Blue Bird takes its role as a corporate citizen seriously. As such, Blue Bird is committed to addressing multiple sustainability matters. At the end of 2023, Blue Bird conducted a rapid materiality assessment for topics related to Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), and the company is actively working towards formalizing its Sustainability Strategy and Roadmap for the years ahead.
Environmental Responsibility
- Leader in Low & Zero-Emission School Buses
- With our innovative technologies and cutting-edge designs, Blue Bird is at the forefront of the green transportation movement. Blue Bird electric and other *alternate fuel buses account for more than 60% of Blue Bird bus sales today.
- Efficiency in Production
- Blue Bird’s manufacturing plant in Ft. Valley, GA has a state-of-the-art paint facility that features a zero-to-landfill design. All paint overspray is captured, dried, and sent to a power generation plant to be used as fuel.
- Operational Emissions
- Blue Bird is currently conducting a greenhouse gases (GHG) inventory for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions to develop a baseline emissions level for our operations.
- Curbing NOx Emissions
- With our industry leading propane engines, we already satisfy MY2027 Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emission standards. Our propane buses emit up to 96% less Nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere when compared to today’s traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
- Innovating for sustainability has long been fundamental to Blue Bird’s success as evident in our Sustainability Statement.
- Partnerships
- Exclusive Clean School Bus Collaboration with Ford Component Sales and ROUSCH CleanTech
- Clean Bus Solutions, a Fleet Electrification as-a-Service Joint Venture with Generate Capital
- Blue Bird delivered North America’s First-Ever Commercial Application of Vehicle-to-Grid Technology in Electric School Bus
* propane & gasoline fuel types
Positive Social Impact
- Leader in Product Quality & Safety
- At Blue Bird, we are committed to the quality and safety of our products. All Blue Bird school buses exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and are certified Colorado Rack and Kentucky Pole test compliant.
- ISO 9001:2015 certification
- All Blue Bird manufacturing facilities are certified to ISO 9001:2015.
- Pioneer with Industry-First Safety Features
- We are continuously enhancing the safety features of our buses and introducing multiple industry first features. Beginning in the fall of 2024, Blue Bird buses will be equipped with three-point seat belts as standard protection for all student passengers. In 2025, Blue Bird will also safeguard school bus drivers with the introduction of 4Front, a steering wheel deployed air bag, through a partnership with IMMI, a leader in vehicle safety systems.
- Caring for our Employees
- Blue Bird continues to invest in facility upgrades benefiting our workforce, including an on-site medical center, cafeteria, and break areas at our main manufacturing plant.
- We offer comprehensive healthcare coverage designed specifically for our employees’ health and well-being.
- We provide on-going training to our employees in safety, hazard prevention and anti-harassment. We are also training all front-line leaders in OSHA-10 certification.
- We invest in our employees through extensive on-the-job employee training and development programs. We also have apprenticeship programs for skilled trades and paid time for professional development and continuing education.
- We have a collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers union, covering more than 1,500 production workers at our manufacturing facility in Ft. Valley, GA.
- Committed to Community
- Blue Bird School Bus Foundation
- The Blue Bird School Bus Foundation was established in 2015 with a focus on education, safety, and children. Over the years, the Foundation has donated more than $560,000 to various non-profit organizations, including over 80 local recipients.
- Dealer Philanthropy Program
- Launched in 2023, this program highlights our commitment to support our dealers in their local community engagement through direct donations to worthy, local, dealer-nominated non-profit organizations.
- In-kind Donations
- Blue Bird is committed to giving and helping the community through in-kind donations. Since 2023, Blue Bird has donated three electric school buses:
- Hoop Bus Inc.
- Blue Bird’s donated All American electric school bus is the first all-electric, zero-emission vehicle in the Hoop Bus fleet. Hoop Bus equipped this electric vehicle with basketball hoops at the front and back. The nonprofit will use the bus as a mobile basketball court to serve thousands of at-risk youth in under-resourced communities across California.
- Peach County Schools in Georgia
- Blue Bird’s donated Vision electric school bus is the first zero-emission vehicle in their school bus fleet. Peach County Schools serve the area in which our manufacturing plant is located.
- Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation
- Blue Bird’s donated Vision electric school bus will be turned into a mobile computer lab to expand digital literacy programs for both children and adults in low-income communities.
- Hoop Bus Inc.
- Blue Bird is committed to giving and helping the community through in-kind donations. Since 2023, Blue Bird has donated three electric school buses:
- Blue Bird School Bus Foundation
- Partnerships
- Kay Community Service Center
- Through our partnership with Kay Community Service Center, Blue Bird provides economic opportunities to individuals with developmental disabilities and helps them achieve a higher level of independence.
- Collaboration with Local Colleges & Universities
- We are building mutually beneficial relationships with schools, colleges, and universities located near our company headquarters and manufacturing plant. The goal is to provide training and career opportunities to local and disadvantaged students. These relationships include:
- Peach County High School
- Fort Valley State University – a Historically Black University
- Wesleyan College – a women-oriented institution of higher learning
- We are building mutually beneficial relationships with schools, colleges, and universities located near our company headquarters and manufacturing plant. The goal is to provide training and career opportunities to local and disadvantaged students. These relationships include:
- Kay Community Service Center
Good Governance
- Business Ethics
- Blue Bird requires all employees of the company to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities, as outlined by Blue Bird’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Blue Bird also provides Code of Conduct Training to all its employees.
- Blue Bird is dedicated to respecting and promoting internationally recognized human rights in our operations and value chain as defined in our Human Rights Policy.
- Blue Bird maintains a Conflict Minerals Policy Statement to support the goals expressed by Congress to help end human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the adjoining countries.
- 24/7 Confidential & Anonymous Reporting System for Employees
- Any suspected violation or concern can be reported by employees through various channels, including phone call, email, website, etc. The reporting information is available on the Code of Conduct and employee information boards.
- Partnerships
- Blue Bird is a United Nations Global Compact participant and committed to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainability Reports
For more information, please reach out to sustainability@blue-bird.com