Wide-ranging environmental efforts at our dealerships-including separation of waste, recycling, and energy-saving activities-are essential to earning customers‘ trust and appreciation of Nissan’s environmental activities.
In April 2000, we introduced a certification system for dealers called Nissan Green Shop. This is Nissan‘s own environmental management system, which conforms to ISO 14001 standards. We finished certifying all Nissan dealerships in Japan in March 2002, and continue to audit them to raise the level of their efforts.
Actual Activities
Dealerships that have been certified in Nissan Green Shop have appointed environmental staff and directors to be in charge of environmental activities, and established a system of responsibility for these activities. Working within this system, the environmental staff and directors (1) ensure that end-of-life vehicles and waste are disposed of properly, (2) manage environmental facilities, and (3) conduct public relations and other activities to inform customers of Nissan's environmental efforts.
In addition, starting in 2008, we are planning to intensify efforts to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions based on the Nissan Green Program 2010 (NGP2010).*
- *Nissan Green Program 2010: An environmental program that establishes activity plans and specific numerical targets for Nissan to achieve by 2010.
Nissan Green Shop - Three Declarations
- 1) We shall strictly observe all laws, ordinances, and guidelines.
- 2) We shall minimize the environmental impact of our business activities.
- 3) We shall actively communicate with our customers on our environmental efforts.
Expanding these efforts globally
Drawing upon Nissan Green Shop activities in Japan, we are currently looking into expanding this system to promote environmental activities at Nissan dealers around the world. While corporate structure and management methods differ between countries, we take into consideration specific circumstances and regional characteristics when explaining the Green Shop system to local Nissan representatives, thus sharing information on a global scale.
Regular and internal audits to maintain and improve activities
The Nissan Green Shop certification system requires that dealers pass more than a single audit. To ensure that they establish an environmental management system and maintain and improve activities, approximately 40 Nissan inspectors conduct regular annual audits and certification renewal audits every three years. At the end of March, 2009, all previously certified dealerships and outlets (181 dealerships and approximately 3,300 outlets*) underwent recertification. At the same time, an environmental management system has also been established in which dealerships conduct their own internal audits every six months.
- *Total number of vehicle, service center, parts, forklift, and other dealerships
- *The terms "internal audit" and "regular audit" are used in accordance with Nissan's own standards.
Always searching for new perspectives
Starting with the 2003 audits, the conventional "pass/fail" method was augmented with a point-based system. This enabled dealers to compare their own environmental performance with that at other dealerships and the company-wide average, so as to boost awareness and motivation in their workplaces. Twenty-nine audit items related to observation of the Automobile Recycling Law that went into effect in January 2005 have also been added to the 2005 Green Shop Audit Check Sheet for vehicle dealerships, service centers, and other operations.
We are working to get the new audit system firmly in place and make continuous improvements, such as adding items that reflect customer perspectives and promoting compliance with the Automobile Recycling Law.
