Toyota's Cleaner Greener Auto Show

Jody DeVere -- Ask Patty — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:03:01 -0600

A recent Toyota advertising campaign touts their "zero emissions vision" and acknowledges the company's drive towards zero waste in all of their plants. In fact, in the spring of 2003 Toyota's Huntsville, Alabama, plant became the first of eight Toyota plants in the United States that are "zero landfill producing" facilities.

To achieve this claim, the company has reduced raw material usage; has increased recycling of water, plastic, and scrap steel; and composts cafeteria waste for use in landscaping and employee gardens. Toyota's Torrance, California, South Campus is built of materials containing recycled content, uses recycled water, and gets 20 percent of its power from solar panels on the roof.

Offering the Toyota Prius, Highlander, and Camry Hybrid along with the Lexus RX 400h, GS 450h and LS 600h as evidence, the company boasts it has sold more than a million Toyota and Lexus hybrids around the world and claims those vehicles have kept millions of pounds of C02 out of the atmosphere.

As part of its current "Why Not" advertising campaign, Toyota's informational Toyota.com/whynot web site presents an assortment of eco-friendly factoids that demonstrate how the company strives to manufacture vehicles which achieve industry-leading fuel economy and low emissions, contributes to the American economy, supports local community programs, and provides customers with the products they want at prices they can afford.

As if all this is not enough, here's another green aspect of Toyota's eco-friendly marketing plan: The "Cleaner Greener" display at the Chicago Auto Show. Everywhere we looked throughout their vehicle stand, we found little signs telling us about how each particular item - from the carpet to the wall displays - was environmentally friendly.

On the wall was this one: "The fabric graphic panels and overhead canopies in the Toyota display are made from post-industrial and post-consumer content using non-toxic inks."

On the carpet was one placard (among others) that said "The carpet you are standing on is constructed with Olefin fiber, which contains 28% recycled content from plastic bottles and other plastic materials. 54% of the carpet backing is made from post-industrial and post-consumer recycled content."

Looks like they've got all their surfaces covered. You can read more about Toyota's environmental plan at Toyota.com/whynot

Jody DeVere
President
www.askpatty.com
www.carblabber.com

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Toyota's Cleaner Greener Auto Show