FDP Green Zone
Eco-Friendly Manufacturing
We
focus on green innovation that creates a safer, healthier environment
for all species and sustains the earth for future generations.
So, we review every step in our manufacturing process and each
product to minimize the environmental impact while continuing
to exceed your performance expectations. Our green manufacturing
initiatives include:
- Using water-based paints on our disc brake pads to eliminate the hazardous air pollutants associated with solvent-based paints.
- Taking advantage of bio-degradable materials that decompose naturally rather than sitting forever in our landfills.
- Installing pollution controlling after burners at emissions points in our manufacturing facilities to protect air quality.
- Making the most of recycled materials. For example, we use recycled steel to build our drum brakes, we reuse all drum lining waste, and oil from our heavy equipment is used again in our hot press operation.
The First Eco-Friendly Brake: EcoStop®
In 2007 we introduced EcoStop, the first line of green brakes. Like our other brakes, they do not use asbestos, antimony or lead. What distinguishes them is that they are the first ever ceramic brakes made without copper.
Because they are ceramic brakes, they’re rugged, but easy on your rotors, helping them to last longer too. When they wear down, they produce a finer, lighter dust, so it doesn't stick to your wheels and keeps them cleaner. Also, ceramic makes brake squeal a thing of the past. So, if you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly brake that provides stunning performance, you have one choice: EcoStop.
Why did we eliminate copper? A study by the Brake Pad Partnership, a coalition of brake manufacturers and environmental groups in California, discovered brake use was a major contributor to copper pollution in waterways. Every time we touch our brakes, trace amounts of copper are deposited on the street and then washed into streams, rivers and oceans, endangering our environment.
Copper that pollutes water is wreaking havoc on the sensory systems of fish, invertebrates, amphibians and phytoplankton. For example, it weakens a young salmon’s ability to smell, making it hard to detect predators. So, as the salmon struggles to escape from an otter’s fishing expedition, it loses its way…and its life. Adult salmon also take wrong turns in water contaminated by chemicals. They then spawn in unfamiliar habitats where there’s a low chance of survival. The result: a species becomes endangered.
California and Washington State recognized the importance of this issue by instituting legislation in 2009 and 2010 respectively to reduce the use of copper in brakes. Other states, including Rhode Island and New York are in the process of passing similar legislation.
