LONG BEACH, Oct. 16, 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that its Global Mobility Systems and C-17 Globemaster III final assembly facility in Long Beach, Calif., has earned an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certification, becoming the latest Boeing site to validate its environmental management system.
Boeing is working to have all of its major manufacturing facilities certified to the ISO 14001 standard by the end of 2008. ISO 14001 is considered a global benchmark of an organization's commitment to understand and continuously improve its environmental performance.
Independent auditors from Det Norske Veritas, an accredited certification body of quality, environmental and safety management systems, audited the Long Beach site Sept. 15-18 to ensure an established environmental management system exists and that employees understand their roles in protecting the environment.
"This certification shows that we are truly committed to protecting the environment and doing everything we can -- as individuals and as a company -- to make a difference," said Jean Chamberlin, vice president and general manager of Global Mobility Systems and Long Beach site leader. "We are committed to reducing pollution and waste through our efforts to increase recycling and making our energy use more efficient. This is a proud day."
The Long Beach site was commended for eight noteworthy efforts during the audit, including high praise for an Earth Day event that helped employees learn how to conserve energy and care for the environment.
Long Beach joins Exmouth, Australia; Everett, Wash.; Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City and San Antonio as Boeing sites that already have achieved ISO 14001 certification.
The Boeing Company is committed to pioneering environmentally progressive technology and relentlessly reducing its environmental footprint. Since the introduction of the first Boeing jetliner, airplane emissions of carbon dioxide have been reduced by around 70 percent and noise footprints have been reduced by approximately 90 percent. Boeing targets improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions of each new generation of commercial airplane by at least 15 percent compared with the airplanes they replace. Boeing has set aggressive targets to increase solid-waste-recycling rates and energy efficiency by 25 percent and to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions intensity by 25 percent at its major manufacturing facilities by 2012, with a comparable goal for hazardous-waste reduction. For more information, visit the company's 2008 Environment Report at www.boeing.com/environment.