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Green Advances in Europe, Middle-East and Africa

Protecting the environment is a goal in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region

Delphi's global focus on protecting the environment begins in our manufacturing and office facilities where a commitment to continuous improvement of products and processes results in greener operations and attitudes.

Reducing Emissions Curbs Environmental Impact

At Delphi EMEA facilities, an initiative designed to proactively minimize the environmental impact of manufacturing processes, products, and technologies continues to expand. The program, focused on reducing CO₂ emissions, is now an important aspect of Delphi's global business activities and includes more than 40 Delphi manufacturing plants in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

"Every year the Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) group reaches out to the plants and employees, following new ideas and proven strategies to reduce our environmental footprint," said Thomas Stier, Delphi's program leader for EMEA climate change activities. "We involve the employees and listen to their suggestions, then share the ideas and incorporate them into our program. Again this past year, we exceeded our already ambitious goal and reduced CO₂ emissions by more than 12,000 metric tons."

Since the program began in 2008, Delphi facilities have saved more than 28,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions at plants in Europe, Turkey, and Morocco.

"Last year's reduction is equivalent to the emissions generated by nearly 3,500 European cars, each driving more than 20,000 kilometers a year — or the approximate CO₂ footprint of 950 families of four, living in a mid-sized house or apartment in Europe," Stier added.

One key to the success of the program is the 'Climate Change Toolbox', an electronic inventory and guide designed to help employees reduce CO₂ emissions both on the job and at home. Linking with Delphi's global efforts to define and reduce its carbon footprint, the program offers employees tips and initiatives to increase environmental awareness and save energy.

By working together, Delphi employees are demonstrating how industry can protect the environment and be more energy efficient while growing the business.

"Everyone in our company embraced this challenge and worked hard to make it happen," said Ricardo Oliveira, Delphi's EMEA energy leader. "Our employees are true leaders in proposing and implementing energy efficient actions at their sites. Our total regional energy consumption is gradually being reduced year by year, even as our business grows. This clearly shows that if we save energy, we will be more competitive, protecting the environment at the same time."

"This program keeps getting better and better, but its success is not a surprise," added Michael Tramm, regional director of Global Operations. "The environmental innovations our employees deliver year after year are a clear reflection of our hard work in the communication and training processes. And, this amazing achievement in EMEA is only part of the global success Delphi is having in reducing its carbon footprint."

How EMEA Plants Cut CO₂ Emissions

Across the region, Delphi manufacturing facilities are finding innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint, including:

• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture site in Ineu, Romania
• optimized bus schedules and routes for employees traveling to work at the plant; buses now travel 345,000 fewer kilometers (214,373 mi) per year, reducing annual CO₂ emissions by more than 66 metric tons (72 tons) and increasing convenience for passengers
• improved lighting system for workers; reduces annual CO₂ emissions by 464 metric tons (511 tons)
• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture and Powertrain sites in Istanbul, Izmir, and Bursa, Turkey
• improved printing system offers work order printing efficiencies; 14 million sheets of paper (3,300 trees) are saved annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by more than 137 metric tons (151 tons)
• new intermodal transportation model combines sea, rail, and road transport of products to destinations in Europe and the U.K.; expected to save 662,000 L (175,000 gal) of fuel annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by 1,640 metric tons (1,807 tons)
• lighting upgrade to LED lamps; saves 635,000 kWh annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by 273 metric tons (300 tons)
• Delphi Powertrain site in Blonie, Poland — more than 200 employees now commute to work on two buses rather than in personal cars; saves more than 100,000 liters (26,417 gal) of fuel annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by 277 metric tons (305 tons) and providing comfort and cost savings to employees
• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture site in Jelesnia, Poland — improvements to the compressed air station including a variable speed drive compressor and heat recovery system; improves efficiency, reducing CO₂ emissions by nearly 690 metric tons (760 tons)
• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture site in Grosspetersdorf, Austria — new cooling and heat recovery system for compressed air uses free-cooling systems for molding machines; expected to create annual energy-savings of nearly 30 percent and reduce CO₂ emissions by 139 metric tons (153 tons)
• Delphi Electronics & Safety site in Osberghausen, Germany — modifications to lighting, cooling, and compressed air systems; saves 500,000 kWh energy annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by nearly 212 metric tons (233 tons)
• Delphi Electronics & Safety site in Braga, Portugal — warehouse lighting systems upgrades to T5 fluorescent technology; reduces annual CO₂ emissions by 390 metric tons (429 tons)
• Delphi Diesel Systems site in Blois, France — upgrades to nozzle production process with fluid honing, more efficient gas burners, motors, and compressed air valves; saves 11,000,000 kWh energy in 2011 with expected annual reduction in CO₂ emissions of 4,500 metric tons (4,960 tons)
• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture and Electronics & Safety site in Szombathely, Hungary — improves compressed air utilization pattern and implements employee awareness program; saves 690,000 kWh energy, reducing CO₂ emissions by nearly 300 metric tons (330 tons)
• Delphi Electronics & Safety site in Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Spain — chiller water set point changes; saves 271,000 kWh energy, reducing CO₂ emissions by 117 metric tons (128 tons); lighting system improvements, cooler optimization, and employee awareness programs reduce CO₂ emissions by 453 metric tons (499 tons)

Diverse Programs Help Reduce Impact

In addition to saving energy and reducing CO₂ emissions, Delphi facilities across the EMEA region are developing programs designed to increase environmental awareness, reduce and recycle waste, and reduce dependence on natural resources. By finding ways to fine tune office and manufacturing processes, Delphi employees participate in the stewardship of our global natural resources.

• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture site in Grosspetersdorf, Austria — collaboration with the University of Leoben to educate employees on manufacturing best practices
• Delphi Electronics & Safety site in Osberghausen, Germany — operational efficiencies include the introduction of returnable containers for housings delivery, changing recyclers for electronic scrap and solder dross, and recycling plastic waste reduce volume of waste generated at the site
• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture sites in Tangier, Morocco — new wastewater recycling system allows treated wastewater to be used for specific cleaning processes and landscape watering; expected to save more than 1,100 m³ (290,590 gal) of water each year
• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture site in Lisbon, Portugal — new CO₂ detection system with automatic introduction of fresh air and a CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) recovery system allow the plant to upgrade energy conservation and indoor air quality classification
• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture site in Senica, Slovakia — employees and family members planted 1,100 trees in the local forest to commemorate Earth Day 2012, developing environmental awareness among employees while offsetting the plant's carbon footprint
• Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture and Powertrain sites in Istanbul, Izmir, and Bursa, Turkey — new monthly environmental bulletin reports environmental activities to 7,000 Delphi employees; increases environmental education and awareness
• All Delphi Powertrain sites in the U.K. — new program to recycle waste, including food packaging, bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard, in easy-to-use, mixed recycling stations; reduced the total amount of landfilled cardboard in 2011 by 362 metric tons (399 tons)
• Customer Technology Center in Luxembourg — well-organized waste area with good practices in waste separation; decreases waste and promotes recycling; earning recertification as "Super Drekskecht" by Ministry of Environment

Read about more ways Delphi global manufacturing facilities are reducing environmental impact in Brazil, Mexico, and Asia Pacific.

Delphi Leads the Way

Committed to protecting human health, natural resources, and the environment, Delphi is an industry leader in the groundbreaking design and manufacture of automotive, commercial vehicle and other market segment solutions. Delphi meets the needs of today's marketplace by delivering safe, green, and connected technologies through sustainable manufacturing.

Environmental stewardship is a responsibility Delphi takes seriously. It begins with a focus on the future — innovating real-world solutions that anticipate tomorrow's needs.

Read more about Delphi's global commitment to the environment.