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Highlights of Toyota's Environmental Progress

Highlights of Toyota's Environmental Progress

Published 02-04-05

Submitted by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Our goal is to keep you informed about our worldwide progress on environmental matters. Thank you for your interest in Toyota's efforts to become a greener automaker.

    --Irv Miller, Group Vice President, Corporate
    Communications Department, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
More about Toyota's environmental efforts can be found at www.toyota.com/environment

Major Toyota Oregon Port Facility a Green Showcase
An environmentally advanced Toyota Logistic Services (TLS) facility has opened at the Port of Portland. Operating on 86.4 acres, it will offload and processes more than 185,000 vehicles annually. The new center features a four-acre riverfront restored as a protected wildlife habitat that can also filter and buffer storm water prior to draining into the Willamette River. By harvesting rainwater on site, using water-efficient fixtures, and planting indigenous plants, the facility was able to reduce potable water use by 75%.

Energy demand will be reduced by 33% using LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® guidelines. These include efficient electrical lighting, high performance windows and insulation, plus exhaust heat recovery to conserve space-heating energy. The site is powered by purchasing 100% Clean Wind energy.

At least 75% of the materials used in the building have recycled content, and 99% of the construction waste was diverted from landfills. More than $250,000 worth of railroad tracks and switches was dismantled from the construction site to be reused in the center's new transportation infrastructure.

Toyota publishes corporate environmental report
Toyota's 2004 North American Environmental Report describes progress in managing environmental performance in production, operations, sales, distribution and recycling during its 2004 fiscal year. The report documents that Toyota was ahead of schedule for compliance with certification to Tier 2 and LEV II vehicle emission standards. Sales and distribution goals were achieved while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1.8% (over 5,600 metric tons of CO2). Manufacturing plants reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds and lowered energy and water use two years ahead of schedule on a 5-year action plan.
For the full report, visit http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/news/enviroreport.html.

Toyota facilities' environmental and recycling achievements

  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) has received ISO 14001 recertification following an audit in October 2004 to ensure compliance with voluntary environmental management standards. The plant has been ISO-certified since 1998.
  • New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI), Toyota's joint manufacturing plant with General Motors in Fremont, California, has placed recycling bins alongside production lines in a drive to reduce plant waste. In October 2004 alone, NUMMI recycled 353 tons of cardboard, 213 tons of plastic, and 17 tons of paper.
  • Following the opening of the new South Campus headquarters complex in Torrance, California, Toyota donated office furnishings from previously occupied buildings to L.A. SHARES to keep them out of landfills L.A. SHARES is a nonprofit materials reuse program that distributes discontinued and surplus items to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Los Angeles County.

    Toyota environmental programs, grants, and awards

  • Toyota has been selected as a winner of California's 2004 Flex Your Power Energy Efficiency Award. The award is given to "organizations and governments that worked hard and found innovative ways to save energy within their facilities and helped others do the same."
  • Toyota has donated $10,000 to Columbia University's Earth Institute, which has just awarded its first six Ph.D.s in Sustainable Development to students from Lebanon, China, Japan, Peru, Great Britain and the U.S.
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI) supported World Water Monitoring Day by providing water test kits and a training package for the sixth-grade science curriculum in Gibson County Public Schools. Seven schools and 400 students participated in sampling 12 sites.

    For questions or information, contact Cindy Knight at (310) 468-2170 or by e-mail at cindy_knight@toyota.com. Produced by Robert Oberhand & Assoc., Chatsworth, CA, in conjunction with Toyota Corporate Communications Department

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    Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

    Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

    Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,427 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motorsports, and research and development.

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