MACON, Ga., March 23, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that its Global Mobility Systems facility in Macon, Ga., has earned International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certification, a global benchmark of an organization's commitment to understand and continuously improve its environmental performance.
The Macon site, which produces structural subassemblies for the C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifter and supports the CH-47 Chinook helicopter program, is the first Boeing facility to receive ISO 14001 certification in 2009. Boeing last year successfully expanded ISO 14001 certification to 16 manufacturing facilities in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Independent auditors from Det Norske Veritas (DNV), an accredited certification body of quality, environmental and safety management systems, audited the Macon site Jan. 27-29 to ensure an established environmental management system exists and that employees understand their roles in protecting the environment.
"Achieving ISO 14001 certification reinforces Macon's commitment to environmental excellence and leverages our Lean+ initiative and efforts to involve employees," said Macon Site Leader Reed Morren. "This global standard bolsters our initiatives for reducing pollution and waste, increasing recycling rates and improving energy efficiency, which benefits Boeing and our entire community."
The auditors commended the Macon site for its significant reduction in energy consumption and the implementation of a Lean+ checklist into all Lean processes.
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 Environment Report at www.boeing.com/environment.