Toyota PH wants Laguna facility to be carbon-neutral by 2035

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) is fast-tracking its plan to make the facility in Santa Rosa, Laguna carbon-neutral.

In a statement, the leading automotive manufacturer in the country said that it is eyeing to reach its “Plant Carbon Neutrality” (PCN) target in 2035, shaving off 15 years from the original goal (2050). The accelerated objective, TMP said, is aligned with the brand’s new aim to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of all production sites.  

The goal was shared as TMP unveiled its expanded 1.46-megawatt (MW) solar facility that powers its manufacturing plant and head office — the same establishment that produces the Vios and Innova in the country.

The recently-unveiled structure has increased the company’s solar power system capacity by 0.46 MW, furthering its minimum renewable energy (RE) ratio to 18 percent.

“With as much as two million kilowatt-hours of derivable clean energy per year, TMP’s onsite RE will contribute to 7-10 percent of the total energy requirement for manufacturing and non-manufacturing operations,” TMP explained.

The 1.46-MW Solar Array project is a P94-million investment for TMP that is expected to cut down its emissions by as much as 1,400 tons of CO2 annually — or equivalent to 2.9 million trees planted over 20 years.

TMP shared that last year, TMP created the PCN roadmap to set clear targets under the two pillars of RE Utilization and Energy Efficiency. The said pillars serve as guide on how TMP will achieve its PCN target by using 100-percent RE from onsite and offsite power sources, applying smart technologies and operational efficiencies in manufacturing, as well as using modern machineries that lean on alternative fuel or energy sources.

“For TMP, I am confident to say that Plant Carbon Neutrality by 2035 is possible. We have 13 years left before our deadline, and we are working continuously to achieve 100 percent RE by also exploring offsite power sources,” TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto said during the inauguration.

The Company started its investment in RE in 2018 with the first-phase installation of one-megawatt TMP Solar Array, a flagship initiative to achieve one of TMP’s commitments to the TEC (Toyota Environmental Challenge) 2050, particularly “Challenge 3: Plant Zero CO2 Emissions.”

The second phase is the latest addition of 0.46-MW capacity, which started in March 2022. MSpectrum, Inc., an RE company and subsidiary of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), installed a total of 3,486 panels on TMP’s main building in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.

Through TEC 2050, TMP is also looking at reducing indirect emissions that occur in its value chain. TMP implements process improvement activities in logistics operations from the transportation of parts to the delivery of vehicles to the dealerships. Currently, a total eight suppliers and 26 Toyota dealers have also invested in RE facilities or entered into RE purchase agreements.

Moreover, TMP has the widest line-up of hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) models that gives customers eco-friendly mobility options.

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines

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