Car Manufacturers who are Doing their Part for our Environment

Eco Friendly Auto Makers

Bruce Sheridan

Greener cars and companies

People are conscious of our place on this planet more so than any other time in history. We are able to see more of the big picture on how we affect our planetary eco system, and we are actively trying to steer the planet to a healthier and more stable future.

Perhaps no other industry (other than big oil, which is still pretty relevant) has been put under the microscope for its environmental practices quite like the auto industry. It's not enough anymore to just produce a quality product and environment friendly cars; auto makers have to find new ways to do everything more efficiently.

Getting on board

Thankfully, many car makers got the memo a long time ago, and have not only been actively making cars with better gas mileage and less emissions, but they have also been making their manufacturing plants more green as well. GM, for instance, now has 100 of their 156 plants now operate 100% trash free.

They recycle everything from scrap metal to coffee grounds, and absolutely nothing from their plants ends up in a land fill. They estimate they have already saved 2.6 million tons, or 38 million bags full of garbage, from reaching land fills.

Honda is also making strides in their recycling. Most of the rare metals that are necessary for advanced technological products Honda imports from China. To reduce dependency on their neighbor and to improve efficiency, Honda will become the first to recycle these rare metals from the batteries in hybrid cars.

Toyota has gained some time in the spotlight for its environmental efforts recently when management consultant firm Interbrand named them number one on their list of 2012 Best Global Green Brands. Also honored in the same list were Honda at number three, Volkswagen at number four, BMW at number ten, Ford at 15, Mercedes at 16, Hyundai at 17 and Nissan at 21.

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