CONTENTSResults of Environmental Conservation Activities in Fiscal 2004Disposal and Recycling (3R) DomainAutomobiles

Automobiles

Honda gives priority to the recyclability of its products. Based on the 3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) concept, we carefully select materials and structures for our products at the product development stage.

Main targets for fiscal 2004 in Japan		Main achievements in fiscal 2004 in Japan
	Automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment: To improve recyclability rates		Automobiles: Achieved 90% or more recyclability for models newly marketed or changed in fiscal 2004
			Motorcycles: Achieved 95% or more recyclability for models newly marketed or changed in fiscal 2004
			Power products: Achieved 95% or more recyclability for all nine models released in fiscal 2004

3R Design

3R Assessment System

Since fiscal 2001, we have been using 3R preliminary assessment system to evaluate and improve the 3R design of newly developed models.

Design for Reduction (Reduction in Waste Generation)

For the Legend, which was put on the market in October 2004, the following designs for reduction were adopted.

Downsized or lightened parts and components

• Small VSA modulator
• Magnesium seat back frame
• Aluminum front/rear subframe
• Aluminum hood compression
• Aluminum trunk lid
• Aluminum front/rear brake caliper
• Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) drive shaft
• Aluminum knuckle suspension arm

We added engine oil with an extended service life, long-life coolants, etc., to all models newly marketed or changed in fiscal 2004.

Oil and others with an extended service life

	Replacement timing
• Engine oil • Long-life coolant (engine cooling liquid) • Oil filter • Automotive transmission fluid	10,000 km –>15,000 km Interval: 3 years –>11 years 20,000 km –>30,000 km Interval: 40,000 km–>80,000 km

Design for Recyclability

For all new models newly marketed or changed in fiscal 2004, we achieved 90% or more recyclability by implementing the following measures.

Design for easier dismantling (for the Legend)

Examples of improvements:	• Front inner fender • Front bumper lower grill
Examples of integration:	• Front brake pad • Drive shaft boots

Standardization of resin materials (promotion of olefin resin)

For all new models and changed models released in fiscal 2004, highly recyclable olefin resins are now used in injection-molded interior parts. Also, material identification marks are displayed on all resin parts large enough for such labeling.

Examples of parts that use olefin resin materials

• Air cleaner case
• Air-conditioning unit
• Bumper face
• Pillar decoration

• Door lining
• Inner fender
• Instrument panel
Others

Use of recycled materials (resins)

In fiscal 2004, we used 14.1 kg of recycled resins for the Legend. We will further increase the use of recycled materials.

Reduction in Substances of Concern

Honda is striving to reduce the use of four heavy metals (lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and cadmium), which are said to have adverse effects on the environment, by the end of December 2005 in all the models produced within Japan.
Of the four substances, we have already achieved the voluntary reduction targets of JAMA¹ for lead and mercury in all models earlier than scheduled in JAMA’s guideline. For the remaining two substances, we aim to fully abolish their use² by the end of December 2005.

1. Voluntary reduction targets set by JAMA (for newly developed models)

Targeted substances	Targeted (implementation) period	Details
Lead	In and after January 2006	Use amount per vehicle (compared with the 1996 level) (Automobiles) one-tenth or below (Motorcycles) 60 g or below
Mercury	In and after January 2005	Banned except for some parts (slightly contained in discharge headlights and liquid crystal panels for navigation systems)
Hexavalent chromium	In and after January 2008	Banned
Cadmium	In and after January 2007	Banned

2. Excluding some S2000 parts for hexavalent chromium

Reduced Use of Lead

Honda completed the replacement of lead with iron as a material used in wheel balancers while giving consideration to the anticorrosion property required for the material. Also, we abolished the use of lead in carbon brushes of motors.

Reduced Use of Other Substances of Concern

Hexavalent chromium-free
parts

Honda has been replacing other substances of concern based on its guidelines on chemical substances. In particular, for the new Legend, we implemented measures to reduce the use of hexavalent chromium in antirust coating and reduced its use by half on the basis of the number of targeted parts.
Also, we are reducing the use of cadmium contained in slight amounts in electric and electronic parts (such as IC chips).
In addition, we aggressively reduced the amount of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contained in interior and exterior resin parts and replaced it with more recyclable materials. For most of the injection molded interior parts, we use olefin resin materials, which are highly recyclable. For the Legend, we adopted the urethane spray method in manufacturing surface sheets for the instrument panel and door lining top. Also for the undercoating, we adopted urethane resin to reduce the use of PVC to one-fifth that used in the previous model.

Reduction in HFC134a

We expanded the application of air conditioners that reduce the use of HFC134a by approximately 10% compared with the 1995 level and adopted it for 21 out of 27 models. Regarding the future of air conditioners without HFC134a, we have been conducting the following activities since last year.
• We are collecting information to understand the industry’s movement and the current level of technology.
• We are examining the adoption of such air conditioners for automobiles.

Reduction in In-Vehicle VOC

Honda traditionally has selected materials with lower VOC emissions in order to reduce in-vehicle odor and adverse effects on people’s health caused by VOC. For models newly marketed or changed in and after fiscal 2005, we will take measures to meet the numerical targets set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for the in-vehicle concentration of 13 specific substances.