Social Responsibility

Delphi Brazil sites share 'Environmental Week' with area schools

This summer Delphi's Brazilian operations celebrated "Environmental Week" following the worldwide International Environmental Day in June with activities at local facilities. In Brazil, the plants have taken the opportunity to include good environmental practices with employees, their families and elementary students from the local communities. This year the subject was "sustainability," with ongoing discussions about how to maintain and preserve the environment.

The goal for 2007 was to increase awareness in the community about global warming and recognize the importance of environmental dialogue, by showing students how to preserve natural resources and to get their commitment to environmental responsibility.

"Reaching Delphi's environmental metrics is our goal, but much more important than that is to know we are contributing to the community through the involvement of children because we believe education is the tool which transforms society and is the key for the sustainability," said Claudia Ribeiro, Delphi South America Customer Satisfaction director.

During Environmental Week, students, employees and their families participated in events including lectures, debates and drawing contests. Several thousand students from local schools near each facility competed in the drawing contests for a bicycle prize, with the best drawing depicting "sustainability" earning the prize.

"This event was possible because of the environment and safety plant teams' efforts and dedication to this program," said Klaus Wagner, Delphi Environment and Safety South America supervisor.

In Brazil, more than 9,400 people were trained in Sustainability and related subjects. Martin Wells, Delphi director Corporate Affairs, Human Resources and New Business South America, said educating and teaching all levels is the best way to help the society for a sustainable growth.

Highlights from Delphi Brazil plants

Piracicaba

• Students learned from employees about global warming and responsible consumption


• Site visit to plant trees


• Replacement of common plastic cups with durable mugs (plastic cups are not recyclable in the region)

Cotia and Itabirito

• Students learned about sustainability and "eco-efficiency" themes


• Plant visits

Jambeiro

• Plant visit and lunch


• Lectures

Formare

• Formare students, a social program that trains and prepares teenagers for work in the business world, presented a play about environmental issues. More than 250 employees attended the lectures and the other activities.

Jaguariúna

• Lectures on global warming


• In-plant banners and documentaries Porto Alegre


• Lectures on the environment


• Employees wore green and planted trees at the factory


• A bonsai tree was a prize for a trash-recyling competition

Espirito Santo do Pinhal

• Factory visit by the students


• Employees' children displayed drawings and recycled material crafts.

Paraisopolis

• Student lectures


• Overview of material recycling

Gravataí

• Cans were collected for recycling and the money was donated to charity.


• Tree planting


• Students learned about the cleaning water process