Ford Motor Company

Texan by Nature is excited to recognize Ford as a 2025 TxN 20 honoree for their leadership in conservation and sustainability. Ford‘s commitment to conservation, their projects, programs, best practices, and lessons learned are an example and inspiration for us all.

Honoree Name: Ford Motor Company

Honoree Industry and Size: Transportation, Enterprise

Company Overview:
Ford is a family company, one that spans the globe and has shared ideals. We value service to each other and the world as much as to our customers. Generations have made their memories with us and included us in their hopes and dreams. After 122 years, we are used to adapting to and leading change. That is why we are evolving to focus on services, experiences and software as well as vehicles.

What is Ford’s conservation and sustainability mission and why is it important to its culture?
At Ford, our purpose has always been bigger than building vehicles. We are driven by a desire to build a better world. We believe that every person has a right to clean air, clean water, and safe transportation. To have the freedom to move and pursue their dreams. Which is why sustainability drives progress at Ford and guides our aspirations for the future.

Our big picture sustainability goal is to achieve carbon neutrality across our vehicles, operations and supply chain no later than 2050, and we’re currently on track to meet this goal. Ford will continue to thrive by focusing on what matters to us most: taking care of our customers, our people, and the communities we call home while continuing to deliver great products and services, as we have for 122 years.

What steps is Ford taking to address global natural resource challenges, and how are these efforts integrated into its overall business strategy?
When it comes to our long-term goal of becoming carbon neutral no later than 2050, Ford’s global focus is on three areas that account for approximately 95% of our CO2 emissions — our vehicles, operations, and supply chain. Over the last year, we decreased our carbon footprint across our vehicles and operations, while increasing our use of carbon-free and renewable electricity. We’ve seen a 49% reduction in absolute global operations greenhouse gas emissions since 2017, and a 16% reduction in total Scope 3 GHG emissions since 2019. Ford has also set a new science-based target to reduce global supply chain emissions by 25% by 2030 relative to a 2023 baseline.

Overall, our sustainability strategy concentrates on better products, better business practices, and working better together with our partners, industry peers and local communities to drive progress:

Better products

Electric vehicles remain central to our carbon neutrality strategy, while we continue to offer a range of environmentally-friendly choices to meet any need.

Ford introduced 15 new electric and plug-in hybrid models globally between 2020 and the end of 2024. 
Our hybrid lineup, particularly trucks, is growing in popularity as customers seek improved fuel economy and unique features like Pro Power Onboard, which works as a mobile generator to power worksites, camp sites, and even homes. 
We also recently announced the new Ford Universal EV Platform and Ford Universal EV Production system to bring a new family of affordable, high-quality EVs to market.
Additionally, we continue to evolve our iconic gas-powered vehicles, constantly improving performance while lowering emissions.

Better business

It’s not just what we make, but how we make it – we’re working hard to reduce emissions in our facilities and across our supply chain.

Our manufacturing sites are models of innovation – conserving water, reducing waste, recycling materials and improving energy efficiency.
We recycle nearly 50 times more waste than we send to landfills. Our water conservation efforts have saved over 200 billion gallons of water since 2000. We are the single biggest recycler of automotive aluminum sheet in the world.
By 2027, all our manufacturing in Michigan will be powered by the equivalent of 100 percent carbon-free electricity, including wind and solar.

Better together

We know we can’t do it alone – lasting change requires working together with partners, industry peers and local communities.

Helped launch the Transform: Auto initiative in North America to support suppliers adopting renewable energy, and increased supplier engagement in Manufacture 2030, which helps suppliers establish targets, measure, and reduce emissions.
We train Ford employees and suppliers in supply chain sustainability topics and conduct supplier audits to ensure they are in compliance with our Supplier Code of Conduct. 
We continue to increase transparency and due diligence in our EV battery supply chain to ensure ethical and responsible sourcing practices.
We engage with local communities to protect the environment and support our neighbors in good times and bad. This has included $76.8 million in charitable contributions to strengthen communities worldwide from Ford & Ford Philanthropy in the last year, with $2.4 billion invested since 1949.

Who in Ford is leading your conservation and sustainability efforts? What are some examples of employee engagement in conservation and sustainability at Ford?
As Ford’s Vice President, Chief Sustainability, Environment and Safety Officer, Bob Holycross leads a global team responsible for developing and implementing the company’s sustainability strategy and is responsible for its global policies and performance related to the environment, human rights and product safety. He is deeply committed to Ford’s overarching purpose – building a better world where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams – and is proud to be playing a key role in helping the company reach its ambitious goal to lead the electric vehicle revolution and achieve carbon neutrality across its vehicles, facilities and supply chain by 2050.

As executive director of global sustainability, ESG and environmental quality, Mary Wroten plays a central role in Ford’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to transition to electrified vehicles and renewable energy. Driven by Ford’s purpose of building a better world and a deep commitment to a sustainable future, Mary leads multiple strategies to ensure that all the company’s vehicles are made responsibly, that the people doing the work are treated fairly, and that the environment and local communities are protected.

As global director of vehicle compliance, Cynthia Williams is instrumental in steering Ford’s vehicle environmental strategy, policy, and performance. She ensures that Ford consistently meets or exceeds all global vehicle environmental regulations, a responsibility deeply aligned with the company’s enduring purpose of building a better world where everyone can move freely and pursue their aspirations. Cynthia emphasizes that creating a better world necessitates responsible vehicle manufacturing, ensuring accessibility and affordability, and safeguarding the environment and local communities.

One of Ford’s core values is to take care of the communities in which we operate, and this includes helping to conserve and protect vital natural resources. Led by Ford Community Relations Director Gabby Bruno, Ford employees frequently lend their support to conservation efforts in their communities, working together with local organizations. One example is Ford’s ongoing partnership with Living Lands & Waters, a nonprofit that hosts river cleanups, watershed conservation initiatives, workshops, tree plantings and other key conservation initiatives.

“Ford is incredibly honored to be recognized by Texan by Nature for our conservation efforts. As a company, our purpose has always been bigger than building vehicles – we’re driven by a desire to build a better world. This includes protecting natural resources and taking care of our neighbors in the communities in which we operate. Whether it’s through innovating our products, making our plants more energy-efficient, or working together with local organizations on conservation, we’re committed to a singular goal: building a more sustainable and inclusive transportation future, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams.”

– Mary Wroten, executive director of global sustainability, ESG and Environmental Quality

What conservation and sustainability programs and projects does Ford lead and participate in?
Supporting EV adopters. Last year, Ford and TXU Energy, Texas’ leading retail electric provider and subsidiary of Vistra, teamed up to create a first-of-its-kind retail energy offering for Ford electric SUV and truck customers in Texas. The TXU Free EV Miles program offered Ford EV customers the opportunity to charge their vehicle at home entirely for free, since more than approximately 80 percent of charging takes place at home. Through the program, Ford was able to educate Texans about the perks of driving electric while incentivizing consumers to charge when demand on the grid is at its lowest.

Investing in clean energy. Through an agreement with DTE Energy, by 2027, all of Ford’s manufacturing in Michigan will be powered by the equivalent of 100% carbon-free electricity, including wind and solar. With agreements like the one we have with DTE, Ford is using our scale and resources to help support energy infrastructure that benefits all electric consumers in the local community. Those solar arrays won’t just be powering up Ford plants – they’ll be helping to make the entire power grid in Michigan more reliable and resilient for both businesses and individual households. This is just one example of many that demonstrates how Ford is working to reduce GHG emissions across our operations.

Conserving natural resources. The Ford Bronco Wild Fund (BWF) supports organizations dedicated to increasing access to, preserving and restoring public lands and natural resources in the U.S. The Fund partners with nonprofits like the National Forest Foundation and others to fund reforestation, trail maintenance, wildland firefighter support and outdoor education, aiming to connect people with nature responsibly and build a legacy of outdoor stewardship. For example, The Greater Texas Ford Dealers, with support from Bronco Wild Fund, have been a driving force behind tree planting in Texas. In 2024, they doubled their impact across a pair of events: The Dia de Los Muertos Celebration at the Granville Arts Center and the Texas Arbor Day Tree Planting at the newly renovated Watson Park, both in Garland, Texas. Roughly 30 volunteers planted more than 40 trees, while the first 400 residents in attendance were awarded tree saplings to plant at home. A portion of the profits from every Bronco SUV sold goes directly to Bronco Wild Fund collaborator initiatives.

A portion of Bronco SUV sales go to the Bronco Wild Fund collaborator initiatives.

What strategies does Ford use to educate and raise awareness among employees, customers, and stakeholders about the importance of conservation and sustainability?
The Road to Better is Ford’s commitment to building a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable transportation future. It was launched in 2024 as a platform to tell our sustainability story. The Road to Better embodies Ford’s belief that the journey to a carbon-neutral future will not be easy or quick, and it will take everyone working together. It explains our multi-year investments and actions we are taking to help us achieve our carbon neutrality goal, have a positive impact on people and the planet, and deliver on our commitment to continuous improvement, recognizing there will be peaks and valleys along the way.

Ford has been committed to being transparent about our sustainable business practices for 26 years. We were the first automaker to release a sustainability report, and that record of accountability and transparency continues today. Our 2025 Integrated Sustainability and Financial Report is our most comprehensive yet — backed by extensive data and a high level of rigor that lends credibility to the steps we’re taking to drive progress. New this year, the report includes a Sustainability Statement guided by the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The Statement includes a Limited Assurance opinion from PwC, which reflects a greater attention to detail on sustainability reporting controls and integration with financial reporting. This is a significant milestone for Ford and our industry.

Can you share specific examples of successful partnerships or innovative collaborations Ford has formed with other organizations to enhance sustainability and conservation outcomes?

Transform: Auto. As a founding sponsor of the Transform: Auto program, Ford is helping lead an innovative industry collaboration that aims to drive the adoption of renewable energy across the automotive supply chain — providing suppliers with tailored guidance and expert support to help them reach carbon-neutral targets. It’s a testament to Ford’s belief in the power of collaboration to move the automotive industry — OEMs and suppliers alike — toward a more sustainable future.

Manufacture 2030. Ford was among the first American automakers to include our global supply chain on the Manufacture 2030 (M2030) platform. This climate best-practice program provides support for our suppliers with measurement, management, and reduction of carbon emissions, water, and waste as we strive to reach carbon neutrality globally. Not only does this program provide support to our suppliers in building an action plan toward carbon neutrality, but it will also help Ford identify and prioritize key focus areas and those suppliers requiring extra support.

How does Ford quantify investment and return on conservation and sustainability?
We demonstrate the benefits of Ford’s sustainability efforts through meticulous evidence collection and reporting. Ford has been transparent about our sustainable business practices for 26 years, and our 2025 Integrated Sustainability and Financial Report is backed by extensive data and a high level of rigor that lends credibility to the steps we’re taking to drive progress.

How does Ford see the future of conservation and sustainability evolving, and what role will it play in that progress?
The global regulatory and policy landscape is constantly evolving. On the sustainability side, we will always need to work with a variety of stakeholders to weather this landscape on an ongoing basis. At the same time, Ford will keep prioritizing our long-term objectives and operating according to our overall values and purpose. We not only plan for the next quarter, but also the next 120 years. We are committed to: