PLANO, Texas, April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor North
America (TMNA) today released four papers that detail the
company's environmental sustainability positions in North America as it works toward the goals of
its Global Environmental Challenge, which sets sustainability
targets for the company to achieve by 2050. The papers detail the
North American efforts the company is taking to minimize
environmental impact, protect the natural world, and help create a
net positive value in four key areas: Carbon, Water,
Materials and Biodiversity.
"At Toyota, we are working hard to address environmental issues
facing the global community," said Kevin
Butt, regional environmental director, Toyota Motor North
America (TMNA). "These position papers further showcase our efforts
to achieve our ambitious environmental goals that ultimately aspire
to contribute to global environmental sustainability."
Unveiled in September 2015,
Toyota's Environmental Challenge 2050 consists of six challenges
that seek to push the company beyond minimizing environmental
impact to creating net positive change. The new position papers,
released as part of Toyota's Thought Leadership Summit at the Shell
Eco-marathon in Sonoma, Calif.,
represent the company's roadmap in North
America for how to attain sustainable development in four
key areas by 2050.
- Carbon: To address
climate change, TMNA aspires to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from operations and establish longer-term targets to achieve zero
emissions by 2050. In addition, the company also pledges to reduce
vehicle emissions 90 percent from a 2010 baseline by 2050 by
offering vehicles with alternative powertrains and working with
stakeholders to expand PHV, EV and FCV infrastructure.
- Biodiversity: Toyota recognizes the significance of
diversity of living organisms and the necessity to preserve their
habitats to ensure ecosystem function. In North America, the company pledges to conserve
natural habitat by 2050 and partner with third parties to protect
globally recognized hotspots. In addition, the company will engage
people per year in projects that protect biodiversity and work to
protect threatened and endangered species living near its sites as
well as certify all major facilities to a recognized, high standard
conservation certification.
- Materials: Toyota's material strategy aims at conserving
natural resources, eliminating waste disposal and sharing know-how.
In North America, Toyota has
established a data tracking system to annually track the amount of
packaging used. Toyota has set a global target to reduce packaging
material use by 5 percent by Fiscal Year 2021.
- Water: As the availability of clean water becomes more
important to Toyota communities in drought-stressed regions of
North America, the company will
continue to manage and preserve this critical resource. Toyota
pledges to reduce absolute water withdrawals from North American
operations by incorporating waterless manufacturing technologies
and adopting water conservation and recycling technologies. By
2050, the company will establish closed loop systems with 100
percent recycled/reused water, while also engaging with communities
and nonprofits to conserve water.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
the U.S. and North America for
more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable,
next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous
value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design,
engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks
in North America, where we operate
14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more
than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800
North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more
than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017
– and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 16
years are still on the road today.
At Toyota, we have always been fueled by our appetite to
start the impossible. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. In that spirit, Toyota partners with
community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to
address our society's most pressing mobility challenges. We share
company resources and our extensive know-how to give people greater
access to jobs, education and opportunity. For more information
about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Media Contacts:
Russ Koble
(469) 292-4530
Russ.koble@toyota.com
Brian Lyons
(469) 292-3573
Brian.lyons@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America