SYLVANIA's Automotive Lighting Division Is The Driving Force Behind Global Care Initiative

Hillsboro, NH - SYLVANIA's Automotive Lighting division has selected Earth Day to celebrate its longstanding commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Recently, every part of its business promotes initiatives that seek to minimize impact on the environment and that strive to make dramatic impact in its communities. Collectively, these efforts uphold OSRAM SYLVANIA's philosophy of good corporate citizenship, a company wide initiative known as Global Care.

"Like all of OSRAM SYLVANIA, our Automotive division is leading the lighting industry by committing to positive change," Denise Champagne, director of marketing for OSRAM SYLVANIA's Automotive Lighting division, said. "We're developing lighting systems that optimize energy savings without compromising performance, cutting back on hazardous materials, and looking for ways to reduce packaging waste. It isn't just the right thing to do, it's the only thing to do. We owe it to our customers, our communities, and each other."

The goals of OSRAM SYLVANIA's corporate Global Care initiative include moving towards more sustainable packaging to reduce use of non-renewable materials; reducing energy company-wide by 10 percent by 2008; and making every SYLVANIA facility ISO 14001 by 2008.

Specifically, the environmental initiatives of SYLVANIA's Automotive Lighting division cover categories that include: Ecological & Energy-Saving Products, Responsible Packaging, Reducing Energy Use, Managing Hazardous Materials, Conserving Water, Preventing Pollution and Recycling.

Products that are Ecological & Energy-Saving

SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting is committed to manufacturing products that meet the company's Global Care initiative requirements. For example, SYLVANIA's XENARC High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting Systems last the life of the vehicle, creating substantially less waste. HID headlights have a lower power consumption (30-35 percent less) than standard halogen bulbs, using less electricity, which results in gas efficiencies. These glass bulbs contain no cadmium or lead, and the latest versions contain no mercury. SYLVANIA's Halogen bulbs are produced without cadmium, mercury or lead and are available in several long-life versions. Auxiliary Bulbs are lead-free and, in 2005, SYLVANIA switched to cadmium-free glass in S8W lamps. Finally, the LED based Joule Signal System also lasts the life of the vehicle, containing no mercury, lead or cadmium, and use only a 4-watt light source.

Responsible Packaging

The SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting division reformatted the packaging of many of its products to reduce the overall impact on the environment. This is achieved by using paperboard packaging which contains post-consumer materials and printing inks that have a high concentration of vegetable oils and pine-derived resins. In addition, the company has reduced the cube of the secondary and tertiary packaging on the SilverStar Ultra headlamps to increase pallet efficiency by 50 percent (compared to SilverStar). This reduces the amount of raw materials needed and increases the number of products that can be shipped at a time, improving transportation efficiency and saving fuel and associated air pollution.

Recycling

Between 2000 and 2004, the SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting division recycled literally tons of materials: 6.3 tons of mixed office paper, 70 tons of metals, 71 tons of wood, 99 tons of cardboard, one ton of electronic waste and 100 tons of glass.

Conserving Water

The Hillsboro plant developed a charter to decrease the amount of water used in the facility. After just 18 months, water consumption decreased from 133,000 to 8,000 gallons per day.

Reducing Energy Usage

SYLVANIA's goal to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent at the Hillsboro facility is well within reach through promoting a company-wide culture to conserve energy resources and training personnel to help save energy. The facility uses certified ENERGY STAR products, high-efficiency motors and A/C units and has installed occupancy sensors to detect empty rooms and shut off lights automatically. Computer-controlled energy management systems that regulate building temperatures and more energy-efficient air compressors systems for manufacturing and maintenance have also been implemented.

Managing Potentially Hazardous Materials

Managing potentially hazardous materials in the company's Hillsboro plant has been achieved through eliminating lead which was previously used in glass and solder. As a result, lead emissions have been reduced from 13.5 tons per year to 0 as of 2005. Shipments of hazardous liquids from the facility have been reduced by 90% as a result of installing new technology processes.

Preventing Pollution

Throughout the production process, the SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting division is making its Hillsboro facility clean and "green". Oil traps/catch basins at the loading docks stop liquids from entering the environment. The facility installed safety cabinets to contain flammable materials and introduced programs that reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air. Finally, it reduced greenhouse gas (CO2) pollution by 8.9 million pounds during the past three years.

Certifications and Awards

OSRAM SYLVANIA's Automotive Lighting Division has been recognized for its efforts to benefit the environment. Honors include:

• ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, October 1999
• US Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track Certification, May 2005
• US Environmental Protection Agency's National Partnership for Environmental Priorities 2004-2006
• New Hampshire Governor's Pollution Prevention Award, October 2004
• Corporate Safety Management System, 18001, Certified 2005
• OSHA Gold STAR Award for 2005, signifies that our injury and illness rates are better than 90% of the industry average

Good Neighbor

Social responsibility does not end at the gate to the facility. SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting division employees regularly offer their time as volunteers in food pantries, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts as well as other youth organizations, American Cancer Society, animal care and rescue, historical preservation, medical and fire rescue, religious and community groups, Make a Wish Foundation, and many other organizations.

SOURCE: OSRAM SYLVANIA Automotive Lighting Division