General Motors Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Mon, 06 Mar 2023 13:27:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Case study: How General Motors promotes supply chain compliance https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-general-motors-promotes-supply-chain-compliance/ Mon, 26 Sep 2022 06:07:00 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=14108 General Motors Company (GM) is a leading global automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. , who are expected to act in a way that is consistent with its principles and values. This case study is based on the 2020 Sustainability Report by GM, prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards, that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. Abstract GM […]

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]]> General Motors Company (GM) is a leading global automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. GM places high expectations of excellence and ethical conduct on its suppliers  Tweet This!, who are expected to act in a way that is consistent with its principles and values.

This case study is based on the 2020 Sustainability Report by GM, prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards, that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

GM is committed to forming and nurturing exemplary supplier partnerships built on integrity and shared values, working diligently to integrate sustainability into all aspects of its supply chain. In order to promote supply chain compliance GM took action to:

  • implement a Supplier Code of Conduct and purchase contract Terms and Conditions
  • conduct supplier surveys

What are the material issues the company has identified?            

In its 2020 Sustainability Report GM identified a range of material issues, such as financial performance and resiliency, climate change management, workplace safety, diversity, equality and inclusion. Among these, promoting supply chain compliance stands out as a key material issue for GM.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups GM engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Customers ·      Participating in customer satisfaction surveys to understand what vehicle attributes customers value

·      Partnering to expand EV charging infrastructure

·      Educating customers on the benefits of EVs
Investors and analysts ·      Publishing an annual Sustainability Report

·      Holding focused conversations and briefings to put data in context

·      Reporting to frameworks including SASB and TCFD
Employees ·      Recruiting talent at colleges and universities, and with professionals already in the workplace

·      Adhering to a responsible employer philosophy, which includes paying a living wage and offering competitive benefits

·      Conducting a global Workplace of Choice survey

·      Holding regular conversations with labour partners such as the United Auto Workers
Suppliers

 

 ·      Participating with organisations that help foster responsible supply chains industrywide, such as:

·        Establishing a Sustainability Subcommittee of the GM     Supplier Business Council

·        Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)

·        Suppliers Partnership for the Environment

·        International Automotive Task Force

·      Assessing risks related to mineral sourcing through engagement with the Responsible Minerals Initiative

·      CDP Supply Chain Survey

·      Outreach through symposia, webinars and other events on sustainability-related topics
 Dealers

 

 ·      Using Standards for Excellence and Essential Brand Elements programmes to reward dealers

·      Maintaining the Mark of Excellence programme to recognise high-achieving dealers

·      Engaging dealers through GM’s national dealer council
Communities ·      Volunteering for STEM education initiatives worldwide

·      Sponsoring innovation challenges related to STEM subjects, such as MIT-SOLVE

·      Working with academic and nonprofit partners to educate community members on the importance of driving safety and seatbelt usage

·      Improving quality of life in communities where GM operates through volunteerism and donations
Governments ·      Engaging on fuel economy standards with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and California Air Resources Board

·      Continued commitment to engaging in innovative city and mobility initiatives such as the Smart Cities Challenge and others, to tackle congestion and other transportation challenges
NGOs ·      Partnering on issues such as resource conservation, climate change, human rights, diversity and vehicle safety

·      Sharing best practices with other companies that have made renewable energy commitments through RE100

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics GM engaged with its stakeholders through two online surveys.

What actions were taken by GM to promote supply chain compliance?

In its 2020 Sustainability Report GM reports that it took the following actions for promoting supply chain compliance:

  • Implementing a Supplier Code of Conduct and purchase contract Terms and Conditions
  • GM’s Supplier Code of Conduct and purchase contract Terms and Conditions set forth expectations for ethical social, business and environmentally responsible practices. By choosing to do business with GM, suppliers accept its purchase contract Terms and Conditions, which clearly state GM’s prohibition against any use of child labour or any other form of forced or involuntary labour, abusive treatment of employees or corrupt business practices in the supplying of goods and services to GM. Furthermore, GM’s contracts lay out expectations for lawful compliance with data protection and privacy, wages, hours and conditions of employment, subcontractor selection, antidiscrimination, and occupational health and safety. GM also expects suppliers to cascade a Code of Conduct in their own value chain. When it becomes aware of violations or alleged violations to its Code of Conduct, GM is committed to responding swiftly and appropriately, up to and including the termination of business relationships. Suppliers must attest to compliance with GM’s Terms and Conditions, Supplier Code of Conduct and all applicable laws and regulations.
  • Conducting compliance surveys
  • GM conducts annual verification surveys to validate adherence to suppliers’ obligations, and noncompliance is addressed directly with suppliers through its Supplier Champion process. In 2019, just under 600 suppliers were included in the survey. In 2020, participation increased, and survey responses were collected from over 3,000 suppliers, including all suppliers for production, logistics, and customer care and aftersales support. In addition, suppliers are asked to confirm via the survey that they have:
    • Engaged in company business practices consistent with GM’s Supplier Code of Conduct or a similar code of conduct published by their company.
    • Adopted their own code of conduct or similar document expressing a commitment to conducting business ethically, honestly and in compliance with all applicable laws.
    • Shared GM’s Supplier Code of Conduct or a similar code of conduct published by their company with their suppliers.
    • Implemented a safety policy that is consistent with the principles set forth in GM’s Supplier Code of Conduct.
  • Supplier responses to the survey are reviewed and escalated, if required, to remediate risk. Additionally, GM requires its Tier I suppliers across the globe to mandate that their direct suppliers meet in-country environmental and safety standards, as well as quality standards. The foundation of this process is GM’s Built in Quality System (BIQS), consisting of IATF 16949 certification and BIQS Metrics requirements. This foundation allows GM to cascade quality standards through tiers of its supply base. GM aims for all Tier I suppliers to achieve BIQS Level V, the highest level possible. BIQS compliance also encourages these Tier I suppliers to uphold the same quality standards within their own supply bases, since issues here can ultimately affect their quality performance. To support monitoring, suppliers’ IATF 16949 certification status has recently been added to GM’s Sourceability Report, which is a compilation of metrics used to inform sourcing decisions and supplier engagement.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken

2) Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria

 

Disclosure 308-2 Negative environmental impacts in the supply chain and actions taken does not correspond to any SDG.

Disclosure 414-1 New suppliers that were screened using social criteria corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.
References:

This case study is based on published information by GM, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.gmsustainability.com/_pdf/resources-and-downloads/GM_2020_SR.pdf

Note to GM: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How General Motors promotes supply chain compliance appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How General Motors improves vehicle safety https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-general-motors-improves-vehicle-safety/ Wed, 03 Apr 2019 05:29:30 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=9140 As a leading global automaker, with 52 nonmanufacturing and 100 manufacturing landfill-free sites around the globe, General Motors (GM) is firmly committed to protecting the safety of its customers. Accordingly, in the past few years GM has completely refreshed its approach to safety, strengthening resources and building a culture of safety. This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by GM published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a […]

The post Case study: How General Motors improves vehicle safety appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> As a leading global automaker, with 52 nonmanufacturing and 100 manufacturing landfill-free sites around the globe, General Motors (GM) is firmly committed to protecting the safety of its customers. Accordingly, in the past few years GM has completely refreshed its approach to safety, strengthening resources and building a culture of safety.

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by GM published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

GM envisions a future of zero crashes and has committed to leading the way towards this future  Tweet This!, making vehicle safety everyone’s responsibility across the company. In order to improve vehicle safety GM took action to:

  • appoint a Vice President of Global Vehicle Safety
  • expand product safety resources
  • implement a Speak Up for Safety programme
  • use data analytics to identify possible vehicle safety issue

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report GM identified a range of material issues, such as customer satisfaction, vehicle efficiency & emissions, employee relations, operational waste, product innovation. Among these, promoting vehicle safety stands out as a key material issue for GM.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards              

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups GM engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Investors and analysts
Employees
Suppliers
Dealers and dealer councils
Communities
Governments
Nongovernmental organisations

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics GM carried out two online surveys among GM employees and external stakeholders, asking respondents to prioritise the importance of sustainability topics and subtopics. The surveys were completed by 1,052 GM employees and 367 external stakeholders.

What actions were taken by GM to improve vehicle safety?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report GM reports that it took the following actions for improving vehicle safety:

  • Appointing a Vice President of Global Vehicle Safety
  • GM has structured its decision-making process for safety issues to include executives at the highest levels of the company. This includes appointing, in 2016, a first-ever Vice President of Global Vehicle Safety. In addition to leading GM’s product safety organisation, this senior executive has global responsibility for developing GM’s vehicle safety systems, confirming and validating GM’s vehicle safety performance, identifying emerging issues and conducting post-sale safety activities, including recalls.
  • Expanding product safety resources
  • GM has been expanding its Product Safety organisation, adding over 200 employees since 2014. This includes more than 40 new internal product investigators in North America who help identify and quickly resolve possible vehicle safety issues, and 32 safety forensic engineers responsible for early identification of potential vehicle safety issues. Additionally, GM reorganised its Global Vehicle Engineering organisation to improve its cross-system integration and address functional safety and compliance in the vehicle development process.
  • Implementing a Speak Up for Safety programme
  • GM’s Speak Up for Safety programme aims to offer employees, suppliers and dealers an easy, consistent and unfiltered way to report potential vehicle safety issues. Through a toll-free phone number, a smartphone app, email or the Speak Up for Safety website, submitters can report any potential vehicle safety risks, suggesting safety-related improvements. Subsequently, GM’s dedicated safety team funnels employee concerns to the appropriate departments and, through the entire process, potentially interconnected risks that cross products can be better identified. Employees across GM have embraced Speak Up for Safety and, since the programme’s beginning, over 12,000 concerns and/or suggestions by employees and dealers have been logged globally.
  • Using data analytics to identify possible vehicle safety issues
  • GM has been making greater use of data analytics, to identify potential vehicle safety issues. A data analytics team is merging multiple inputs (such as Speak Up for Safety submissions and dealer service records) to build a unique, comprehensive database. Statistical analysis and modelling can identify possible issues much earlier, by linking perceived disparate issues.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is: Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories

Disclosure 416-1 Assessment of the health and safety impacts of product and service categories does not correspond to any SDG.

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by GM, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to GM: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How General Motors improves vehicle safety appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How General Motors increases the energy efficiency of its facilities https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-general-motors-increases-the-energy-efficiency-of-its-facilities/ Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:32:30 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8129 As a leading global automaker, with 180,000 employees working in over 300 facilities around the globe and affiliations with almost 12,500 locally owned dealerships worldwide, General Motors (GM) seeks to reduce its operational impact, benefiting customers and, also, contributing to its aspiration of zero emissions. This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by General Motors that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. […]

The post Case study: How General Motors increases the energy efficiency of its facilities appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]>

As a leading global automaker, with 180,000 employees working in over 300 facilities around the globe and affiliations with almost 12,500 locally owned dealerships worldwide, General Motors (GM) seeks to reduce its operational impact, benefiting customers and, also, contributing to its aspiration of zero emissions.

This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainability Report by General Motors that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

GM is constantly looking for new ways to reduce the energy required to build its vehicles  Tweet This!, to not only reduce its environmental impact but also achieve significant cost savings. In order to increase the energy efficiency of its facilities GM took action to:

  • use ENERGY STAR initiatives to reduce energy intensity
  • organise energy treasure hunts
  • collaborate with university students and EDF fellows

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report GM identified a range of material issues, such as customer satisfaction, vehicle safety, employee relations, vehicle efficiency & emissions, employee equal opportunity & diversity. Among these, increasing the energy efficiency of its facilities stands out as a key material issue for GM.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups GM engages with:   

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Dealers and dealer councils
Employees
Investors and analysts
Suppliers
Communities
Governments
Nongovernmental organisations (NGOs)

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics GM carried out two online surveys, among employees and external stakeholders. The surveys were completed by 1,052 GM employees and 367 external stakeholders.

What actions were taken by GM to increase the energy efficiency of its facilities?

In its 2017 Sustainability Report GM reports that it took the following actions for increasing the energy efficiency of its facilities:

  • Using ENERGY STAR initiatives to reduce energy intensity
  • GM uses various ENERGY STAR initiatives to chart its progress in operating more efficiently. ENERGY STAR’s Building Portfolio Manager (BPM) allows GM to benchmark its progress and make continuous improvements, by sending an automated monthly analysis of building scores to evaluate building performance regarding energy efficiency. In 2017, GM earned ENERGY STAR certification for 17 buildings and three assembly plants, including its Fairfax, Kansas, plant for the first time. This achievement came by adopting a new paint process that uses 40 per cent less energy per vehicle, automatically shutting down equipment that is not used, and by replacing existing lights with LEDs. In addition, GM enrolled all its global manufacturing facilities in the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, which calls for industrial sites to reduce energy intensity by 10 per cent in five years. A total of 133 GM facilities met this challenge in 2017, more than any other participating company.
  • Organising energy treasure hunts
  • An important way GM spots energy-saving opportunities is through “energy treasure hunts,” relying on the insight of those who know its operations best: manufacturing employees. During energy treasure hunts, a team of participants systematically visits various areas of a facility during periods of operation and shutdown, and then proposes possible areas for improvement. In 2017, GM organised 10 treasure hunts in India, Korea, North America and Thailand. During the treasure hunt at GM’s Bupyeong facility in Korea, the team focused on ways to improve the paint process and use of compressed air, identifying 41 opportunities for improvement. Of these recommendations, 27 were implemented, leading to US$5 million in annual savings.
  • Collaborating with university students and EDF fellows
  • GM also identifies energy saving opportunities by working with university students and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)’s Climate Corps. In 2017, a team of two EDF fellows spotted energy-saving opportunities at a new replacement paint shop that led to $383,000 in annual savings. These opportunities included installing motion-sensing light switches in areas with low foot traffic, creating a checklist for operators to follow at the end of shifts and putting equipment into maintenance mode, which uses less power when not in use.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity

3) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by General Motors, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original at the link:

https://www.gmsustainability.com/_pdf/downloads/GM_2017_SR.pdf 

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to General Motors: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How General Motors increases the energy efficiency of its facilities appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How General Motors is promoting vehicle efficiency and minimizing CO2 emissions https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-general-motors-is-ensuring-vehicle-efficiency-and-minimizing-co2-emissions/ Tue, 17 Oct 2017 13:11:48 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=4914   General Motors’ (GM) business strategy focuses on building trust with its customers and stakeholders, as trust is the cornerstone of business success. Promoting fuel efficiency while minimizing vehicle CO2 emissions is beneficial for both customers and the environment. This case study is based on the 2015 Sustainability Report by General Motors published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying an organization’s or company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing […]

The post Case study: How General Motors is promoting vehicle efficiency and minimizing CO2 emissions appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]>  

General Motors’ (GM) business strategy focuses on building trust with its customers and stakeholders, as trust is the cornerstone of business success. Promoting fuel efficiency while minimizing vehicle CO2 emissions is beneficial for both customers and the environment.

This case study is based on the 2015 Sustainability Report by General Motors published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying an organization’s or company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing. 

Layout 1

Abstract

Maintaining almost 400 facilities, including over 170 manufacturing plants worldwide, GM carries out its business activities based on a set of Environmental Principles  Tweet This! that constitutes an adequate basis for environmental stewardship. Ensuring vehicle efficiency creates value for customers, by reducing the total cost of ownership. Minimizing vehicle CO2 emissions has a positive environmental impact. In order to promote vehicle efficiency and minimize CO2 emissions GM took action to:

  • reduce vehicle mass and enhance the internal combustion engine (ICE)
  • promote engine efficiency
  • invest in vehicle electrification
  • support universal fuel saving regulations

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2015 Sustainability Report GM identified a range of material issues, such as customer satisfaction, product safety, labor relations, operational energy and emissions. Among these, ensuring vehicle efficiency and minimizing CO2 emissions stands out as a key material issue for GM.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups GM engages with:   

Stakeholder Group
Customers, both individual and fleet
Dealers and dealer councils
Employees, both current and potential new talent
Investors and analysts
Suppliers, Tier I and beyond
Communities in which GM operates
Governments at the national, state/provincial and local levels
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritize material issues, GM conducted a survey among internal and external stakeholders, including 795 GM employees and 72 external stakeholders, who were asked to also propose additional topics. Employees gave their feedback on how the way an issue was managed could influence GM’s long-term prosperity, and external stakeholders were invited to assess the importance of GM’s management of various issues.

What actions were taken by GM to promote vehicle efficiency and minimize CO2 emissions?

In its 2015 Sustainability Report GM reports that it took the following actions for promoting vehicle efficiency and minimizing CO2 emissions:

  • Reducing vehicle mass and enhancing the internal combustion engine (ICE)
  • GM realized that reducing vehicle mass and enhancing ICE are vital in order to boost vehicle efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. This goal is reached by:
    • developing a more efficient aerodynamic design;
    • combining lighter materials;
    • implementing new proprietary and patented manufacturing techniques;
  • GM achieved weight reduction across its international product portfolio, with direct customer benefits. The reduction in vehicle mass helped GM save $2 billion in material costs, and, as a consequence, the final price was reduced.
  • Promoting engine efficiency
  • As gasoline will probably remain the most common fuel in almost every corner of the world in the foreseeable future, GM is striving to make sure engine efficiency by investing in technologies that optimize the ICE efficiency. Thus, the company may develop a portfolio of engines which are significantly smaller, cleaner and more efficient than in previous years. At the same time, GM optimizes usable power and performance features which are considered vital by its customers.
  • Investing in vehicle electrification
  • GM regards vehicle electrification as a cornerstone in the future of the automotive industry and invests in an expanding portfolio of electric vehicles (EV). In addition, GM is striving to further improve its internal development and manufacturing capacities regarding electric batteries, motors and power controls, providing a wide spectrum of technologies that can function on alternative fuels and satisfy the needs of various markets worldwide, due to discrepancies in fueling infrastructures.
  • Supporting universal fuel saving regulations
  • Current environmental regulations associated with vehicle CO2 emissions and fuel economy differ from region to region. GM believes that harmonized universal standards would be beneficial for its business, customers, competitors and the environment. However, the development of harmonized universal standards cannot be achieved without a consensus among countries and may be time-consuming. As a result, GM is supporting mutual recognition agreements, a procedure that enables two or more countries to recognize each other’s standards and get rid of costly and useless redundancies.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-EC2: Financial implications and other risks and opportunities for the organization’s activities due to climate change – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 201-2 Financial implications and other risks and opportunities due to climate change

2) G4-EN7: Reductions in energy requirements of products and services – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services

3) G4-EN27: Extent of impact mitigation of environmental impacts of products and services

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by GM, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to GM: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How General Motors is promoting vehicle efficiency and minimizing CO2 emissions appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

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