Pollution
Initiatives to Prevent Environmental Pollution
In accordance with the Honda Environment Statement, Honda will comply with all laws, regulations, and ordinances related to air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, and other hazardous substances, and will strive to prevent environmental pollution and control the emission of pollutants and contaminants.
Please refer to Environmental and Safety Vision / Honda’s Environment Statement.
Air Pollution
Honda recognizes the importance of efforts to protect clean air since the 1960s when the pollution problem became serious. The Company, therefore, has been working to protect the clean air through the development of technologies that reduce the gases emitted from its products.
In product areas, Honda has reduced exhaust emissions from motorcycles by switching the engines of all its motorcycles on the market to four strokes, with the Honda Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system being applied to more than 91% of models sold worldwide for better combustion efficiency.
With regard to automobiles, the Accord Plug-in Hybrid has become the first in the world to meet the California Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) III and Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) 20 standards in the United States, which are regarded as among the toughest emissions regulations in the world. In addition, Honda has introduced technologies to reduce emissions in advance of other advanced emission regulations, such as Euro 6 in Europe and Stage 6 of Particulate Matter (PM) emissions in China.
As for power products, Honda has cleared compliance with United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Phase 3 regulations, the most stringent in the world, through engine enhancement technology without using a catalyst.
In the area of corporate activities, Honda is working to reduce the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are solvent components in paint and thinner used in the paint processes and cause photochemical oxidants.
In the automobile business, Honda will continue advancing initiatives to promote the adoption of EVs, while also striving to further improve the efficiency of existing hybrid systemsand enhance the environmental performance of internal combustion engine (ICE) technologies during the transition period toward full-scale adoption.
In the motorcycle and power products businesses, Honda will contribute to preventing air pollution by advancing electrification and reducing exhaust emissions.
In addition, in the motorcycle business, Honda will further strengthen its initiatives by expanding flex-fuel models capable of using high-concentration ethanol-blended fuels, tailored to region-specific conditions.
To prevent air pollution, Honda is working to suppress the generation of and reduce emissions of VOCs.
In particular, in the production of automobiles, the Company is globally implementing the short-process, high-functionality coating technology, starting from the Saitama Factory Automobile Plant.
With the aim of reducing the use of organic solvents, which are a major source of VOCs, the reduction of the amount used is being promoted by using water-based coating materials and shortening the coating process.
In addition, Honda employs a combustion exhaust system (RTO: Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer) to burn and deodorize the VOCs contained in the exhaust air before releasing it into the atmosphere.
Metrics and Targets
Water Pollution
Honda selects areas where it can operate in harmony with the surrounding water resources and conducts its corporate activities in accordance with the environmental assessment laws and regulations of each country. To prevent water pollution and reduce environmental impact, Honda works to suppress the generation of wastewater and ensure its proper management.
Honda promotes initiatives to reduce the risk of water pollution, including the recycling of wastewater for reuse and the reduction of wastewater volume by using dry booths in the painting process.
Regarding water discharge, Honda treats wastewater appropriately and discharges treated water in accordance with applicable laws and regulations of each country and region. To prevent any impact of wastewater on the water environment, Honda thoroughly manages wastewater quality while also controlling water withdrawal volumes, and strives to ensure proper management and provide information, including the disclosure of water quality test findings.
Soil Pollution
Honda properly conducts soil management in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of each country. When necessary, Honda also conducts soil contamination surveys and remediation measures.
Harmful Substances
Honda works to ensure the appropriate management and reduction of the chemical substances contained in automotive components from the product design and development stages in order to reduce those materials that may impact the environment and human health.
The United Nations has set international goals aimed at minimizing the adverse effects of chemical substances on people and the environment. In response, laws and regulations have been introduced in each country and region to promote the appropriate management of chemical substances and the reduction of harmful substances contained in automotive components. Against the backdrop of this trend, the International Material Data System (IMDS) was developed, largely by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, as a mechanism for sharing and managing information throughout the supply chain on the materials and chemical substances contained in components making up a vehicle.
Honda collects chemical substance information from the supply chain through IMDS, and aggregates and manages such information via its independently developed global management system, called the Management System of Chemical Substances (MoCS). Through these systems, Honda works to comply with the Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and other chemical substance regulations in each country and region.
In addition, Honda has been continuously reducing the use of four types of heavy metals in its products (lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and cadmium), which may have impacts on the environment, in accordance with the European Directive on End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV Directive).
