Honda recycles associate uniforms to produce car insulators

While upcoming Honda electric vehicles (EVs) will help significantly boost its sustainability campaign, the Japanese automaker is already conducting other emission-reducing efforts including the recycling of uniforms.

Honda is recycling its associates' uniforms to produce insulators

Honda associates in North America recycle their uniforms to produce insulators on all nine US-built Honda and Acura models. It is made possible through the company’s partnerships with uniform suppliers Aramark and Cintas Corporation, insulation suppliers UGN Automotive, and textile recycler Leigh Fibers.

“To achieve our Triple Zero goal of 100 percent 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 American Honda Motor Co. Manager for Resource Circulation, Negar Gilsinger.

The recycled uniforms are cleaned and later evaluated after washing. Damaged uniforms are sent back to associates to wear. Of course, buttons and zippers are removed to ensure no metals or plastic go through the shredding process.

The uniforms are given a new life through recycling

The collected materials are then blended into mixed fibers. Leigh Fibers tests the products to ensure the fiber material meets the fiber length requirements. UGN trims the fibers into materials that are molded into insulation and returned to Honda auto manufacturing plants for new vehicle production.

In collaboration with UGN, Honda said it 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 six million water vehicles) for insulators.

“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,” said Rob Long, senior procurement specialist with Honda North American Indirect Procurement.

The automaker is looking to become carbon-neutral by 2050

By 2050, Honda targets to achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities. Here in the Philippines, the automaker will reportedly spearhead its green mobility campaign with the launching of the 2024 CR-V Hybrid.

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