PLANO, Texas, Dec. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For Toyota,
boldly shaping the future of mobility starts with making a positive
impact on the environment in diverse communities across
the United States and Canada.
In the recently published 2016 North American Environmental
Report, Toyota outlined these positive impacts. Over the past
year, Toyota's North American operations have reduced water usage
by nearly 100 million gallons, the equivalent to the annual water
use of more than 900 average American families. Toyota also
announced plans for a 7.75 megawatt solar array at Toyota's new
headquarters campus in Plano,
Texas, which will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by
7,122 metric tons, or the equivalent of the electricity used by
almost 1,000 homes in a year.
These and other efforts that address ever-better cars,
ever-better manufacturing, and enriching lives within communities,
are a core part of Toyota's Global Environmental Challenge 2050, an
ambitious set of six challenges that ultimately will create a net
positive impact on the planet.
"To achieve our 2050 goal of net positive impact, we'll continue
to make consistent, incremental improvements," said Toyota Motor
North America Regional Environmental Director Kevin Butt. "These constant improvements,
supported by innovative projects across Toyota operations in
North America, will create
positive change and a more sustainable future."
The first three challenges as part of Toyota's Environmental
Challenge 2050 focus on carbon and call for completely
eliminating – not just reducing – greenhouse gas emissions
from all vehicles, operations and supply chain. The fourth
challenge addresses water availability and quality, while the fifth
and sixth challenges seek to move closer to a recycling-based
society and protect nature.
In North America, Toyota has
already taken action to achieve the six challenges, which have
helped Toyota meet, and in some cases exceed, 2014 to 2016 targets
on vehicles, energy and greenhouse gases, water, chemical
management, waste, biodiversity and outreach.
Additional highlights from the 2016 North American Environmental
Report include the following:
Getting to Zero Emissions:
- Toyota introduced its second-generation plug-in hybrid vehicle,
Prius Prime, with an EPA-estimated 133 MPGe, making it the most
fuel-efficient vehicle on the road today. The improved efficiency
represents a substantial 26 percent enhancement over its
predecessor.
- The Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle continues to roll
through California, boasting one
of the highest ranges of any zero emission vehicle on the
road.
- In 2016, Toyota established an in-house venture company for
electric vehicles (EV) development.
Minimizing and Optimizing Water Usage:
- In 2016, Toyota reduced water withdrawals by 99.8 million
gallons, the equivalent to the annual water use of more than 900
average American families.
- Toyota dealers in Northern
California saved 8.4 million gallons of water last summer by
encouraging customers to skip the complimentary car wash after
service.
Establishing a Recycling-Based Society and Systems:
- Toyota's North American facilities reduced, reused or recycled
96 percent of non-regulated waste during calendar year 2015.
Establishing a Future Society in Harmony with Nature:
- Toyota has more than 1,000 acres across 10 North American sites
certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council.
- Toyota has been the national corporate sponsor of National
Public Lands Day since 1999. The 2015 event contributed an
estimated $18 million in volunteer
services to improve public lands across the U.S.
Community and Dealer/Facilities Outreach:
- With 54 and counting, Toyota and Lexus have more dealership
facilities certified to LEED® standards in the U.S. and
Canada than any other auto
manufacturer.
- Residents from more than 4,100 U.S. cities pledged to save over
1.9 billion gallons of water as part of the annual National Mayor's
Challenge for Water Conservation, sponsored by Toyota.
- Last year, Toyota sites collected 267,818 pounds of household
waste and donations from team members and local residents, equal to
the weight of 20 full-size male African elephants.
To view the full report, visit
http://www.toyota.com/usa/environmentreport2016/.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the
Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to advancing
mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. Over the past
50 years, we've produced more than 30 million cars and trucks in
North America, where we operate 14
manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than
44,000 people (more than 34,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North
American dealerships (1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.8 million
cars and trucks (nearly 2.5 million in the U.S.) in 2015 – and
about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years
are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive
know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to
assist more people move more places.
For more information about Toyota, visit
www.toyotanewsroom.com
CONTACTS:
|
Toyota
Communications
|
|
|
Jana
Hartline
|
(310)
779-0415
|
|
|
|
|
Allison+Partners
for Toyota
|
|
|
Tassi
Herrick
|
(308)
539-1883
|
|
|
|
Media
website:
|
http://www.toyotanewsroom.com
|
|
Public
websites:
|
http://www.toyota.com
|
|
|
http://www.lexus.com
|
|
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-aims-for-net-positive-impact-2016-north-american-environmental-report-tracks-progress-300379202.html
SOURCE Toyota