by Kirk Heinze
(Author’s note: Over the seven years we have produced “Greening of the Great Lakes,” I have interviewed a plethora of business executives about sustainability planning. I have been impressed by the innovative and creative breadth and depth of many of these plans—plans which embody a genuine commitment to leaving our planet richer in life and possibility for future generations.
However, the vision, goals and achievements of Ford Motor Company’s “Blueprint for Sustainability” have been especially compelling and inspiring with respect to all the dimensions—environmental, social and economic—of sustainability. It is a holistic plan undergirded by a cradle-to-cradle ethos vigorously embraced by Bill Ford, and, based on many interviews with Ford employees, passionately shared throughout the company. And that is why, each year, we keep coming back to Ford’s sustainability progress reports— paradigms of how we can work together to do what we should and must for our children, grandchildren and beyond.)
Global Director of Sustainability, John Viera, tells me that a key focus of Ford’s 2015-2016 Sustainability Report, “Accelerating Today for a Better Tomorrow,” is new programs and initiatives “designed to solve some of the world’s most complex mobility problems.”
“According to our President and CEO, Mark Fields, Ford will continue to be an automobile company, but we also need to be a mobility company—both of which are about moving people,” Viera says.
“Not only in cities like New York, Los Angeles and London, but in places like India and China, people continue to move into cities where the jobs are. And when you think about alleviating congestion, reducing pollution and emissions and simply saving time—you quickly begin to understand the importance of enhanced mobility.”
Viera offers some examples of programs launched by Ford Smart Mobility, a new subsidiary to design, build and invest in mobility services using Ford products and technologies. One is Ford Pass, which will offer remote vehicle access via a Smartphone app and mobility solutions such as parking and car sharing. Two pilot programs in London, Go Park and Go Drive, provide access to car sharing, guaranteed parking spaces and available parking locations.
Closer to home, the Dynamic Shuttle program at Ford headquarters in Dearborn provides employees and visitors with point-to-point rides on demand.
But, Viera adds, “we are a business, and the key issue for any mobility program is affordability—it has to be affordable to be sustainable.
Viera also discusses Ford’s ever increasing commitment to electrified vehicles—investing $4.5 billion to add 13 electrified vehicles to an already substantial portfolio—with an additional $2.1 million to be invested in battery technology research at the University of Michigan.
“A key focus on the research end is to improve the density in batteries so they can provide more energy and greater vehicle range—something we know consumers want.”
Ford continues, through Project Better World, to find innovative ways of getting health and nutrition supplies, services and educational information to rural communities in countries across the globe in which Ford does business. Working with a health NGO in South Africa, for example, the company transforms rugged Ford Rangers into mobile medical clinics to provide personnel, supplies and assistance to remote villages. The vehicles are connected via Internet to medical staff at the larger hospitals who can assist local care providers as needed.
For other Ford cradle-to-cradle efforts and progress updates in such areas as recycling, water management, reduction in energy use and using sustainable materials, see the full report.
Greening of the Great Lakes airs inside MSU Today on AM 870.