stakeholders to create the largest V-to-I enabled corridors in the United States on 120 miles of Metro Detroit freeways. It also will bring SuperCruise semi-autonomous driver-assist technology to the market next year with the Cadillac CTS and CT6.

For urban mobility, GM has launched its Maven car-sharing brand and invested $500 million in a strategic alliance with rideshare provider Lyft. Rumor is that Lyft and GM will offer autonomous Chevrolet Bolt EVs to ride in, eventually.

GM has certainly been slouch in finding ways to create more fuel efficient vehicles. Right now, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is preparing for launch, which is expected to offer more than the GM-estimated 200 miles per charge. Nine GM models in production get an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway or better, up from six models from last year.

GM is also aggressively pursuing ways to use more renewable energy in an effort to lessen carbon emissions. Two wind deals in Mexico and Texas will add 64 megawatts to its 106 megawatt global portfolio, enabling GM to achieve its renewable energy target four years early.

To get an idea of how seriously General Motors takes its manufacturing responsibility, have a look at the stats below. Using 2010 as a baseline year, here are the current achievements:

• 131 landfill-free facilities, toward a goal of 150
• Reduced total waste by 22 percent toward a goal of 40 percent
• Reduced water intensity by 10 percent toward a goal of 15 percent
• Reduced energy and carbon intensity by 14 percent and 15 percent, respectively, toward a goal of 20 percent
• Earned certified wildlife habitats at half of GM’s manufacturing operations.

Needless to say, GM seems to be doing what it can to make this world a better place to live on, in some capacity.