Honda stands firm on environmental promise

[Gary Fooks]

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
21 August 2009

Honda stands firm on environmental promise

Honda has resigned from Australia’s marine engine representative body, the Outboard Engine Distributors Association (OEDA).

The departure of the world’s largest engine manufacturer came on the same day as two other marine engine brands also withdrew their support of the troubled industry organisation.

Honda Australia Managing Director Stuart Strickland said Honda was displeased with the manner in which recent matters had been handled within OEDA.

“Honda has always been, and will always be, at the forefront of environmental issues,” Mr Strickland said.

“It is Honda’s opinion that recent manoeuvring by some OEDA members clearly indicates the basic strategy is to push back emission regulations as far as possible.

“This is completely against Honda’s corporate stance… it is Honda’s mission ‘to be a company that society will want to exist’ and being considerate towards the marine environment with low-emission products is a step in this direction.

“Honda is uncomfortable being associated with a group that appears to ignore the basic premise of corporate and social responsibility… and is looking forward to working with the Federal Government in regard to emissions regulations.”

Honda’s commitment to first-class marine engine technology dates back to the production of its very first outboard engine in 1964 and can be found in the words of Mr Soichiro Honda, when he gave the following directive to Honda staff:

“Two things are most important: If they are not reliable, people’s lives can be endangered. Second – water cleanliness. What will happen to our oceans, lakes and rivers if all that exhaust gas mixed with oil gets pumped into the water? I don’t care if everyone else is making two-strokes – Honda has to make four-strokes.”

Honda’s environmental commitment extends to all facets of its global business, as detailed in its environmental policy statement (excerpt below), established and announced in June 1992:

Honda Environment Statement:

As a responsible member of society whose task lies in the preservation of the global environment, the company will make every effort to contribute to human health and the preservation of the global environment in each phase of its corporate activity. Only in this way will we be able to count on a successful future not only for our company, but for the entire world.

Principle 3 – As both a member of the company and of society, each employee will focus on the importance of making efforts to preserve human health and the global environment, and will do his or her part to ensure that the company as a whole acts responsibly.


Further information:
Honda Australia, Customer Relations – (03) 9270 1348 or visit: www.honda.com.au

Media enquiries:
Sandman PR – (03) 9863 7707 or visit www.sandmanpr.com.au for media releases and hi-res images

[Gary Fooks]

BREAKING NEWS: OEDA splits over emissions

21 Aug 2009 Marien Business
THE outboard industry has been split by the decision of the three "clean only" companies to resign from the Outboard Engine Distributors Association (OEDA).
It's understood that BRP, Suzuki and Honda all quit OEDA yesterday, with Honda saying its decision to split from OEDA was due to major differences of opinion with other OEDA members over the timeframe involved with proposed federal emissions regulations.
BRP, Honda and Suzuki are keen to see imports of all "dirty" carburetted two-stroke engines banned after January 2010, an industry insider told Marine Business.
It is understood that Mercury, Yamaha and Tohatsu, which all import and distribute a range of two stroke, four-stroke and DI two-stroke engines, want the move towards clean technology-only engines to be in line with international trends. Suzuki imports a limited range of small HP two-stroke engine, which it will continue to bring in until prohibited by legislation.
The shock decision by BRP, Suzuki and Honda to split with OEDA seems to have emanated from the most recent OEDA meeting, held at the Sydney International Boat Show earlier this month. This meeting was reportedly heated, with members arguing over the implementation of "clean" only schedule.
Marine Business tried to contact all OEDA members for comments but meet a blank wall of silence. Industry insiders said OEDA would make no comment on the situation until after its AGM, planned for the upcoming Brisbane Boat Show.
Honda is the only company so far which has detailed its decision to split with OEDA.
"It is Honda's opinion that recent manoeuvring by some ODEA members clearly indicates the basic strategy is to push back emission regulations as far as possible," Honda Australia MD Stuart Strickland said in a statement.
"Honda is uncomfortable being associated with a group that appears to ignore the basic premise of corporate and social responsibility and is looking forward to working with the Federal Government in regard to emissions regulations."
The full statement from Honda is published on www.marinebusiness.com.au.
The OEDA split will likely put into jeopardy the recently formed Fishing & Boating Alliance, formed to lobby government about participation, access issues and the implementation of no-fishing zones.
It is unclear at this stage if the rebel outboard companies will form their own "clean only" version of OEDA.
More on this breaking story as it happens.

[Lovey80]

What does this actually mean? What weight does OEDA actually hold.... especially if these three are no longer aligned?

Chris

[PADDLES]

i would imagine it would be a very dangerous position they find themselves in chris.

basically we have 3 big companies that have made a corporate decision to only produce/import clean technology outboards into australia (even though they haven't given 2 hoots in the past in order to remain profitable) and an association of another 3 big companies that wish to push back low emissions legislation/regulation in order to keep importing cheaper motors into this country and therefore make more money for less technology and development outlay. which association do you think the government will be more likely to listen to and which association do you think will be redundant, it's a no brainer really.

[Gary Fooks]

Paddles writes
even though they haven't given 2 hoots in the past in order to remain profitable

Mate that sounds OK but when we look at the history in more detail you may come to a different conclusion. Perhaps what I say makes more sence when you look at more of the history - that not everyone knows.


Read above that Mr Honda decided, fifty (50 ) years ago that for the sake of the marine environment, they would only make (cleaner) 4 strokes.

So Honda HAS really given two hoots. In fact they have given 50 hoots.(LOL !)

BRP, when they took over the near bankrupt OMC, quickly developed E-TEC and as soon as possible dropped Johnson and all high emission 2 strokes.

Haines Suzuki started with all 4 strokes, under dealer pressure brought in some small 2 strokes, with a policy to never advertise these. Limited models , no advertising

ALL three companies have sacrificed profits and sales. To be fair … some have sacrificed more than others, but all in their own way have behaved well and not just profits above all else.


Theres a lot more to this story and more to come out no doubt.

Gary

[cormorant]

Forget the so called moral or ethical companies who are so adept at rewriting or interpreting their history especially when done by their marketing departments.

They stopped making 2 strokes as the market wasn't big enough and they had to comply with upcoming emmission laws and decisions were made to allow for different formulas in racing catagories that allowed 4 stroked to be competitive.

What this means is instead of the consumer making a choice and being railroaded by manufacturers ( it hasn't worked fully) even though they have spent an enourmous amount of mulla on trying to brainwash government and get early policy change that the companies are going to change tact as several of them see a different world in the interim.

Can't we just let teh consumer decide - nah - consumers are seen as to dumb to make a intellegient choice for their circumstances.

[Gary Fooks]

Honda never made 2 stroke outboards - thats my point. So how can you say "They stopped making 2 strokes" ?

There was no hint of emissions standards in the 1960's - so how can you say "they had to comply with upcoming emisisons laws?

I love the way some people make up 'facts" to justify their own opinion. thats not intelligent or even "intellegient"

[FNQCairns]

Honda never made 2 stroke outboards - thats my point. So how can you say "They stopped making 2 strokes" ?

There was no hint of emissions standards in the 1960's - so how can you say "they had to comply with upcoming emisisons laws?

I love the way some people make up 'facts" to justify their own opinion. thats not intelligent or even "intellegient"

Honda has a long history making 2 stroke engines, do they still? pretty sure Cormorant was speaking terrestrial. It works too considering Honda the company hands are not as clean as the alter the are trying to market from.

cheers fnq

[Gary Fooks]

The topic is outboards - and Mr Honda was talking about water pollution.

I believe they have never made a 2 stroke outboard.

[PADDLES]

that's right fnq they do have a very long history with 2 strokes. but gary is correct too, even though 2 stroke engines (not outboards) were pumped out by honda, mr honda did make a commitment to 4 stroke technology and low emissions over 50 years ago but needing to remain profitable obviously intervened. i think this split in the OEDA and their reluctance to embrace the new technology and lower emissions (obviously with a view to profitability) has pretty much destroyed the OEDA as a body that can have any influence on government.