Aim: Zero Emissions; Toyota's Drive towards Sustainable Mobility

BRUSSELS, Belgium--Can we enjoy a cleaner environment whilst continuing to drive our cars? Toyota believes that we can. While exhaust emissions are the most visible sign of how cars can negatively affect the environment, every part of a car’s life cycle has an impact. That’s why Toyota applies innovative environmental solutions to car design, manufacture and use, right through to recycling.

“It’s the only way to reach our ultimate aim of zero emissions,” says Eric Drosin, Manager Corporate Communications, Toyota Motor Europe.

Toyota Motor Europe is actively promoting its ‘aim: zero emissions’ ethos through a pan-European print and interactive campaign on leading websites such as iht.com, economist.com, ft.com and nationalgeographic.com. Equally, ‘Green Design’ movies, sponsored by Toyota, highlight cutting-edge environmental technologies which bring tangible benefits to consumers today. These are currently featured on major television channels including Euronews, BBC World and National Geographic.

Toyota has effectively set the pace towards zero emissions vehicles with its hybrid engine technology – the cleanest engine technology on the market. Toyota launched the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car – the Prius – in 1997, and is recognised as the leading manufacturer of hybrid vehicles, with over 750,000 sold to date. Today, Toyota has the most extensive hybrid model line up of any car manufacturer. Within the next few years, Toyota will expand its hybrid model line up two-fold, and expects to sell over 1 million hybrid cars annually by the early 2010s.

The company’s commitment to reducing energy, water, paint and packaging waste during the manufacturing process is designed to further limit environmental impact. The Toyota Production System (TPS) has resulted in tangible environmental benefits across Toyota’s eight European plants: a 37% reduction in energy used to build each car; a 34% reduction in water usage; a 21% reduction in emissions from paint usage; and a significant reduction in packaging waste, by using returnable or recyclable packaging.

Toyota recognises the clear link between mobility, the environment and economic growth, and believes that the growth of its business depends on the success of sustainable mobility.

“Sustainable mobility is good for everyone: consumers, the environment and Toyota,” adds Mr Drosin, “We’re developing advanced technologies in order to protect the environment, as well as ensure our continued growth.”

For more about Toyota’s environmental initiatives www.aimzeroemissions.eu