Ford Motor Company has committed to making cuts in the waste it sends to landfill, as well as the water it uses, across its European production facilities.

The company said it will significantly increase the proportion of waste recycled and reused while cutting landfill waste by 70 per cent. That means a reduction in the average landfill waste generated per vehicle to 1.5kg by 2016, from 5kg in 2011.

At the ISO14001-accredited Ford Dagenham Estate in the UK, the environmental team actively pursues Ford of Europe environmental objectives. Out of the entire annual waste produced at Dagenham (5,937 tonnes in 2011), 85 per cent is recycled and 15 per cent currently goes to landfill. Dagenham Engine Plant is currently working on an ‘oil reclamation’ process which if successful, will eliminate virtually all of the remaining 15 per cent landfill.

And, based on an annual production of 1.2 million vehicles, Ford also will reduce water use by 30 per cent, saving €2.3 million over the same period and approximately 1.3 billion litres per year.

This equates to an average saving of 1,100 litres for each car or van produced.

“This plan represents our pledge to minimise Ford’s impact on the environment both before and after our customers get behind the wheel,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “This goes hand in hand with our commitment to develop the most fuel efficient vehicles. Sustainability makes just as much sense for Ford as a business as it does for the environment.”