Toyota do Brasil promotes an environmental agenda focused on carbon neutrality

On June 5th, Environment Day is celebrated and Toyota wants to reaffirm its position with a more environmental footprint

Environmental Action Plan  – Toyota proposes to exert a positive impact through actions linked to the premises agreed in its 2050 Global Environmental Challenge, organizing cycles of environmental goals established every five years through the Environmental Action Plan. The year 2021 represented the beginning of Toyota's 7th Environmental Action Plan (EAP). A five-year plan, which considers short- and medium-term goals to help meet the global challenge of sustainability process by 2050 or earlier, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

In the first year of the 7th EAP, as the plan is known internally, Toyota do Brasil reaps the positive results and lessons learned, reaching 99% of the goals. 

Challenges up to 2025 include: reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles sold, with increased sales of electrified models, reaching 166 units by 2025; commitment to engage the entire value chain in the sustainable agenda; reduce the impacts caused by industrial operations, with a 25% reduction in total CO2 emissions in its factories (base year 2013); 35% reduction in water use in cubic meters per vehicle at factories; 25% reduction in the generation of industrial waste and expand the relationship with the community, to create a society in harmony with nature. 

Results

For the increase in sales of electrified, Toyota is betting on expanding its portfolio in the country. In 2019, it launched the 12th generation of the Corolla sedan equipped with the unprecedented flex hybrid technology. In 2021, it increased the hybrid flex portfolio with the Corolla Cross. In addition, it also sells hybrid vehicles imported from Japan, the Rav4 and the Camry, totaling four electrified Toyota models, in addition to the Lexus portfolio, which is 100% electrified. It has also been working on its plan for 2025 to have an electrified version of every model sold in Brazil. With this scenario, the brand’s vehicles represent 61% of the total electrified vehicles sold in the country. 

With the value chain, Toyota planned several collective goals and performance evaluation methods, to guarantee continuity and improvement in the sustainability actions of its partners. In terms of logistics, it changed routes and vehicles used for transport, in order to reduce the use of fuel and, consequently, the emission of gases that cause the greenhouse effect. As a result, it reduced CO2 emissions by 5% in transport compared to 2013.

The chain's involvement extends to suppliers, where 100% carry out global chemical management, 85% have ISO 14001 certification – directly linked to environmental management. In addition, suppliers that are part of the Brazilian Suppliers Association (BRASA) – with the support of Toyota's Sustainability team – contributed to the reduction of 887 tons of waste, the reduction of 55 thousand liters of water and 1,4 million tons in CO2 emissions over the last four years.

The actions are also present in the concessionaires, with the EcoDealer program, which recognizes the efforts in actions of the sustainable agenda. In the last six years, there have been 86 socio-environmental projects, with an impact on 25 people, a reduction in the consumption of 9 liters of water, and a reduction of 5,5 tons in carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

Industrial Operation 

In its industrial operation, Toyota constantly changes and adapts its processes to optimize energy use and reduce resource consumption.

Other continuous actions in the industrial process, such as the purchase of 100% certified energy from wind sources and kaizens (improvements) on the factory floor, which have contributed to a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions at the plants since 2013.

The brand has its own industrial effluent treatment plant that contributes to reducing water consumption, as part of the treated effluent is reused by the production process. Other actions such as the use of rainwater, optimization of use in processes, the closed circuit in the bodywork pre-treatment process, among others, helped to reduce water consumption by 47% compared to 2013. 

Waste management is also one of the objects worked on at the company, which recycles 99% of these materials generated in the production process and which are sent to partner companies. Some examples of the reuse of these wastes can be found in the operation cycle:  

• Paint sludge is reused as an energy source in cement production kilns; 
• The aluminum risers become components of orthopedic prostheses; 
• the fabrics of airbags, seat belts and old employee uniforms are transformed into new products through the ReTornar project, including clothing for pets; 
• Uniforms and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) become raw material for the Corolla sedan's acoustic insulation; 
• As vehicle batteries they are part of a university study program for research and development of new uses before being given their final destination. 

For vehicles at the end of their life cycle, the automaker entered into a partnership in March 2021 with the startup GWA, which performs proper disassembly to seek to improve the quality of recycling in vehicles in the country. 

Society in harmony with nature

Toyota do Brasil is also betting on the concept ecofactory, which includes several projects and initiatives to make the plant eco-efficient. As a long-term project, the highlight is the 10 years of Morizukuri, which idealized a forest around the factory in Sorocaba, SP, capturing 383 tons of CO2 in the atmosphere since the beginning of the project and contributing to the improvement of water quality , fauna and flora in the region. 

To get even closer to the community, Toyota do Brasil works together with the Toyota Foundation, supporting socio-environmental projects, such as ReTornar, which, in addition to upcycling – creative reuse of products, works to generate jobs and income and train women in Sorocaba and Indaiatuba, SP, through a partnership with a group of seamstresses. 

The Foundation also supports initiatives such as the Arara Azul Project, in the Pantanal, which removed the species from the Brazilian list of endangered animals. The Toyota Foundation of Brazil has sponsored, since 2011, the Pantanal Expedition initiative. In the same year, the entity started the Toyota APA Costa dos Corais, in partnership with the Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica and the Federal Government's Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). In the Southeast, the entity develops Águas da Mantiqueira, a biodiversity conservation survey focused on the orderly use of watersheds in the Serra da Mantiqueira. To encourage diversity, the Toyota Foundation supports the Women in Conservation project, which gives visibility to female researchers in the field of science.

“Putting into practice the commitments assumed is one of our premises and is part of Toyota's strategic direction. Our own ESG agenda was determined from the perspective of developing projects, programs, plans and people for an end: long-term sustainable development and contribution to a society in harmony with nature. And this is reflected inside and outside the home. In 2021 we had a continuity of the challenges that the pandemic brought, but, despite that, we managed to fulfill our objectives in an exemplary way”, explains Viviane Mansi, regional director of Communication and Sustainability at Toyota. 

About the Action Plan 

The seventh Environmental Action Plan is part of Toyota's 2050 Environmental Challenge, which includes six challenges for the company around the world: 1 – Zero CO2 emissions in new vehicles; 2 – Lifecycle with zero CO2 emissions (from manufacturing, through marketing and recycling of vehicles); 3 – Zero emission at factories (clean energy); 4 – Minimize the use of water in industrial processes; 5 – Establish a society based on recycling; and 6 – Build a society in harmony with nature (investment in incentive, awareness and influence projects and reinforce partnerships in favor of preservation). To fulfill this long-term project, Toyota is betting on five-year milestones, with annual objectives to monitor the development of actions and redirect efforts.

The results of previous years can be accessed using this link: For more information, see our Annual report. 

About Toyota do Brasil

Toyota do Brasil has been present in the country for over 60 years. It has four production units located in the cities of Indaiatuba, Sorocaba, Porto Feliz and São Bernardo do Campo and employs more than 5 thousand people. In 2020, it launched the KINTO, his new mobility company, to offer services such as car rental and fleet management to a changing society. It also reinforced its GAZOO brand, through initiatives that challenge the excellence of its vehicles. Its mission is to produce happiness on a large scale and, for that, it is committed to developing increasingly better and safer cars, in addition to advancing mobility solutions. The company contributes to society through its own business, with actions aimed at reducing the risk of accidents, improving vehicle traffic and increasing the use of renewable energies, and also for being a good corporate citizen. Along with the Toyota do Brasil Foundation, it has initiatives that reflect on the 17 UN sustainable development goals. More information: www.toyota-global.com e www.toyota.com.br.