NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 2006 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Toyota today announced its Second Consolidated Five-Year Environmental Action Plan (2007-2011), setting new environmental goals for all phases of the vehicle lifecycle and addressing themes of energy, climate change, recycling, resource conservation, substances of concern, atmospheric quality and environmental management.
The new action plan was published as part of the sixth annual Toyota North America Environmental Report for 2006. A few significant commitments include:
* achievement of best-in-class fuel efficiency performance, * reduction of total energy usage of manufacturing facilities and operations in North America by 27% per vehicle produced, using FY 2002 as a base year, * promotion of basic environmental research aimed at CO2 emissions reductions, and * reduction of waste in sales and logistics facilities, including a 90% recycling rate at vehicle distribution centers by FY 2011, reduction of non-hazardous waste to landfill from parts operations by 33% by FY 2011 (FY2006 baseline), diversion of 95% waste from Toyota Canada facilities from landfill by FY 2010 and reduction of Canadian facility paper consumption per person by 25% by FY 2010.
The 2006 Environmental Report also announced the successful completion of Toyota's First Consolidated Five-Year North American Environmental Action Plan (2002-2006). Highlights include:
* the steady increase of hybrid product offerings to five models, * exceeding fuel-efficiency requirements for passenger cars and light-duty trucks, * reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 56% from 1998 levels in manufacturing operations, * reduction of energy use by 30% in manufacturing operations since 2000, double the target, and 19% in sales and distribution operations, * achievement of zero landfill of nonhazardous waste, defined as a 95% reduction from 1999, at manufacturing facilities in North America, * certification of two buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council as Gold LEED, and * progress toward Toyota's Recycle Vision of designing vehicles with a 95% recovery rate.
"Global corporations, with their enormous technical resources, must assume a leadership role in environmental stewardship," said Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. "We can't speak of the environment as if it is someone else's responsibility. It's everyone's responsibility to actively work together to preserve our Planet Earth for future generations.
"Toyota is proud of our accomplishments," Press continued, "but more importantly, we accept the challenge to become the best environmental company in the world."
To review the full Toyota North America Environmental Report, please visit: http://pressroom.toyota.com.
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