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Our Environmental Commitment

Wabash promotes environmental stewardship in every aspect of our business. From building products that improve fuel economy to conserving energy in our manufacturing operations, Wabash takes responsibility for our impact on the environment. 

Fuel Economy

At Wabash, we put our problem-solving expertise to work on the most pressing issues affecting commercial transportation. We drive innovation toward practical solutions that provide greater fuel efficiency and reduce tractor-trailer emissions—making products that perform better at a lower cost per mile. 

In 2009, Wabash introduced its first trailer side skirt proven to reduce fuel consumption. Driven by a changing regulatory landscape and customer concerns, our team continues to make design and component improvements that deliver better aerodynamics and offer greater fuel efficiency. Our EPA SmartWay Elite verified solutions improve fleet fuel economy by up to 4.2 percent.

Our recent work with electric vehicle chassis partners includes upfitting our lighter-weight truck bodies to their chassis, resulting in vehicles that run longer distances before having to recharge.

Wabash Debuts
Eco-Friendly SuperTruck

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SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

EcoNex Technology

Dedicated to contributing to a healthier environment, our EcoNex™ Technology utilizes environmentally conscious materials aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on non-renewable energy.

With its lightweight properties, our Acutherm Refrigerated Trailer with EcoNex Technology is estimated to save up to 13.5 metric tons of CO2e per year compared to Wabash’s former refrigerated trailer made with conventional materials. What’s more, while EcoNex was developed with trailers in mind, its scalability across other applications is substantial.

DuraPlate Technology

Manufacturers across multiple industries choose DuraPlate® for its versatility and strength. Each DuraPlate panel and product contains between 15-30% post-consumer resin (PCR). By using PCR in the manufacture of DuraPlate, Wabash has diverted more than 1.86 billion plastic bottles from landfills. And at the end of the product lifespan, DuraPlate is recyclable.

Wabash continues to innovate toward using sustainable materials that both outperform and outlast the alternatives, while choosing components and composition that ensure maximum environmental responsibility.

ENERGY CONSERVATION EFFORTS 

Wabash requires energy conservation efforts across all of our facilities. This policy includes improving operational efficiency as well as upgrading to energy-conserving equipment where possible.
  • All Wabash facilities use energy-efficient lighting.
  • Our manufacturing operations use pulse welders, which produce the same high-quality result as traditional welders but require only one-third as much energy to run.
  • Installing quiet, non-polluting wind turbine power for our manufacturing operation in Lafayette, Indiana, reduces our carbon emissions by 25 tons per year.
At Wabash, energy conservation efforts are another critical part of our commitment to continuous improvement and environmental stewardship.

RECYCLING AND WASTE REDUCTION

In 2023, Wabash’s recycling programs and use of recycled materials saved nearly 336,000 cubic yards of landfill space, 82 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 40,000 mature trees, while avoiding nearly 80,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks to our waste reduction and recycling efforts, we actively promote responsible manufacturing and help drive environmental sustainability.

LAND USE EFFORTS

In 2009, our land use efforts began with a partnership between Wabash, the Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife organization. Together, we worked to restore 40 acres attached to our facility in Lafayette, Indiana, back to its native state with prairie grasses and wildflowers to encourage a sustainable approach to industrial land use. Our project provided a natural wildlife habitat and measurably reduced our environmental impact.

In 2012, the IWF recognized Wabash with its Wildlife Friendly Certification. Today, we continue to build momentum to improve and expand Wabash’s land use efforts at all of our locations.