Environment Concerns of Harley-Davidson - The King of the Highway Cruising Bikes!

Emission off-setted Harley Owners Group Tour of Sri Lanka

Harley-Davidson, the king of the highway cruising bikes, is the only company to survive the great depression. Founded in 1903, they are the pioneers in heavy weight motor cycles. All of their bikes has bigger engines, raising the concerns it has on environment. However, they have the utmost aim and objective about the environment to think differently to preserve and renew for long term success. Their manufacturing facilities always aspire to reach zero landfill status.

Manufacturing sites  of Harley Davidson are continually working to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and other operations, including on-going efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling and reduce water use and energy consumption.   Further, the manufacturing sites establish annual targets for energy consumption and seek year over year improvement.   

Harley-Davidson Sustainability: Preserve and Renew the Freedom to Ride

Everyone should be passionate about future generations of riders by sharing the Harley Davidson experiences that can be enjoyed.  The purpose is clear; that is to fulfil dreams of personal freedom.  Their sustainability vision is simple.;  present generation preserve and renew the freedom to ride.

Waste reduction and recycling plays a unique part in the field of environment. The wastes,  that released from a cement manufacturing company are used as fuel in the kilns and the remaining ash is incorporated in to the cement.  The Power train operations reduced waste and diverted more of that waste from landfill through both new recycle and re-use streams resulting in a waste to land fill decreasing to the percentage of 5.9%.

The power train plant could reduce the amount of trash sent to land fill by 24% through increased recycling.  A new container system that gives clear messaging where common items should go was introduced.  As a result , the amount of recycling increased to nearly 10,000 pounds in 2012, with the average amount of mixed recyclables increasing from around 680 lbs per month at the beginning of the year to an average of 800 lbs per month by the end of the year.  In the same way, approximately four tons of compostable material from the cafeteria is sent to an Urban Farm.  Harley-Davidson Museum’s restaurant began purchasing locally grown produce from the farm.

Usage of water is also another critical factor in relation to the environment.  They reduced the water intake by 1,166,000 gallons.  The water reductions were the result of the full implementation of a new powder coat system.  The new system uses far less water, pulling  water only when needed it versus using a continuous flow of water, which spilled unused water down the drain.  It also uses sensors that automatically take water in as needed and shut off when unused.

Improving Social Impact

Harley Davidson U.S. manufacturing sites establish annual targets for energy consumption and seek year over year improvement.  The completion of a new powder coat line that uses residual heat from baking ovens to warm the water for the power coat washers has increased energy efficiency in the site.  The conversion of the power coat operation from two lies to the new single system has reduced natural gas consumption by 32%.  In addition, it installed a new chilled water system, and the facility has been exclusively repair compressed air leaks throughout the entire plant.

Those sites successfully shed power during the summer to conserve electricity.  HVAC units were shut down on peak demand days which conserved electricity during the summer heat. Power shedding of electricity was 0.5 Mkw for six hours. This was done on six different days and supported demand management efforts of the local utility.  In addition, the plant ovens were shut down during non production times (weekends and holidays).  As a result, they saved natural gas consumption and reduction by 6.5%.

Harley Davidson provided some general tips to the employees and contractors on sites; to maintain vehicles properly, avoid spilling gasoline, refrain from fuelling when pump shuts off automatically , refuel vehicles after dark, conserve energy, not to over cool homes, turn off lights and appliances when not using. 

Source : Harley-Davidson Sustainability Strategy Report 2012

Emission off-setted 2000km Harley Owners Group Tour of Sri Lanka

On Friday, August 08, 2014, the first emission off-setted Sri Lankan tour of the Harley Davidson Owners began. The Carbon Credit Company officials took the odometer reading. These 14 bikers will be able to ride up to 2000 km as emission free.  This historic event was powered by JLanka Technologies, by offsetting the carbon foot print created by the bikers, with the carbon credit three of their customers had saved.