By Combining Biodegradable Green Planet™ Shipping Material With Specially Shaped Corrugated Cardboard, Suzuki Outboards Will Be Protected While Protecting The Environment
Suzuki Marine USA announced today that Suzuki outboard motors will soon arrive from Suzuki Motor Company in specialized packaging developed to significantly reduce overall waste and the use of petroleum-based plastics.
This will be achieved through two important changes: First, Suzuki is replacing traditional polystyrene foam packing material with Green Planet™, a biodegradable polymer developed by Kaneka Corporation that is easily decomposable in seawater and is made from 100-percent biomass-derived polymers. Suzuki recognizes the importance of maintaining the same cushioning performance for shipping and transportation of its outboard motors produced in Japan, so the company also developed a two-layer structure of recyclable corrugated cardboard material that is specially formed to supplement the protective properties of the Green Planet foam alternative. As a result, Suzuki outboards will be fully protected during shipping and transportation, while achieving a significant reduction in plastic waste. While beginning with outboard motors, Suzuki plans to eventually convert the packaging materials for all its products to more sustainable options.
Finding new ways to reduce plastic waste and develop environmentally friendly alternatives is at the core of Suzuki’s CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, a global effort in place since 2020. Reducing the use of plastics in packaging and shipping has been a key goal of the program, and Suzuki has made great strides in this area. For example, in FY2020 the annual amount of petroleum- based plastic used in the final packaging of outboard motors produced in Japan was 43 tons, however, this annual figure was reduced to 6.3 tons by FY2023. Suzuki aims to reduce this amount to zero by FY2026 as part of far-reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Suzuki has established.
“This change is right in keeping with Suzuki’s CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT and our long-range goals to reduce the environmental impact of our business,” said Brandon Cerka, Suzuki Marine General Manager Sales & Marketing. “We are taking a multi-faceted approach that includes our Micro Plastic Collecting Devices on our motors, finding new ways to reduce single-use plastic across our operation, and taking action to help clean up our beaches and waterways across the country. Earlier this week, in fact, we partnered with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team and local organizations to collect trash off one of our local beaches. We had more than 200 people roll up their sleeves, collect over 425 pounds of trash, and make a positive impact in our area. We are committed to expanding and improving on these efforts in the future,” added Cerka.
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Suzuki Global statement: suzuki-plastic
