Ford Motor Company has announced plans to survey 35 global suppliers on their energy use and emissions in a bid to reduce the carbon footprint of its supply chain. The automaker will use the data from the survey to create a broad-based carbon management approach.

The 35 suppliers represent nearly 30 percent of Ford's $65bn in annual procurement spending and include companies that make commodities like seats, steering systems, tires and metal components.

Many of the participating companies already measure their greenhouse gas emissions, but the project will facilitate collaboration and sharing of processes and practices that can drive significant emissions reductions.

"Understanding the carbon footprint of our supply chain is a crucial part of our comprehensive global strategy to reduce greenhouse gases," says Susan Cischke, group vice president, sustainability, environment and safety engineering, at Ford.

Any reductions by suppliers would be in addition to the company's own target of reducing greenhouse gases 30 percent by 2020 from its 2006 model year baseline.

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