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Sidney Plant Leads Lear's Drive to Improve Environmental Stewardship

27 August 1999

Sidney Plant Leads Lear Corporation's Drive to Improve Environmental Stewardship with ISO 14001 Certification

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 27 -- With carpet and scrap recycling
as a cornerstone of its pollution prevention plan, Lear Corporation's Sidney,
Ohio facility has earned coveted ISO 14001 certification.  The Sidney plant is
the first Lear plant worldwide to be certified to this internationally
recognized environmental management standard.
    "ISO 14000 is a series of international standards governing environmental
management systems," according to Dr. Rebecca Spearot, Director of
Environmental Management at Lear.  "By attaining ISO 14001 certification at
the Sidney plant and with certification efforts underway at a number of other
Lear facilities, Lear joins automakers dedicated to addressing the immediate
and long-term impact on the environment of its facilities and products."
    "Lear is especially aware of the importance of good environmental
citizenship," said Kenneth L. Way, Chairman and CEO of Lear Corporation.  "We
are proud of the job our employees at Sidney and the rest of our facilities
around the globe are doing to protect the world for future generations."
    Lear Sidney, a part of Lear's Manufacturing Operations Division (MOD),
produces floor carpet, trunk trim, and back panels for plants that assemble
the Ford Taurus and Ford Ranger, the Lincoln LS and the Mercury Sable, among
others.
    In order to achieve ISO 14001 certification, a plant must, as a first
step, identify the aspects of the operation's activities, products and
services that impact the environment and then develop objectives and targets
to reduce that impact.  The objectives and targets are monitored to
demonstrate continual environmental improvement.
    Solid waste was identified as a significant environmental aspect of
Sidney's operations.  Carpet scraps were sent to landfills, which impacted the
environment and proved costly.  Now the plant is working toward a relationship
with a nearby business that would recycle the carpet "offal" instead.  It is
anticipated that this reduction in landfill usage will result in both a cost
savings and reduced impact to the environment.
    "As a result of working for this ISO certification, the staff of Lear
Sidney influenced the result of their impact on the environment, they
influenced their economics, and they found a worthy way to reuse their scrap
material," Spearot said.  "That's no small feat.  They lead Lear's continuing
drive for environmental responsibility."
    Plant Manager Kurt Jensen praised the work of the Lear Sidney ISO 14000
core group, including Tracy Bennion, Jeff Deitering, Marie Homan, Darin
Hulsmeyer, Sue Platfoot and Casey Vincent.
    "It took time and teamwork to reach this important milestone," Jensen
said.  "These associates, along with their 275 co-workers, take pride in their
role in the certification process.  We are encouraged that the steps we took
will help lay the groundwork for an ongoing commitment to the environment from
our company and from the community."
    Lear Corporation , a Fortune 200 company headquartered in
Southfield, Michigan (USA), is one of the world's largest automotive
suppliers, with 1998 proforma sales of more than $12 billion.  The company's
world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by more than
100,000 employees in over 300 facilities located in 33 countries.  Information
about Lear and its products is available on the Internet at
http://www.lear.com