Ford shrinks carbon footprint, invests $135M in green vehicles

Ford continues to strive for sustainability by shrinking its carbon footprint both within and outside of the company.

The Dearborn-based automaker is improving its green credentials by investing $135 million in the design, engineering and production of the company's next-generation hybrid-electric vehicles and by working with its suppliers to make their business practices more sustainable both environmentally and financially.

"It's just a logical next step for us to work with our suppliers," says Jonathan Newton, global lead-supply chain sustainability analyst for Ford.

Ford is surveying its top 35 global suppliers on their energy use and estimated greenhouse gas emissions. The idea is to better understand their carbon footprint and find ways to shrink it. These suppliers represent about a third of the automaker's $65 billion in annual procurement spending.

Ford is also investing nine figures into greening its automotive fleet. That includes turning its Rawsonville plant into a battery pack production facility and creating parts for the batteries that will be assembled at the Wayne Assembly Plant.

Source: Jonathan Newton, global lead-supply chain sustainability analyst for Ford
Writer: Jon Zemke