The Story of Sakichi Toyoda
Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of Toyota Industries Corporation, possessed a strong ambition to contribute to society from his days as a youth. He had devoted his 63-year-long life to invention.
Embracing environmental trends as a crucial business issue at the dawn of the 21st century, Toyota Industries compiled the Third Environmental Action Plan in August 2000 to put environmental protection activities on a Group-wide footing, including consolidated subsidiaries, with a common basic policy and action guidelines, to achieve harmony with the global environment and contribute to the formation of an environmentally sound, sustainable, recycling-based society.
The Third Environmental Action Plan comprises four items: "Toyota Industries' Basic Philosophy," "Basic Policies," "Action Guidelines" and "Environmental Action Plans."
(1)Thoroughly implement environmental considerations in development and design
(2)Promote Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)
(1)Further reduce environmental impact through resource and energy conservation
(2)Voluntarily set, carry out, and monitor goals through the Environmental Committee
(1)Strengthen cooperation between the Company and its affiliates and suppliers
(2)Firmly grasp environmental protection expenses and cost efficiency
(1)Engage in the creation of an environmentally sound, sustainable, recycling-based society
(2)Thoroughly implement active information disclosure and communicate with local communities
Action Guidelines | Goal | Action Policy |
1. Develop and provide clean products with minimal environmental impact |
Improve fuel efficiency |
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Reduce exhaust emissions |
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Development of clean energy vehicles*2 |
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Improve recyclability |
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Control and reduce volumes of substances with environmental impact |
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Reduce noise |
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Prevent global warming due to car air conditioners |
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More thoroughly conduct environmental assessments at the development and design stages |
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Strengthen cooperation with business partners |
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2. Promote manufacturing that strives for Zero Emissions*4 |
Set global warming preventive measures |
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Strictly control and reduce the use of hazardous substances |
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Reduce waste and conserve resources |
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Curtail water usage |
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Conduct logistics streamlining measures |
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3. Expand environmental management systems |
Expand environmental management systems |
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Enhance environmental accounting systems |
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4. Actively participate in public environmental protection efforts as a responsible corporate citizen |
Make efforts to create a recycling-oriented society |
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Promote social contribution activities |
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Promote public relations and disclosure activities |
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*1 EPP: Procurement of parts and materials that considers the supplier's ISO 14001 status and the presence of hazardous substances in the procured materials and parts
*2 Clean-Energy Vehicles: Electric forklift trucks and compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered forklift trucks
*3 HFCs: Hydrofluorocarbons. HFCs were used as substitutes for CFCs, but pressure has risen to reduce their use because they contribute to global warming.
*4 Zero Emissions: Toyota Industries defines zero emissions as reducing emissions to a level equivalent to at least 95% of landfill waste
*5 PRTR: Pollutant Release and Transfer Register
*6 VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds