With environmental concerns taking the forefront of a company's public image, a number of industries are attempting to convert their manufacturing facilities to have a lower environmental impact. Leading the way are a number of vehicle manufacturers and their associated factories; the factories that make Honda engines in particular are becoming exceedingly ?green? and Earth-friendly. In addition to making cars, trucks, and other vehicles which feature reduced exhaust output, they are converting their factories and manufacturing facilities into zero landfill sites in an effort to greatly reduce the waste created by the manufacturing process.

Zero landfill factories are a new trend that is rapidly growing in popularity, allowing Honda and other small engine and vehicle manufacturers to be able to produce quality products without the waste and emissions that were previously associated with vehicle plants. Through conservation, recycling programs, and advanced emissions reduction technology, the goal of these zero landfill factories is to eliminate any waste from the factory being buried in a landfill. Any waste which is produced by the manufacturing process will be recycled or otherwise reused so that it doesn't end up as a pollutant that could potentially cause unwanted environmental damage. This results in a more environmentally-safe product that consumers who are concerned about environmental issues can buy without worry.

In addition to the ground-breaking work that Honda has been doing to ensure that Honda engines are manufactured in environmentally safe factories, other small engine manufacturers are taking up the zero landfill call as well. Kawasaki, Subaru, and other companies are working to develop plans to convert both new and existing factories which will be able to produce both passenger vehicles and small engines with a minimal impact on the local and world environment. Many of these environmentally sound factories are designed to have a small enough impact on the local environment that they are even safe for wildlife which may live on or near the factory grounds.

Just because the zero landfill factories that vehicle and small engine manufacturers are converting to are safe for the environment doesn't mean that they aren't also cutting-edge manufacturing facilities as well. The factories that produce Honda engines are designed to be able to convert quickly from one manufacturing line to another, being able to produce a wide number of products with a high rate of efficiency and a very small turnover period from the manufacture of one part or vehicle to another. They are efficient in their workloads as well as their waste control, paving the way for a new type of factory in the 21st century.

To aid in the environmental benefits of zero landfill factories, a number of fuel-efficient vehicles are planned to be produced from them. In addition to standard vehicles and small engines which boast impressive fuel efficiency, it is estimated that at least some of these zero landfill facilities will focus largely on the production of hybrid vehicles as they continue to grow in popularity. It is likely that the fast conversion from the production of one vehicle or product to another will allow these factories to begin producing alternative fuel vehicles as they are developed as well.

~Ben Anton, 2008