Ford Motor Co. announced yesterday a goal of reducing its use of water in the manufacturing process by 72% by 2020.
“With many of our plants located in water-stressed regions around the globe, we’re focused on responsible water stewardship in our operations, Bruce Hettle, group vice president for global manufacturing & labor affairs, said in a news release announcing the goal. “We aim to ensure a stable water supply for our facilities, while working with local communities to help ensure their needs are met.”
With changes in its operations, Ford has already saved 10 billion gallons of water from 2000 to 2015, a decrease of 61%--enough to fill over 15,000 competition- sized swimming pools. By achieving that feat in 2013, Ford beat its own water reduction target by two years.
The company’s ultimate goal is to reduce its use of water in manufacturing all the way down to zero.
Ford has cut down on its water use with changes in its paint and lubrication processes that require less water, and by more closely monitoring its water use with real-time water metering.
The company also conducts ongoing water assessments to determine where new water-saving processes can be implemented.
Ford set out to reduce water use in 2000 with its Global Water Management Initiative. The company’s strategy aligns with core elements of the CEO Water Mandate, a private-public initiative launched by the UN Secretary General in 2007 and adopted by Ford in 2014.
Ford is one of eight companies—and the only North American company—to earn an “A” rating for its actions to conserve water by CDP, the world’s only global environmental disclosure agency.
