Page 37 - Green Builder July-August 2019 Issue

COURTESY OF TOYOTA Toyota Motor
Corporation

This automaker’s lofty goal: reducing the life cycle

impacts of vehicles.

ALL IT THE “Four Good Groups.” on the planet and society.”
Many companies have set green Toyota North America’s actions are
goals for 2030 or even 2050 part of the overall corporation’s “Toyota
that take primarily one pro- Environmental Challenge 2050,” six goals
C environmental action. Toyota designed to make the automotive giant an
North America spreads it out and has four example of green business management
key focus areas as it heads into the 2020s: by mid-century. The challenges—cutting
carbon, water, materials and biodiversity. average new automobile CO2 emissions by
There’s an 8.79-megawatt solar system 90 percent from 2010 levels; eliminating all
in place at its headquarters in Plano, CO2 emissions from the vehicle’s life cycle;
Texas, that will power nearly one-third of achieving zero carbon emissions at all plants
the plant and prevent nearly 7,200 metric worldwide; minimizing water usage and
tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The implement water discharge management
company co-sponsors the National Mayor’s based on local conditions; promoting global
Challenge for Water Conservation, which deployment of end-of-life vehicle treatment “Across Toyota, we’ve
helps raise the nation’s collective I.Q. about and recycling technologies; and connecting
water use. A team at its Indiana assembly its nature conservation activities with those pledged to create a
plant discovered 23 areas on the Toyota of other companies and communities—are net-positive impact on
COURTESY OF TOYOTA Sienna’s underbody where manual PVC a work in progress. society and the planet by
“Nothing about Challenge 2050 is simple,
spraying could be reduced or eliminated,
cutting raw material use by 12 tons. And
Toyota’s Woodstock assembly plant in except the reasoning behind it,” notes Kevin 2050. By net positive, we
Butt, director of sustainability for Toyota
Ontario, British Columbia, established a North America. “We know that our future—
wetlands walking trail to give the local our health and well-being—depends on mean going beyond just
community a chance to experience nature clean air, clean water and diversity in nature
firsthand. As CEO Jim Lentz puts it, the to provide us with medicines and other eliminating our negative
ultimate goal is to “create a positive impact ecosystem services.”
impact, to helping create
widespread, meaningful

change.”

Jim Lentz, CEO, Toyota

Motor North America
COURTESY OF TOYOTA

Challenge accepted. In response to public opinion and its own pro-environmental goals, Toyota
formulated six green challenges ranging from reduced carbon emissions to better harmony with nature.

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