Honda has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality in all products and corporate activities by 2050, and is promoting business activities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Honda's economic development and corporate sustainability are closely linked to technological development and corporate attitudes that fulfill social responsibilities in the environmental field.

Honda's activities in Brazil began in 1971 with the import and distribution of motorcycles. A few years later, still in the first half of 1970s, Soichiro Honda himself, accompanied by his wife, visited the country to confirm the brand's success. Among Brazilians, owning a Honda was a nice thing, not only because of the quality of the motorcycle, but also because of the level of after-sales service, availability of spare parts and well-trained mechanics to ensure product excellence.

In mid-1970, a change in Brazilian legislation banned the import of any type of vehicle. It was at this crucial moment that Honda was faced with two alternatives: either the operation in Brazil would need to be closed or the company would have to manufacture its products locally.

Even if the latter option was chosen, starting motorcycles production in Manaus in the 1970s was not easy. There was no supplier nearby, no road to transport production to the Southeast, the main consumer market and qualified labor was scarce. None of this, however, prevented the project to manufacture motorcycles in Brazil from going ahead.

Driven by the spirit of challenge, a defining aspect of company’s culture, fortunately, business continuity option was chosen and the site of Honda's first factory in Brazil was launched in 1976 in Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas. 

Operating for 48 years in Brazil, over this long period of time more than 29 million motorcycles have rolled off the assembly lines in Manaus. Today, Moto Honda da Amazônia manufactures more than 5,500 motorcycles a day. There are 19 models, thanks to the efforts of more than 8,600 associates.

The size of the plant, however, goes beyond these figures: since its inauguration, the company has specialized in implementing environmental management and protection policies that benefit both associates and the local community and environment.

Honda's operations continued to develop well in Manaus and, as a result, the company needed a place to test the motorcycles it produced, in order to guarantee the quality and improvement of its products.

But this was not such a simple task. The choice of location involved a few requirements: it had to be large enough to build the test tracks and close enough to the factory to facilitate logistics, but also far enough from the city not to compromise the industrial secret of the launches. All these harmonizing activities with the environment and seeking to preserve the standing forest as much as possible.

After a period of searching, the ideal site was found: an area of over a thousand hectares in the municipality of Rio Preto da Eva, 80 km from the factory. The site is home to a gigantic natural reserve of native forest with a biodiversity of Amazonian proportions.

In compliance with local legislation, part of the total area of land should be set aside for preservation, with the important function of promoting biodiversity conservation, sheltering and protecting wild fauna and native flora. 

Therefore, three work fronts were established to achieve this goal: fruit growing, reforestation and agricultural project.

In 2003, the agricultural project began with the production of vegetables using a cultivation system that allows plants to grow in a solution of water with nutrients (hydroponics), in other words, without soil. This system offers food with a high nutritional value, free from pesticides, to the associates of the Manaus factory.

“The associates are very grateful for the project. As the person in charge of the factory restaurant, I always see how they commend the vegetables.” says Eduardo Alves de Assis, manager of the service administration area.

Twice a week, around 160 kg of lettuce is harvested and sent to the factory's cafeteria, which serve more than 11,000 meals a day.
In addition, more than 144 tons of fruit and vegetables have been donated to charities such as GACC (Grupo de Apoio A Criança Com Câncer do Amazonas) - the Support Group for Children with Cancer.

This is where the food reaches the plates of children who are facing challenges, like little Esther. At the age of two, she was diagnosed with leukemia. In many towns in Amazonas, especially those on the banks of the river, access to more complex health treatments is limited. This scenario led Esther and her mother to travel five days by boat across the river to begin treatment at a specialized hospital. During the treatment, which has now lasted three years, the two have relied on the support of GACC, which provides accommodation and food for families who cannot afford it.

“The donations made by Honda to our institution are very important, as we can offer our children adequate food, the nutrients they need during treatment. We thank Honda for their partnership and support for our institution”, says Thamires Luana Rodrigues Costa, the institution's nutritionist.

The commitment to reducing the impact of its activities on the environment means that the Moto Honda is also carrying out a survey of the native fauna and flora of the legal reserve, and constantly developing projects aimed at reducing and eliminating waste, as well as new ways of reusing it in its own activities.

Especially, in operation for 23 years, the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Manaus is a benchmark in technology and is considered one of Honda’s most modern plants in South America.

Understanding the importance of preserving nature and respecting the local community, Honda implemented this water purification project in 2001. The site is responsible for treating water from the factory's production processes, cafeterias and toilets.

Once the process is complete, the water is ready to be reused, and the effluent has two purposes: to irrigate the factory gardens and to help clean industrial processes. In addition, part of the treated water is returned to nature, contributing to the preservation of the igarapés ecosystem, narrow streams in the Amazon forest that permeate the forests and are important means of navigation and subsistence for local communities, as well as contributing to animal biodiversity.

“The Wastewater Treatment Plant is recognized not only by associates, but also by environmental agencies and that fills us with pride.” says Marciana Lima, who has been working at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for 12 years, since she joined the company.

These initiatives are just a few examples of how Honda is committed to realizing “the Joy and Freedom of Mobility” and “a Sustainable Society where people can enjoy life”, which, as well as exceeding the expectations of today's consumers, and thinking about the progress of the world for the future generations.