ne of the aspects that has characterized the activity of the Vitoria factory throughout its history has been its defense of sustainability and the natural environment where it is located.
Driven by this concern, the factory in Vitoria has participated, within the framework of the Green Capital 2012 project, together with the City of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the "The Roots of Tomorrow" initiative, part of a plan to reforest the land adjacent to the plant, with some 400 workers and their families planting 2,900 trees and shrubs between the Parks of Zadorra and Zabalgana, a strategic connection corridor between the peri-urban parks of Vitoria-Gasteiz's Green Ring.
The Center for Environmental Studies (CEA) and Ekolaboradores were responsible for coordinating, together with factory management, the organization of this plantation of gall oaks, with the official name Mercedes-Benz Forest.
The Environmental and Energy Program is a complete list of objectives and measures aimed at optimizing the operation of the factory from an energy and environmental point of view. When defining it, the legal requirements and other commitments that the organization has undertaken are taken into account annually. Environmental aspects are also taken into account; that is, the elements derived from the productive activity that can have an impact on the environment. Significant energy consumption, technological options and their financial, operational and commercial requirements, together with the views of stakeholders, are also part of the issues taken into consideration.
The environmental and energy program is a list of objectives and measures aimed at optimizing the operation of the plant from an energy and environmental point of view.
Below is a selection of the lines of work included in the Environmental and Energy Program:
Technological changes
Automation of the application for painting, sealing and waxing processes.
Replacement of the incinerators in the paint shop with more energy-efficient ones.
Lighting with LED technology.
Advanced analysis of energy consumption (Machine learning).
Optimization of processes and facilities
Improved sequencing of vehicles by batches of paint color.
Improved recovery of cleaning solvents.
Reduced use of materials.
Optimization of energy consumption through: • Flexibility and facility automation. • Reduced consumption at night and during holiday periods. • Installation shut-down.
Adjustment of setpoints during production periods.
Efficient lighting management.
Lowering the temperature of the phosphating tank.
Washing and reuse of auxiliary materials (rags, covers and gloves).
Recycling of seals.
Optimizing the facilities' cleanliness.
Improved waste segregation.
Cascading pretreatment of car bodies to reduce water consumption related to the painting process.
Digitalization of processes.
Dry cleaning.
Xeriscaping practices.
Non-potable water in toilets and for irrigation and industrial uses.
Dry smoke extractors.
Elimination of cooling towers.
Reduced heating in changing rooms outside shift changes (17 °C). Air renewal only during shift changes.
Switching to suction with mobile equipment in final assembly paint boxes in order to reduce energy consumption.
Reducing the temperature in the enameling and finishing booths by one degree.
Installation of a vending machine for gloves in final assembly (MO1 and MO3), to reduce the amount of waste generated.
Change in the spare parts packaging process resulting in savings on both transport and CO2 emissions, going from 35 trucks/year to 28.
Decarbonization and the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the central office building.
Product changes
High-solid paints.
Solvent-free waxes.
Reduction in the solvent content of paint seals.
The elimination of hazardous materials.
Change from trication phosphating with nickel to thin film (nickel free, with water and energy savings).
Replacement of vehicle interior cleaning solvent with a product free of volatile organic compounds.
Purchases
Green electric power.
Recovery of 95% of the waste generated in the factory.
In the case of non-hazardous waste, 100% is recovered.
White papers on environmental requirements for the purchase of new production facilities at the factory.
Raising awareness
Since 2013, more than 20,000 hours dedicated to training in energy efficiency, environmental aspects and sustainable mobility.
The Environmental and Energy Program. Main environmental aspects
The baseline year is the average of 2013-2014, the same as Mercedes-Benz when establishing its Green Production goals
Environmental and energy management are essential aspects of all the business activities at the Mercedes-Benz Group's factory in Vitoria, embodied in a commitment to continuous improvement. Proof of this are the more than 1,000 actions taken since 2000.
