Toyota is trying to get more people to connect with its environmental message and has recently updated its sustainability website with feature stories and videos. The brand also released its 2022 Annual Report on Green Metrics.
The latest report is part of an automaker trend toward full and frank disclosure of their environmental progress toward stated goals. “As a company, we are always striving to do better,” said Kevin Butt, senior director of environmental sustainability at Toyota Motor North America. “New charts and features will highlight the progress we’re making through relevant data and relatable stories.”
So how is Toyota doing? As per the report, the company has:
- increased its purchase of renewable energy;
- reduced water in its operation;
- reduced packaging waste;
- launched a campaign to encourage dealers to improve their environmental performance;
- Asked for suppliers to operate more efficiently and sustainably;
- And Detailed Efforts to protect important species including pollinators.
Assesses progress towards the goals set forth in Toyota’s 2022 Environment Report.Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
- 52% Models from Toyota and Lexus have electrified options;
- 22% Toyota Motor North America’s electricity will come from renewable sources by 2023;
- 248 Shunt trucks (also known as terminal tractors, jockey trucks, and yard spotters, which are used to move trailers around) will be converted to electric by 2025;
- 132 restored million gallons of water to the Hardy River (in the Colorado River Delta) through a partnership with The Nature Conservancy;
- 19% reduction in the weight of plastic packaging between FY 2018 and 2022;
- 93% recycle, reuse or repurpose all waste in 2021;
- 1,922 acres of pollinator habitat developed.
Another feature from Toyota is that it launched its first fully electric vehicle, the bZ4X for the US and Canadian markets, with Lexus as the second EV in the works. While this is indeed an achievement, it is a slow pace of electrification compared to other Asian automakers. For example, Hyundai has the IONIQ 5 crossover SUV and soon the IONIQ 6 sedan, as well as the less expensive Kona SUV.
John M. Vincent / USN&WR
Toyota also assessed its progress towards achieving the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. “And now, there is much more to be done. We will not see progress on such a large scale overnight.
To reach UN climate change targets, Toyota said it is working to “improve fuel economy and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) from new vehicles by increasing the number of electrified Toyota and Lexus models.” ” The launch of the 2023 Toyota Prius was a highlight, and Toyota’s fleet fuel economy is expected to increase from 25 to 27.1 mpg between 2016 and 2021, according to the important EPA Automotive Trends report.
The average fuel economy of the entire auto fleet, negatively affected by consumers’ overwhelming preference for gas-guzzling SUVs, is 25.4 mpg. Toyota was one of six companies, along with Tesla, Honda, Ford, Subaru and Volvo, to meet emissions standards without a flaw. Five companies, Hyundai, Mazda, VW, GM and Stellaantis, actually emitted worse than they did five years ago. According to the report, Mazda saw the biggest increase, followed by Volkswagen and GM.
