DaimlerChrysler’s Green Awards

DaimlerChrysler's Environmental Leadership Award, presented to teams within the DaimlerChrysler group for environmentally-oriented projects, provides a good opportunity to check in on the environmental activities of this major automaker. The first of this year's three awards went to the company's Untertürkheim plant for drastically reducing the amount of cooling lubricants needed to manufacture engines. A new cooling system replaces the petroleum-based cooling lubricants with a spray containing a mixture of cold air and tiny amounts of lubricant.

The second award recognizes the use of fibers from the abaca plant - a species of banana tree - in place of glass fibers in the spare tire well covers of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class coupe. This is the first use of natural fibers in the exterior of a passenger car. The abaca plant is grown in the Philippines as part of a reforestation project that prevents mountain erosion and secures jobs in the Philippines. Finally, the third award recognizes DaimlerChrysler's efforts to sustainably cultivate the jatropha plant in India, a source of biodiesel fuel. The jatropha plant is growing on over 30 hectares on Indian wastelands.