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August 29, 2000
Toyota Leads Suppliers into Green Parade
In the greening of the automobile industry, Toyota once again asserts its leadership by requiring
suppliers to be environmentally responsible.
SocialFunds.com --
Auto manufacturers have launched a number of environmental initiatives to respond to the concerns
of investors and consumers, from emissions controls to futuristic alternative fuel vehicles. Toyota
Motor Corporation continues to raise the bar of environmental responsibility, this time by issuing
environmental guidelines to suppliers.
Toyota challenged 500 suppliers across North
America to adopt environmental standards specified in its publication, "Green Supplier Guidelines:
Leadership in Environmental Performance" distributed this month. The suppliers, who provide parts,
materials, and components directly or indirectly to Toyota, are now required to participate in
environmental initiatives launched at Toyota plants.
"Toyota has a unique relationship
with its suppliers," said Teruyuki Minoura, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Manufacturing of
North America (TMMNA). "We are known for expecting them to share our high quality standards. Now we
are asking them to join us in becoming environmental leaders."
Toyota, the Japanese auto
giant employing more than 30,000 in North America, has been an environmental leader in both product
and process since it established its worldwide "Earth Charter" in 1992. Now their "Green Supplier
Guidelines" extend the company's environmental commitment beyond its own direct processes to the
business relationships and partnerships it maintains with its North American supplier community.
Among the initiatives being promoted by Toyota is for their suppliers to obtain
International Standardization Organization (ISO) 14001 certification, a globally recognized
certification of environmental management standards, by the end of 2003. Toyota itself has
committed to gaining ISO 14001 certification for all of its North American manufacturing plants and
facilities by the end of 2000.
Toyota is also requiring compliance with a chemical ban,
identifying approximately 450 chemicals and substances that suppliers of raw materials must phase
out from new and/or reformulated materials beginning immediately. Toyota developed its initial
chemical ban list based on an evaluation of toxic chemicals regulated worldwide, a list which will
be updated regularly.
Suppliers are also required to develop policies and procedures to
comply with all applicable state, federal, and international requirements for transporting
hazardous materials. Once again, this mandate merely follows Toyota's own commitment to safe
transportation of hazardous materials, including training Toyota employees to perform their jobs
safely.
"For our own North American plants, we have defined tough standards for being
environmentally responsible," said Kevin Butt, TMMNA assistant general manager for environmental
affairs. "We are now working with our business partners to join Toyota to continually improve
environmental performance."
Toyota's attention to environmentally responsible production
is only surpassed by its products, including the Prius, the world's first passenger vehicle in mass
production to be powered by a gasoline/electric hybrid power train. On the road in Japan since
1997, this car is now available through U.S. dealerships and gets a stunning 52 miles per gallon in
city driving.
In recognition of Toyota's environmental leadership, the United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) awarded the company their Global 500 Award last year, the first such
award received by an automaker. Toyota's "Green Supplier Guidelines" initiative to boost the
environmental performance of suppliers stands to confirm the company's commitment to the Earth.
©
SRI World Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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