2.04.2008 - 08:30am ET

(CSRwire) IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU), through its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, today announced that 20,000 trees -- one for every 8-Series lift truck sold in 2007 -- will be planted in national forests damaged by fire or other natural causes. The company also announced an expanded commitment to the Foundation in 2008. TMHU will donate one tree for every Toyota lift truck delivered in 2008, which the company estimates to be about 30,000 trees based on 2007 figures.

"The Arbor Day Foundation is grateful for Toyota Material Handling's ongoing and increased commitment to this endeavor," said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "Toyota Material Handling has demonstrated a commitment to preserving and improving our environment -- a philosophy that the Arbor Day Foundation shares, appreciates and respects."

In addition to TMHU's corporate partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) -- in Columbus, Ind. where the 8-Series lift truck is manufactured -- also has created a program to support the corporate initiative. Every TIEM employee receives a seedling to plant on Arbor Day. Since the program's inception, nearly 13,000 seedlings have been distributed. For 2008 TIEM will again distribute trees to associates and 1,000 trees will be donated to the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District -- Recycling Center for distribution on Arbor Day to the public.

"Toyota's commitment to the environment runs deeply throughout every facet of the company," said Shankar Basu, president and CEO of TMHU. "From our products, to our processes, to our people, TMHU strives to continually uncover ways to improve the environment."

Global Environmental Charter

Toyota remains the first and only manufacturer in the world to offer a factory-installed Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel system that is UL-listed, and EPA- and CARB-certified. The 8-Series, which was introduced in 2006, is the world's cleanest internal combustion lift truck -- producing 70 percent less smog-forming emissions than the current federal EPA standard and meeting California's 2010 emission standards.(1) But Toyota's environmental stewardship stretches far beyond its products and corporate walls.

In 2005, Toyota Industries Corporation instituted an Environmental Action Plan with three goals: (1) curb global warming, (2) use resources more efficiently, and (3) reduce environmental risks by reducing pollution. Since the inception of this plan, the company has implemented 1,700 energy-saving measures resulting in a CO2 emission reduction of 120,000 tons.

The Charter Embodied

TIEM is the embodiment of this corporate crusade. It continues to set the bar for all manufacturing facilities -- lift truck or otherwise. In 2006, it received the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. According to the Governor's Award citation, TIEM successfully implemented and managed the environmental management system (EMS) to achieve a 33 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions, 80 percent reduction in hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emissions, 40 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 65 percent reduction in natural gas consumption.

It also implemented recycling initiatives to make it a zero-landfill facility and has increased the amount of recycled items by 70 percent during the last three years. A water-treatment process at the facility has resulted in substantial reduction of pollutants in TIEM's processed water. The water is cleaner than required by government standards.

In 2007, TIEM also gained a charter member position with the Indiana Environmental Stewardship Program. TIEM also is a member of the Indiana Partners for Pollution Prevention (P2) organization, a voluntary program for Indiana businesses to benchmark and share their success in environmental improvement.

Beyond its own initiatives, TIEM requires their top 65 suppliers, who account for more than 75 percent of the materials purchased locally, to be ISO 14001 certified or have an equivalent environmental management system. TIEM has been ISO 14001 certified since 1998.

About The Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.

About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.

Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU) has been the number-one selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002 and currently offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. Built on a reputation of excellence, Toyota remains popular due to its quality, reliability and durability. Quality is the hallmark of Toyota's world-renowned Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including TIEM. Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured at TIEM.

TIEM, and all Toyota manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, comply with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and have been honored for their environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement. Toyota's commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Sixty-eight authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers, with a total of 188 dealership locations throughout the United States, offer comprehensive customer service support, including one-stop shopping for both new and Certified Used lift trucks, parts, service and financing. For more information on TMHU, please visit http://www.toyotaforklift.com or call 1-800-226-0009.

(1) All Toyota 8-Series models count as 0.6 g/bhp-hr (0.8 g/kW-hr) HC+NOx towards California's end-user fleet average calculation -- measures do not apply to diesel configured models.

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