Toyota Plant Wins Environmental Excellence Award

Dec. 1, 2011
Toyota’s Columbus, Ind., lift truck manufacturing plant, Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), was awarded the Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the category Five Years of Continuous Improvement. This is the third time TIEM received this award.

Toyota’s Columbus, Ind., lift truck manufacturing plant, Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), was awarded the Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the category Five Years of Continuous Improvement. This is the third time TIEM received this award.

“By seeking out and utilizing innovative environment practices, TIEM has reduced waste, saved money and contributed greatly to Indiana’s environmental protection efforts, benefiting the health and welfare of the state’s communities,” said Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Thomas Easterly.

“One of TIEM’s management principles is to be a good corporate citizen,” said Toshiya Yamagishi, president of TIEM. “We are proud of our associates’ commitment to environmental programs and practices that support our community.”

Among the improvements made by TIEM’s Environmental Management Program include:

• Reformulating paints and using solvents;
• Improving transfer efficiencies;
• Improving maintenance of and annually calibrating water flow monitors on high water usage equipment; and
• Reducing and more closely monitoring watering of lawns.

Specific results TIEM achieved over the past five years include:

• Volatile Organic Compounds emissions reduced by 55.5 percent and HAP emissions reduced by 34.5 percent;
• Non-harzardous waste reduced by 62 percent;
• Harzardous waste reduced by 21.6 percent and
• Water usage reduced by 24 percent or 2.156 million gallons.

TIEM's recycling efforts also benefit the local Make a Wish Foundation, Heads-Up Foundation and Riley Children’s Hospital. TIEM also supports the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management - Recycling Center to help teach Indiania residents the value of recycling, pollution prevention and environmental issues.