Mazda to make its factories carbon-neutral by 2035

MANILA: Mazda Motor Corporation announced its commitment to making Mazda factories globally carbon-neutral by 2035. It is a move that will also support the carmaker's aspiration for a supply chain carbon-neutral by 2050.

As all automotive manufacturers are taking steps to curb global warming by reducing CO2 emissions in every step of vehicle production, Mazda sees the responsibility to do the same. These production areas include manufacturing, transport, vehicle usage and recycling.

As a result, Mazda has been actively engaged in several carbon-neutral initiatives.

To achieve carbon-neutrality in Mazda factories around the globe by 2035, Mazda will continue to work closely with its partners and is focused on three areas: energy conservation,  shift to renewable energies, and introduction of carbon neutral fuels for in-house transportation. 

In the first area, Mazda will focus on energy conservation efforts during the vehicle manufacturing processes, which emit large amounts of CO2. These include reduction of thermal energy through the development of low-temperature curing paints and improvement of energy conversion efficiency by optimizing processing technology.

Regarding the second area in shifting to renewable energy, Mazda recognizes the importance of carbon neutrality, but also the growth of the local economy where its factories are based. Mazda will participate proactively in the efforts of the Carbon Neutral Electricity Promotion Subcommittee in the Chugoku region, which aims to expand the supply and demand of carbon-neutral electricity throughout the region.

Aside from that, Mazda is also considering various forms of decarbonization, such as low/carbon-free power generation in its plants and procurement of electricity from renewable energy suppliers. 

For introduction of carbon-neutral fuels, activities include Mazda working toward using carbon neutral fuel for in-house transportation in cooperation with the Hiroshima Council for Automotive Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration. The Collaboration is promoting the practical use of next-generation biofuels.

Furthermore, Mazda will take the initiatives being conducted in Japan, and use them as a basis for the approach for each facility outside Japan. 

Through these efforts, Mazda will make its entire supply chain carbon-neutral by 2050.

Photos from Mazda

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