As an industry largely reliant upon fossil fuels, car manufacturers are keenly aware of the issues of climate change and sustainability. In 1997 Toyota was the first to reach the market with a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle, the Prius. The company has indicated that by 2020 every Toyota model will have a hybrid option. But its environmental credentials extend beyond hybrid cars. As its Environmental Policy Manager, Jon Ward, explains, Toyota has in place sustainability programs that are part of its kaizen philosophy of continual improvement.

How has sustainability influenced design at Toyota?

Environmental sustainability is a significant driver for design innovation in the car industry. To meet this requirement, Toyota developed ECOVAS – the Eco Vehicle Assessment Scheme. It’s essentially a part-by-part assessment of vehicles each time new generation models are released. Over that model’s cycle the vehicle is continually reviewed to consider its overall sustainability, including recyclability.

How much of the vehicle is recycled at the end point?

Toyota’s aim is to achieve a 95% recycling rate for its vehicles, but this depends both on vehicle design and local industry recovery capability. For the Prius, batteries are a significant part of the footprint and those batteries achieve a 96% recycling rate.

What other sustainable initiatives have you explored?

In vehicles manufactured in Melbourne, the engine blocks are made from recycled aluminium. We receive metal in a molten state, which means we don’t have to expend energy melting it again. Toyota is also experimenting with new design materials, such as bio-fibres, instead of carbon-based fibres. For example, the floormats in Prius are made from cornstarch polymers.

Does Toyota have a program of corporate social responsibility?

We have a five-year environment plan that falls under Toyota’s ‘Earth Charter’ and a range of programs under our Toyota ‘Community Spirit’ program. We report our performance and the outcomes from these two program areas in our annual sustainability report, available from our website.

Have you set guidelines and targets for your suppliers and dealers?

All parts suppliers have to certify to the ISO14001 environmental management standard. We’ve just launched the TED (Toyota Environmental Dealership) program to encourage our dealers to measure their current performance and improve against those benchmarks over time.

Has Toyota been independently audited?

Yes we use the Global Reporting Initiative Indicators to guide our reports and we independently verify our sustainability reports and the performance of our environmental management systems.

What are the key sustainability metrics used by Toyota?

The GRI drives our reporting which covers social, environmental and financial indicators. We also measure the carbon intensity of our operations, including buildings, manufacturing, supply chain, dealers and logistics. In Australia we’ve reduced CO2 emissions by 27% per vehicle since 2005. We’ve reduced water use 40% since 1999–2000.

How can suppliers align their sustainability credentials with Toyota?

We have a green purchasing policy that sets out requirements for our suppliers. Our tenders ask for evidence of environmental initiatives, and we’re always looking to lever those relationships into greener ones.

Is there awareness among businesses to take on a sustainable approach?

Yes the business sector sees the green economy as an emerging reality, largely driven by the community’s environmental consciousness. There’s a shift from companies providing green products in their range to mainstreaming greener options across the range.

Who is the average Prius buyer?

Prius hybrids have always done well in fleets. Most companies and government departments have seen their fleet as a place to express sustainability. And, increasingly, private buyers wishing to save on fuel costs and make a difference to the environment.

What benefits have you gained from your focus on sustainability?

Environmental sustainability is a low-cost and customer-focused approach to doing business.

What can the design community do?

Designers play a key role in determining the product outcome. The design community is very aware of sustainability. Their challenge, like ours, is to mainstream this so that in 20 years, sustainable is simply how things are made.