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.
- 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.
- Toyota’s North American facilities reduced, reused or recycled 96 percent of non-regulated waste during calendar year 2015.
- 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.
- 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.
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