Jan 1 2008
"Sustainable plant" activities emphasize the role of nature in creating production sites that harmonize with their natural surroundings. Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) aims to create and operate such production sites with the following three perspectives in mind:
- Achieving groundbreaking environmental performance by introducing innovative technology and kaizen (improvement) activities
- Reducing CO2 by using renewable energy, including biomass and natural energy sources, such as solar power and wind power
- Contributing to the local community and conserving the environment by planting trees at plants
The model plant chosen for the Americas is Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS). This is a cutting-edge plant currently under construction in the U.S. state of Mississippi intended to begin operation around 2010. In addition to introducing an innovative line, TMMMS is also actively promoting tree-planting activities as part of an effort to live in harmony with the environment and the local community.
In Europe, the two model plants are Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. (TMUK) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S. (TMMF), while in Asia the model plant is Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. (TMT).
In particular TMT's Ban Pho Plant, which became operational in January 2007, was constructed with the aim of being an innovative plant in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of its production technology and environmental response. For example, in addition to its cogeneration system and solar panels, the plant recycles wastewater, employs water-borne metallic paint at vehicle body paint lines and has achieved zero landfill waste from the beginning of its operations. TMT intends to begin planting trees at and around the plant in the near future.
TMC will formulate concrete initiatives for each plant giving consideration to the specific characteristics of each particular region and plant. In the future, it plans to gradually initiate the activities at other vehicle and component plants both in Japan and overseas to make sustainable plants a reality.