WILMINGTON, DE – Manheim Auto Auction has been recognized by DuPont for its commitment to reduce its environmental footprint by 25 percent. DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies presented a 2007 Sustainable Growth Excellence Award to a team of 10 Manheim and DuPont employees who jointly developed an action plan featuring a switch from solvent-based to water-based automotive paint at seven of Manheim’s vehicle reconditioning centers. Additional Manheim locations will convert to water-based DuPont coatings in 2008 and beyond.

“Manheim paints 27,000 cars annually at its Lancaster County, Pa., reconditioning center, using more than 6,000 gallons of paint. So the switch to water-based DuPont finishes represents a meaningful reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds,” said DuPont Refinish Vice President Ray Anderson. “This award recognizes Manheim’s concern for sustainable growth and their determination to support this by taking these dramatic steps to convert their operations to more environmentally sound water-based coatings.”

When all 91 of the North American locations where Manheim uses DuPont finishes convert to waterborne, the company estimates it will reduce air pollutants by 40 percent, or 145 tons. Emissions of volatile organic compounds will be reduced by 25 percent. Additionally, a new system that allows paint shops to mix only the amount of paint needed for a particular paint job will reduce air pollutants by 10 percent, or 36 tons.

Manheim was established more than 60 years ago as a wholesale vehicle auction operation. Today, the company has more than 34,000 employees in 144 operating locations and 10 service centers in 14 countries. Last year, Manheim handled nearly 10 million vehicles at its North American locations and online, selling more than 5 million units. Manheim is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc.