Ford has long garnered press for its sustainability efforts, which include actions such as treating its own water at manufacturing sites, helping to save the bees, and becoming the first company to sign the new Cologne Climate Declaration under the Cologne/Bonn chapter of “Scientists for Future” (S4F), which aims to take decisive action to help the city of Cologne, Germany, become climate-neutral by 2035. In that same city, the Ford Cologne Assembly plant recently underwent a massive $2 billion dollar renovation that transformed it into the Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center – where it will build EVs moving forward – and now, that same facility has been treated to some sustainable planting methods in an effort to improve its biodiversity and ecological balance, too.
For starters, FoMoCo planted regional wildflower meadows around the Cologne plant, which provide food and shelter for native insects, along with a nice burst of color for employees to enjoy during the summer months, when they’re in bloom. Additionally, the automaker added a number of “insect hotels” around the plant, which were made by inmates from a correctional facility in Essen, while the Global Order to Delivery team created a raised bed near Gate 1 of the plant that utilizes a border made from discarded containers that are no longer in use.
“Sustainable planting is another pillar of the company’s sustainability initiatives – such as CO2-neutral production and conversion to electric – which supports Ford’s Road to Better Strategy,” said Stefan Baumeister, Ford environmental engineer. Road to Better is FoMoCo’s commitment to building a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable future.
Once it’s fully operational, the Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center will become the automaker’s first independently certified carbon neutral assembly plant to open globally that supports its commitment to carbon neutrality across its European facilities, logistics, and direct suppliers by 2035. The independent certification will be audited and reconciled on a regular basis against purchasing high quality carbon offsets for any remaining emissions, according to The Blue Oval.
We’ll have more on the Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for continuous Ford news coverage.
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