Toyota 'taking steps to improve green credentials'

Date: 21/6/2012

Environmental issues are becoming an increasingly important part of modern life and companies across the majority of sectors will be looking at ways to make their operations greener and improve their eco credentials.

The automotive industry is no different - and the rise in popularity of electronic vehicles is testament to the way in which people are picking up on the need to be greener.

Toyota is one of the businesses trying to make a difference and has so far succeeded in reducing its carbon footprint by hundreds of tonnes of CO2 a year through a series of intelligent measures.

Among the improvements it has made are the introduction of new lighting systems, adjusting the performance of its air conditioning system and changes to the hours during which it operates.

According to the car manufacturer, this has allowed it to reduce its gas and electricity usage "by a considerable margin".

At Toyota's vehicle import centre in Portbury, Bristol, LED lighting has been installed in the parking compounds and workshops. This is complemented by a central lighting control system and an efficient air conditioning unit. As a result, gas consumption has declined by 17 per cent and the amount of electricity the site uses has experienced a 23 per cent decline.

Manager of Corporate Planning and CSR at the firm Thomas Rosselle said: "Toyota is world-famous for making cars that are environmentally efficient, but the company has a 360-degree approach to environmental matters that takes in every aspect of its operations."

He added that the work it is currently undertaking to reduce carbon emissions is evidence of its commitment in this area.

Toyota manufactures the Prius, which it claims is "the world's favourite hybrid" vehicle, delivering carbon emissions of 89g/km and boasting a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

By 2013, the manufacturer wants to reduce the combined emissions from all of its sites. In 2009, the figure stood at 3,873 tonnes of CO2 - the equivalent of driving a Prius 27 million miles - and the firm hopes to lower this by 20 per cent.

Posted by Nick Anderson