Opel scores 9 out of 24 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Opel Info

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9 out of 24
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Brand Owner: Opel Gmbh
Head Office: Rüsselsheim, Germany
Sector: Automotive
Categories: Passenger Car
Free Tags: Popular, Corsa, Astra, Insignia, Antara, Zafira, Agila, OPC

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Last Updated: 13 January 2012
Last Verified: 13 January 2012

Opel Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

8 out of 16


1. Has the brand formulated the objective to reduce its CO2 emissions from its own operations (including owned production facilities), by at least 30% in 2020 compared to 1990 CO2 emission levels?	General Motors (Opel's parent company) has reduced its CO2 emissions globally by 30% from 2005 to 2010, and has committed to a continuous reduction of its CO2 impact, but does not further specify this reduction target in years or numbers.	SOURCE
2. Has the brand disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations', including owned production facilities?	General Motors (Opel's parent company) communicates some carbon emissions for some countries. However, it these graphs do not include data from all countries and it is unclear what scopes are covered.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand already reduced or compensated its CO2 emissions from its own operations (including owned production facilities), by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	General Motors (GM), owner of Opel, claims to have reduced its CO2 emissions globally by 30% from 2005 to 2010, but does not provide any specified reduction numbers or a complete carbon footprint.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand disclose a full carbon Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its main car models or series, so that the carbon emissions caused by the car production (from raw materials to final product) are also transparent?	Neither Opel nor GM has a public Life Cycle Assessment report.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand plan to achieve an average CO2 emission of 130 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet prior to 2015?	Within the EU General Motors has set targets of 95 g/km by 2020 which is inline with the EU's policies. Some mention is made to California's legislation however no mention to any countries outside of the aforementioned areas is present (see pp. 14-15)	SOURCE
6. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 160 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	Opel does not disclose the averge CO2 emissions for its European fleet. Based on the Opel Netherlands website, the calculated catalogue average is 139,88 g/km. Therefore, it can be assumed that the Opel has a fleet average below 160 g/km.	SOURCE
7. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 150 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	See remark for climate change question 6.	SOURCE
8. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 140 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	See remark for climate change question 6.	SOURCE
9. Has the brand achieved a 4% CO2 emission reduction of the car fleet average in the last two years?	Neither GM nor Opel discloses a fleet average for CO2 emissions.	SOURCE
10. Has the brand achieved a 10% CO2 emission reduction of the car fleet average in the last five years?	See remark for climate change question 9.	SOURCE
11. Does the brand sell a car that has a CO2 emission of 100 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	Opel sells the electric Ampera which has a CO2 emission of 40 g/km and 111 KwH, and also the Corsa 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX - 70kW with a CO2 emission of 94 g/km.	SOURCE
12. Does the brand sell a car that has a CO2 emission of 90 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	See remark for climate change question 11.	SOURCE
13. Has the brand developed a prototype car that has a CO2 emission of 70 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	Since 2011 Opel sells the electric Ampera which has a CO2 emission of 40 g/km and 111 KwH.	SOURCE
14. Does the brand sell a hybrid, electric or fuel cell car on the European market?	Opel sells the Ampera plug-in semi electric car in Europe. Opel is further researching alternative propulsion systems including hybrids and electric cars.	SOURCE
15. Has the brand announced that a full electric or fuel cell car will be brought to the European market by 2012 at the latest?	Opel is researching small battery-operated cars, hybrid cars and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles like the HydroGen4, but it is not clear when the first full hybrid or fuel cell car will be launched on the European market.	SOURCE
16. Does the brand clearly give the carbon emission or fuel efficiency rates for all models on its website?	Information can be easily found on the country specific websites.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 5


1. Does the brand disclose the smog forming exhaust gas emissions rates per km for at least its main car series?	Neither Opel nor GM discloses an overview of NOx, VOC or PM per model.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand report on the emission of air pollutants from its own operations, including owned facilities?	GM communicates the VOC per vehicle manufactures, but it does not communicate the absolute number or numbers on other smog emissions.	SOURCE
3. Are the materials in each new car model of the brand at least 85% recyclable or reusable?	Opel claims to have a recovery rate of 85% for end of life vehicles.	SOURCE
4. Can at least 90% of all new and redesigned car models of the brand be reused or recycled, and does the brand have a plan to phase out PVC?	Opel claims to have a recovery rate of 85% for end of life vehicles. PVC is not mentioned.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand have clear achievements and targets to increase the use of recycled and biodegradable materials in its car fleet?	Opel uses recycled materials, but does not mention any concrete current numbers or concrete goals.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

0 out of 3


1. Does the brand (company) have a Code of Conduct (CoC) for own factories and suppliers, which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	Opel/GM plants are located in Europe and USA, that could be considered as 'low risk' countries. Opel / GM does not disclose a list of supplier countries, nor a policy on working conditions for suppliers in 'high risk' countries.	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1) a formal employment relationship; 2) a maximum working week of 60 hours including paid overtime; 3) a living wage; and 4) to form and join labour unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, to develop parallel means?	See remark for labour conditions question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	Opel / GM does not disclose any information or policy about the labour conditions for suppliers located in 'high risk' countries.	SOURCE