From Shirts to Insulators: Recycled Honda Uniforms Find New Utility in Vehicles
August 10, 2023
— MARYSVILLE, Ohio
Recycled Honda uniforms are shredded into fibers and repurposed for insulation in new Honda and Acura automobiles
Uniform recycling program reduces waste to landfill from Honda manufacturing and R&D facilities in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio
Honda’s “Triple Action to Zero” approach focuses on “resource circulation” to make new products from 100% sustainable materials by 2050
Honda associates put a lot into the products they make, now including the shirts right off their backs. Honda is advancing a recycling initiative that takes uniforms worn by associates at its U.S. manufacturing and R&D facilities and transforms them into sound-absorbing insulation for use in Honda and Acura automobiles. This program diverts approximately 45,000 pounds of uniforms from reaching landfills each month as Honda works toward its commitment to use 100% sustainable materials in its products in the future. Watch a video of the uniform recycling process at https://honda.us/UniformRecycling.
Recycled Honda Uniforms Find New Utility in Vehicles
Honda has established a global “Triple Action to Zero” approach, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities, use of 100% clean energy and resource circulation (100% sustainable materials), by 2050. Achieving that goal – which targets zero environmental impact – will require innovative solutions, including how Honda sources materials for new products by recycling and reusing material from end-of-life vehicles and Honda operations.
“To achieve our Triple Zero goal of 100% sustainable material use, we need to take every possible opportunity to recycle materials at end of life for reuse in our products, thereby minimizing our utilization of virgin materials,” said Negar Gilsinger, manager of Resource Circulation for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “By maximizing end-of-life material recycling, we are giving our uniforms a second life in Honda and Acura vehicles.”
The Honda uniform recycling program leverages cross-industry collaboration between Honda and its uniform suppliers Aramark and Cintas Corporation, as well as insulation supplier UGN Automotive and textile recycler Leigh Fibers. Uniforms from Honda production and R&D facilities in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio are recycled and reused in five different insulator parts on all nine Honda and four Acura models made in North America. In the future, Honda plans to expand the uniform recycling program to other facilities in North America.
“Collaborating with Honda suppliers in the uniform recycling program has brought great value to our supply chain sustainability efforts,” said Rob Long, senior procurement specialist with Honda North American Indirect Procurement. “As Honda works to advance sustainability, we appreciate our suppliers’ efforts to innovate their business operations to reduce waste and give new life to our Honda uniforms.”
More than 380,000 pounds of uniforms have been recycled since the program launched at the end of 2021. The uniforms Honda associates wear have always been an important part of the company’s culture and success, symbolizing Honda’s “One Team” approach, which promotes collaboration and the understanding that the ideas of all associates are valued.
Transforming Uniforms into Insulation Honda associate uniforms that are cleaned by uniform suppliers – Aramark, at Honda Indiana and Ohio facilities, and Cintas Corporation, at Alabama and North Carolina facilities – are evaluated after washing. If the uniforms are undamaged, they are sent back to associates to wear. When uniforms are designated for reuse in Honda and Acura vehicles, they are baled and sent to Leigh Fibers, which specializes in reprocessing and custom-blending fiber-based materials.
At Leigh Fibers’ facility, the uniforms are shredded into material that meets the required fiber grade for use as vehicle insulators. Zippers and buttons from the uniforms are first extracted and collected so that no metal or plastic goes through the shredding process. Then the material gets blended into mixed fibers and tested to ensure the fiber material meets the fiber length requirements. The newly reprocessed fibers are then packaged and delivered to insulation supplier UGN.
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UGN blends, consolidates and trims the fibers into material that is molded into insulation and returned to Honda auto manufacturing plants for new vehicle production. Typically, UGN creates insulation from post-industrial fibers, which are sourced from textile companies, and polyester sourced from recycled water bottles. The uniform recycling program marks the first time Honda and UGN are using post-consumer textile waste for sustainable insulation material.
“It is part of UGN’s history and culture to maximize recycled content in our parts, reduce landfill by recycling our own by-products, and promote circular, mono-material technologies that enable end-of-life vehicle recycling,” said Pranav Singh, director of Purchasing & Packaging for UGN Automotive. “Reusing Honda uniforms contributes to these efforts by increasing the amount of recycled materials available for insulators and opens the door to other post-consumer textile waste projects.”
Expanding Recycled Materials in Vehicles The uniform recycling program builds on Honda’s longstanding commitment to reduce waste and incorporate higher recycled content in Honda and Acura vehicles. This includes working with suppliers to transform post-industrial textile scrap, such as fibers from denim, into vehicle insulation/absorption material. In collaboration with UGN, Honda annually reuses approximately 2,800 tons of recycled post-industrial textile waste – equivalent to 5.6 million pairs of jeans – and 3,000 tons of post-consumer PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles – equivalent to 6 million water bottles – for vehicle sound-absorbing insulation.
Other approaches to using sustainable materials in Honda and Acura vehicles have included soybean-based foam for vehicle headrests, recycled plastic water bottles and recycled Honda car bumpers for wheel liners, plant-based material for the seat fabric in the 2019 Acura RDX and Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicle, and processed volcanic rocks for the roof liner in the 2003 Honda Element.
To learn more about Honda’s Triple Action to Zero approach and the concept of resource circulation, read Our Perspective, “We Have Set a Great Big Goal: Nothing.”
About Honda’s Commitment to the Environment Honda is working toward its global goal of zero environmental impact by 2050 through its “Triple Action to Zero” approach, including achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities, 100% utilization of renewable energy, and resource circulation, utilizing 100% sustainable materials by reprocessing products back to raw materials and reusing those materials in the creation of new products. Toward this goal, Honda will strive to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of auto sales in the U.S. and globally by 2040.
About Honda’s Commitment to the Environment Honda is working toward its global goal of zero environmental impact by 2050 through its “Triple Action to Zero” approach, including achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities, 100% utilization of renewable energy, and resource circulation, utilizing 100% sustainable materials by reprocessing products back to raw materials and reusing those materials in the creation of new products. Toward this goal, Honda will strive to make battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles represent 100% of auto sales in the U.S. and globally by 2040.
To reduce the environmental impact of its business operations, Honda also is offsetting CO2 emissions from its North American manufacturing operations through long-term virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for renewable wind and solar power that seek to cover more than 60% of the electricity Honda uses in North America. Honda also promotes environmentally responsible business practices with its suppliers and retail dealer partners across North America.
The Road to Cleaner Water: How to Prevent Roads from Polluting Waterways
Everyone loves driving on clean highways and spotless local roads. Few people, however, realize the benefits of clean roads go well beyond mere aesthetics. Cleaner roads also mean cleaner and healthier local rivers, lakes and beaches. Follow these simple year-round tips to help make the waters as fun and healthy as possible this summer.
(Feature Impact) Everyone loves driving on clean highways and spotless local roads. Few people, however, realize the benefits of clean roads go well beyond mere aesthetics. Cleaner roads also mean cleaner and healthier local rivers, lakes and beaches.
That’s because harmful pollutants in local waters often run off untreated from highways and roads during strong storms. Those rains sweep trash, dripped oil, harmful chemicals and even dangerous bacteria from pet waste into local waters via stormways and sewers. This untreated runoff can affect people’s health, make water unsafe for swimming and harm aquatic life. Every year, such man-made “stormwater pollution” even closes portions of recreational rivers and beaches.
It’s up to everyone to help prevent human-caused stormwater pollution. Don’t wait for rain in the forecast to get started. Instead, follow these simple year-round tips from the experts at the California Department of Transportation to help make the cooling waters in California and beyond as fun and healthy as possible this summer.
Trash-Free Trips and Responsible Car Care
Summer can mean more road time traveling to your next adventure. Loose items in truck beds and on roof carriers or trash tossed from car windows can quickly become the next wave of stormwater pollution flowing into local waters. To reduce:
Secure Your Load: Always securely tarp and tie down anything in a truck bed or on a roof rack. Items falling off vehicles are both a safety hazard and can become roadside debris.
Keep a Car Trash Catcher: Designate a bag or container in your car for food wrappers, coffee cups and other small trash until you can dispose of it properly.
Wash Smart: Commercial car washes that recycle water are superior for preventing road dirt and chemicals accumulated on your car from entering storm drains compared to washing in a driveway. If washing at home, do it on your lawn or a permeable surface where the water naturally filters into the ground and not street gutters.
Outdoor Adventures That Leave Only Footprints
Whether you’re hiking a mountain trail, picnicking at the park or relaxing on the beach, remember the outdoor golden rule: pack out everything you pack in. Food wrappers, plastic bottles and even seemingly small items like bottle caps and cigarette butts are some of the most common litter found in parks, waterways and along coastlines. When left behind, they’re not just eyesores; they’re prime candidates for being washed into waterways.
Pro Tip: Choose reusable water bottles that clip onto bags to reduce pollution from discarded plastic bottles.
At Home and In Your Neighborhood
Even close to home, your actions can make a difference.
Garden Care: When tidying up your garden or front lawn, sweep leaves and grass clippings into your green bin instead of hosing them down the driveway. Hosing yard waste into road gutters can clog storm drains and cause flooding.
Pesticide Prevention: To protect waterways from harmful chemical runoff, opt for organic or eco-friendly alternatives for pest and weed control whenever possible.
Pollution in waterways doesn’t just look bad; it creates real problems, from harming wildlife and ecosystems to causing potential health issues for humans and pets who encounter contaminated water. The cleaner roads and surrounding areas are, the healthier rivers, lakes and beaches become. For more tips and resources, visit CleanWaterCA.com to ensure a clean, healthy summer for everyone.
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Simple Ways to Make At-Home Recycling More Effective
To create a more eco-friendly household, consider these practical tips to help you reduce waste, stay organized and make at-home recycling part of your everyday routine.
Simple Ways to Make At-Home Recycling More Effective
(Feature Impact) Recycling is a simple way households can reduce waste and help protect natural resources. While many communities offer curbside recycling programs, some people still wonder if they’re doing it correctly or if they’re missing opportunities to recycle more.
To create a more eco-friendly household, consider these practical tips to help you reduce waste, stay organized and make recycling part of your everyday routine.
Know What Your Local Program Accepts
Recycling rules vary depending on your city or waste management provider. Most curbside programs include items like cardboard, paper, aluminum cans and plastics, but others – such as glass – may require drop-off recycling. Review your community guidelines so recyclables don’t accidentally end up in the regular trash.
Create a Simple Sorting System
Set up clearly labeled bins – separated for paper, plastics and metals – in a high-traffic area like the kitchen, garage or laundry room.
Rinse Before You Recycle
Food residue can contaminate other recyclables and may cause entire batches of materials to be rejected during the recycling process. Quickly rinsing yogurt cups, jars or soup cans of leftover residue helps keep recycling streams clean and more likely to be processed properly.
Break Down Boxes
Cardboard boxes are among the most commonly recycled household materials. Flattening boxes before placing them in the recycling bin saves space and allows collection trucks to hold more.
Compost Food Scraps
Not everything belongs in the recycling bin, particularly food waste. Composting fruit peels, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells is an easy way to reduce the amount of trash your household produces. Finished compost can be used in gardens, flower beds or houseplants, turning kitchen waste into a valuable resource.
Find more ideas for making recycling a natural part of your household routine at eLivingtoday.com.
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How China cleaned up its air pollution – and what that meant for the climate
How China cleaned up its air pollution: Beijing’s air quality went from hazardous to good while Delhi and Lahore still struggle. Discover how China dramatically reduced pollution since 2013—and why cleaner air may have unintended consequences for global warming and climate change.
Delhi: 442. Lahore: 334. Beijing: 16. These are the levels of PM 2.5, one of the principle measures for air pollution, on November 19.
As Pakistanis and Indians struggle with hazardous air quality, in Beijing – a city once notorious for its smog – the air quality is currently rated as good.
Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government was so concerned about pollution that it introduced temporary restrictions on cars, shut down factories and stopped work on some construction sites. The measures worked and one study later found that levels of air pollution were down 30% during the period when the temporary Olympic restrictions were in place.
It would take a few more years before the Chinese government implemented a clean air action plan in 2013. Since then, China has achieved a dramatic improvement in its air quality.
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to Laura Wilcox, a professor at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading in the UK, to understand how China managed to clean up its air pollution. But Wilcox’s recent research uncovered some unintended consequences from this cleaner air for the global climate: the pollution was actually helping to cool the atmosphere and by taking it away, it may have accelerated global warming. Wilcox explains:
What we’re seeing is a removing of cooling that’s revealing warming that’s already there. So the air pollution isn’t the cause of the warming. It’s just letting us see stuff that we’ve already done.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Mend Mariwany, Gemma Ware and Katie Flood. Mixing by Michelle Macklem and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available via the Apple Podcasts or Spotify apps.
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