Researching the Future: 40% of Bosch's R&D Budget Looks at 'Green' Products

Bosch, a global Fortune 500 company that develops and manufactures a variety of products from automobile engines to wind turbines, is betting on a green future. In 2007, nearly 40% of Bosch's R&D budget (US $2 billion) was used for products that conserve resources, protect the environment by reducing energy demand, use renewable energies, avoid energy waste, allow use of alternative fuels and reduce emissions. But the company has firm grasp on the here and now as demonstrated by its recent environmental management system that it has implemented at each of its 292 manufacturing sites around the world. The system is based on the ISO 14001 international standard for environmental management, and 213 of Bosch's manufacturing sites have already been certified by an independent organization. To keep the momentum going the company is planning to cut its CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020. It has a head start towards that goal since many of its locations now cover more than 20% of their heating requirements through heat recovery. For example, at Bosch's Reutlingen, Germany location, waste heat is recovered from wafer production, thus cutting down on the fuel required for heating. Altogether, the Reutlingen location saves around 2,200 metric tons of CO2 a year. In Bonneville, France, Bosch's manufacturing site has cut CO2 emissions by 90%. To learn how the company achieved its success I asked John Mirsky, Vice-President, Technical & Engineering Services of Bosch's a few questions. To read the article click here