Professional Documents
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Toyota’s Creating
Green Road Sustainable Going the Distance
to Growth Mobility
Toyota’s hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid powered vehicle made
a landmark trip from Alaska to Vancouver, making a huge
stride forward in the long distance operation of a hybrid
fuel-cell system, which has no emissions other than water
“Toyota is committed to sustainable “We try to develop technology that vapor. Driving 2,300 miles (3,700 km) on hydrogen alone,
development through innovation minimizes the negative impact toward the Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV) completed the
trek from Fairbanks Alaska to Vancouver British Columbia
that balances economic growth with people and the environment while in seven days, averaging more than 300 miles (480 km)
environmental protection” maximizing the enjoyment of driving” between refuelings. The trial performed in the last quarter
- Katsuaki Watanabe - Katsuaki Watanabe of 2007 confirmed substantial progress in reliability and
durability, cold-weather operation and extended range
capability of Toyota’s hybrid fuel cell system. As with Toyota’s
A I
murmur swept through the crowd of media representatives Watanabe recognizes that economic growth must ABOVE: Katsuaki n his address to journalists at the Detroit Motor Show, Watanabe hybrid technology, Toyota’s fuel-cell program has been an
attending the Toyota press conference at the North be coordinated with the needs of our planet and society Watanabe said, “Last year, as never before, industry, government and entirely in-house initiative. All key components, including
envisions a green
American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 13. in mind. “Innovative technology is the biggest key mainstream consumers came to grips with the need to address the next-generation fuel-cell stack, battery and power
road to growth
Toyota Motor Corporation President Katsuaki Watanabe had just to achieving development that is balanced between TOP RIGHT: A global climate change. I believe we will all remember 2007 as the year management system were solely developed by Toyota.
made a stunning announcement: “By 2010, we will accelerate our economic growth and the environment,” Watanabe Toyota Fuel Cell that the world responded to a wake-up call too long ignored.” Watanabe
global plug-in hybrid R&D program. As part of this plan, we will says. “We are inspired by a core value of our company’s Hybrid Vehicle pointed out that Toyota has long promoted what it calls ‘sustainable
A L A S K A
Fort Yukon
Fairbanks
deliver a significant fleet of plug-in hybrid vehicles powered by management philosophy, The Toyota Way. It promotes (FCHV) delivered mobility,’ a vision of motor vehicles in accord with the environment. Anchorage
outstanding
lithium-ion batteries to a wide variety of customers.” The innovative respect for people, a reflection of our faith in human “Sustainable mobility recognizes that a wide variety of advanced
performance Cordova
new plug-in hybrids will be able to cover greater distances on electric ingenuity. Our long-term plan, Global Vision 2020, under cold technologies will be part of our future. But only if these technologies Y U K O N
T E R R I T O R Y Port Radium
Whitehorse
power alone, while producing significantly less CO2 than other declares our belief that we can open the frontiers of conditions can appeal to, and reach, the mass market,” Watanabe said. N O R T H W E S T
T E R R I T O R I E S
Juneau Yellowknife
hybrid vehicles. tomorrow through the energy of people and technology.” Sustainable mobility addresses four key areas. First, the vehicles
Just days before the Detroit show, Watanabe set out his vision for themselves and advanced technologies. Second, the urban
Toyota hybrid vehicles
Bear Lake Fort Chipewyan
Toyota’s future at the company’s headquarters: “Toyota cannot grow environment, where these new technologies will be used. Third, the Dawson
Prince Creek A L B E R T A
Making Nurturing
Manufacturing a Sustainable
Sustainable Society
“Environmentally-friendly vehicles ABOVE: In North America, the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, “We want to foster the development ABOVE:
Polish volunteers
Inspiring a New Generation
Thailand’s Ban
have to come from environmentally- Pho Plant has
Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS) Plant—now under
of human resources and systems plant a
Toyota’s contributions to society are diverse
construction—will also serve as a model sustainable and global. Many programs focus on the next
friendly plants”- Katsuaki Watanabe solar panels
plant. In addition to introducing innovative eco-
that contribute to sustainability community
garden generation, involving schoolchildren in educational
on its roof
to generate efficient assembly line technology, TMMMS is also worldwide”- Katsuaki Watanabe BELOW LEFT: and environmental activities. A case in point is
T
oyota is integrating its vehicle-production plants with the electricity planting native trees as part of an effort to be in What was once the Toyota Schools for Sustainable Development
A
BELOW RIGHT: desert is now
environment—by applying innovative technologies to “make harmony with the environment and local community. s an automaker, it is natural for Toyota to contribute to program supported by Toyota companies in Poland,
Toyota’s green forest
more with less,” using renewable energy, planting forests sustainable
In Europe, activities will be spearheaded by Toyota sustainability through its vehicles and plants. But Toyota the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic.
around factories and encouraging interaction with local communities. plant program Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. and Toyota Motor is also directly supporting many environmental and The program mobilizes volunteers and provides
Toyota has positioned its Tsutsumi Plant, where the Prius is is expanding Manufacturing France S.A.S. social-sustainability initiatives in other areas. A prominent example grants to schools and local community groups to
produced, as a model ‘sustainable plant’ for other Toyota sites worldwide Sustainable plant activities involve people as is the re-greening of thousands of hectares of land that had identify, plan and carry out local environmental
worldwide. The plant has achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions well as technology. “A key goal is building the eco- become deforested deserts. In China, this afforestation initiative improvements. In Poland, participants have
of approximately 50% compared to 1990 levels. Efficient use of consciousness of our team members in cooperation has included the introduction of fruit-tree cultivation techniques, refurbished playgrounds, created community
resources and installation of a 2,000kW photovoltaic generation with the surrounding community,” says Watanabe. which contribute to the livelihood of local communities. gardens, conserved historical and cultural assets,
system help reduce the environmental footprint. The local Toyota has also helped set up a center in China to foster and conducted other projects at some 30 sites.
ecosystem is improved by planting native tree species in and afforestation expertise and disseminate information on Toyota plans to expand the program throughout
around the plant. At Toyota’s Takaoka Plant, radically re-engineered Worldwide expansion greening technology. Applying the expertise gained in China, Europe in the future.
assembly lines allow cars to be made faster with less energy. of Toyota’s model plant Toyota is expanding its tree planting activities to an area of
By reducing the size of its plants and the amount of energy used in the Philippines where logging for fuel and slash-and-burn
manufacturing, Toyota aims to slash waste and CO2 emissions. Toyota agricultural methods have caused deforestation. There, it will
U.K.
Motor Thailand’s Ban Pho Plant, which opened in Jan. 2007, was built
U.S.
France
help establish a renewable forest, harvested specifically for fuel, Taking up the Challenge
with the aim of serving as an innovative model plant in the Asia- while encouraging residents to cultivate alternative cash crops like
Tsutsumi Plant,
Pacific region. Its cogeneration system maximizes energy efficiency of Thailand Aichi, Japan mangoes and cocoa beans. Watanabe is eager for Toyota to make more contributions to
conventional power, while its solar panels generate environmentally- “Our greatest desire is for our products to contribute to a better sustainability. “It’s all about taking up the challenge and not
friendly electricity. In addition, the plant recycles wastewater, employs life for people around the world, both directly and indirectly” says being afraid to make mistakes along the way. Through innovation,
water-borne metallic paint at vehicle body painting lines and has Watanabe. “Rather than just trying to do good, we think deeply we believe that we can realize an ideal mobile society in which
contributed no waste to landfill since the beginning of operations. about how our technologies may be of wider benefit.” conservation of our natural environment is compatible with
economic growth. The accumulated wisdom of generations of
Toyota innovators, which we call The Toyota Way, instructs us to
Empowering Employees meet challenges with courage and creativity, and with respect
To keep enhancing sustainability, Toyota’s plants qualify for awards. The Tsutsumi Plant holds an for people and teamwork. These are the key principles that have
seek suggestions from employees. With Toyota’s autumn festival with environmentally-themed fostered our corporate vitality for 70 years and that drive us toward
Eco-point System, employees who offer ideas events to promote the plant’s initiatives among a sustainable future for mobility, people and the planet.”
that help to reduce energy and conserve the employees, their families, and the local community.
environment, or who take part in environment- As a result, people take greater pride in their work
MIKI KUDOH
www.toyota.co.jp/en