From Backing Biodiversity to Leading on LEED: Toyota Tackles Environmental Priorities

Who isn’t worried about water these days? Concerned about carbon? Count us in.

That’s why we've sold more than 2.4 million Toyota and Lexus hybrids in North America, which save approximately 500 million gallons of gasoline annually.

That’s why we will soon be manufacturing the Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid using a green energy source: landfill gas.  

And that’s why we’ve conducted decades of research that will culminate in the launch of the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle in 2015, a sedan that emits nothing but water vapor.

Toyota’s commitment to producing ever greener vehicles through more sustainable processes has never been more apparent. To see how we’re working toward these goals, check out our latest North American Environmental Report athttp://www.toyota.com/usa/environmentreport2014. The report focuses on five priority issues carbon, water, materials, biodiversity and outreach. Here are highlights from each:

Carbon

• Toyota's first-ever production fuel cell car uses hydrogen as fuel and emits only water vapor. The Toyota Mirai will be available for sale to customers in California in fall 2015.
• Beginning in 2015, Toyota's Georgetown assembly plant will generate green power from local landfill gas, enough for the production of 10,000 vehicles per year.
• We received our 10th consecutive ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year — Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. EPA. Our 14 manufacturing plants have reduced energy use by almost 11 billion kilowatt hours in the last decade.

Water

• Toyota saved over 93 million gallons of water in North America during fiscal year 2014.
• Team members at Toyota's assembly plant in Cambridge, Ontario, found a way to capture, clean and recycle over 12 million gallons of water used to rinse vehicles during the painting process.
• Since opening in 2007, Toyota's Texas assembly plant has used about 1.9 billion gallons of recycled water instead of drawing fresh water from the Edwards Aquifer.

Materials

• Toyota's North American facilities reduced, reused, recycled or composted over 95 percent of non-regulated waste during calendar year 2013.
• Toyota has 32 North American facilities that meet the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council's definition of a "Zero Waste Business" — one with a 90 percent or greater diversion of all waste from landfill, incineration or the environment.

Biodiversity

• Since 2010, Toyota's Kentucky assembly plant has established 10 beehives onsite. Some 85,000 happy honeybees produced more than 100 pounds of honey in 2014, which was given away to visitors.
• Over 130,000 trees have been planted at Toyota's Indiana assembly plant over the last six years. The area has become a thriving habitat for wildlife.
• Toyota currently has over 1,000 acres across seven North American sites certified to the Wildlife Habitat Council's Wildlife at Work program.

Outreach

• Toyota is helping develop a battery storage system for the Lamar Buffalo Ranch at Yellowstone National Park. Featuring 208 used Camry Hybrid battery packs, the system will provide a sustainable power source for one of the most remote and pristine places in the U.S.
• More than 23,000 folks across the U.S. pledged to save over 1.4 billion gallons of water as part of the National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation, supported by Toyota.
• We have assisted 42 Toyota and Lexus dealers with LEED® certification. We have more LEED-certified dealers in the U.S. and Canada than any other auto manufacturer.