Bengaluru: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has highlighted its environmental initiatives on World Environment Health Day, pointing to the use of 100% renewable electricity for manufacturing operations since FY2021, extensive water recycling and ongoing biodiversity conservation efforts.
The company said its environmental strategy is guided by the Toyota Earth Charter and the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, with efforts focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency and lowering the environmental impact of manufacturing.
TKM said it has been using 100% renewable electricity for its manufacturing operations since FY2021, helping reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions. The automaker is also pursuing energy-efficiency improvements through Kaizen initiatives, advanced technologies and the adoption of cleaner fuels such as Compressed Biogas.
Water management forms another significant part of the company’s sustainability programme.
According to TKM, approximately 90% of its total manufacturing water requirement is currently met through recycled water, reducing its dependence on freshwater and shared community water resources.
The company has also established a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) facility aimed at improving water recovery efficiency and further reducing freshwater consumption.
The approach effectively gives industrial water a rather long working life — an increasingly important consideration as manufacturers face pressure to reduce resource use alongside emissions.
TKM said its environmental programme also extends to suppliers through Green Purchasing Guidelines and decarbonisation initiatives intended to encourage sustainability across the wider value chain.
Biodiversity initiatives
Alongside energy and water conservation, the company has expanded biodiversity initiatives within and beyond its manufacturing premises.
TKM said more than 320,000 saplings have been planted within its premises, while approximately 790 floral species and 490 faunal species have been documented on the campus.
The company has also undertaken afforestation initiatives at Bannerghatta National Park and the Police Training Centre in Channapatna.
Environmental awareness programmes and eco-zone learning initiatives have meanwhile been conducted for students, employees and members of surrounding communities.
Mr. B. Padmanabha, Senior Executive Vice President, Manufacturing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Environmental and public health challenges are increasingly interconnected. On World Environment Health Day, we reaffirm our commitment to leading by example through innovation, responsible operations, and collaboration. Every unit of renewable energy used, every litre of water conserved, and every tree protected contributes to a healthier ecosystem and better quality of life for future generations.”
The initiatives reflect the broader shift across the manufacturing sector towards reducing emissions, conserving freshwater and incorporating environmental considerations across supply chains. For large industrial operations, the growing challenge is no longer simply producing more efficiently, but doing so while placing fewer demands on energy, water and the ecosystems around them.
