Recovery, Recycling and Reuse of Parts
Expanding the Honda Recycle Parts Business
Honda has sold highly functional recycled parts, such as torque converters, since 1998. In July 2001 we also began marketing reused parts, expanding the operation known as Honda Recycle Parts.
•Sales Trends in Japan
•Recycled parts lineup and sales performance
Recently, the number of models in which reused parts can be fitted has declined, and both the performance and durability of functional parts have improved. To enhance customer satisfaction, we have considered whether we should narrow the range of recycled parts offered or increase the number of models in which these parts can be used. We chose the latter course.
•Example: Recycled Parts
•Current Reuse of Parts
•Current Reuse of Parts
Through the use of recovered parts and efforts to recycle materials, we have achieved a reuse rate of 86%, as shown in the adjacent graph.
•Example: Reused Parts
Used parts
•Reused parts
Since July 2001 in Tokyo, and January 2002 in the rest of Japan, customers have been offered the same convenient way of ordering both reused and new parts through Honda's genuine-parts distribution channels. Reused parts are collected as second-hand parts (16 items) that are selected and removed from end-of-life vehicles up to two generations old, and parts (nine items) that are removed from in-use vehicles when optional parts are installed in their place. In FY2008 we aim to expand our lineup of reused parts. We're examining the viability of new ways of providing customers with added convenience, such as using an external sales infrastructure.
Recycling of Oil Filters
End-of-life filters are disassembled and recycled
•Flow of oil filter recycling
We collect and disassemble end-of-life oil filters to recycle them as metal and fuel. We also reuse some of their components as production parts. We started recovering these filters through Honda dealers nationwide in January 2004, and began recovering filters from service and repair companies in 2005. In addition, we increased the number of oil filter types targeted for recovery from two to five, and in FY2007 succeeded in recovering about 27% of all filters sold in Japan. We will make further efforts to increase the number of end-of-life oil filters collected.
Recovery and Recycling of Bumpers
•Number of Bumpers and Amount of Resin Recovered in FY2007 279,323 Bumpers, 948 tons of resin
Bumpers replaced for repair: 276,000 (937 tons)
End-of-life vehicle bumpers: 3,323 (11 tons)
•Number of Bumpers Recovered in Japan
•Use of recycled resin: 1,479 tons
•Products made from recycled bumper resin
Automobiles: bumpers for repair, splash shields, splash guards, etc.
Motorcycles: undercover
•Use of Resin Recycled from Recovered Bumpers
Notes:
1. The use of recycled resin exceeds the amount of resin recovered because it includes the use of resin recovered from bumpers found to be defective in the production process and the recycled resin stored since from the previous year (322 tons).
2. For the use of resin recycled from recovered bumpers, the amounts for FY2004 and later are calculated assuming the unit weight of a bumper to be 3.4 kg.
In FY2007 we recovered 279,323 replaced bumpers (948 tons) from Honda automobile dealers and service and repair companies. A total of 1,479 tons of recycled resin were re-used.
