This is the seventh consecutive year that Cameron-Cole has assisted Toyota North America with the publication of its corporate environmental report.  The report, 2007 North America Environmental Report:  Challenge, Commitment, Progress, and its supplementary publication, Highlights, can be viewed at www.toyota.com/about/environment.

“Cameron-Cole facilitated the overall process of developing the 2007 North America Environmental Report,” said Rick Gezelle, manager, Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Environment, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.  “As they have done for seven years, they provided competitive benchmarks, assisted in content design, scoping, and writing.  Their knowledge and professionalism have been valuable assets to our reporting efforts in the seven years we have been working with them.”

In the report, Toyota addresses issues considered to be most critical to Toyota’s environmental footprint, including its vision and action, energy and climate change, recycling and improved resource use, substances of concern, air quality, environmental management, and cooperation with society.

“Toyota’s approach to reducing CO2 is far broader than just a commitment to fuel economy standards,” said Dian Ogilvie, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America. “We take these targets very seriously. Our environmental reports show a consistent history of achieving - and in many cases exceeding - our targets. We believe that the combination of actions we are taking will all play a part in meeting the challenges we all face.”

2007 marked the 50th anniversary of Toyota doing business in North America.  Benchmarks discussed in the report include:

• In 2007, 90% of all Toyota, Lexus and Scion cars have been certified as Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles or better.
• Toyota has reduced Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions from painting operations by 39% since FY2003.
• Average energy consumption per vehicle produced has been reduced by 22% since FY2002.
• Toyota’s North American plants achieved zero waste to landfill (defined as a 95% or greater reduction in waste to landfill from 1999 levels), and have maintained this status.
• Toyota continues to make great strides in recycling and improved resource use through its returnable container program, recycling programs, and reduction in water use per vehicle.  In FY2007, the returnable container program in Toyota parts distribution centers saved 3.4 million pounds of cardboard and 9.8 million pounds of wood, resulting in a savings of $5.3 million in packaging costs.  In FY2007, the U.S. sales headquarters campus exceeded its target of recycling 60% of its waste by recycling 64%. They also reduced their water use per vehicle produced by 20% since 2003.
• Readers are encouraged to use the new and updated environmental report Web site: www.toyota.com/environment allowing for a reduction in printed copies and therefore a reduction in resource use.
• Toyota reached a milestone this year of a million sales of its hybrid vehicles, over half of which were sold in North America.
• Toyota, which established operations in North America in 1957, now directly employs over 40,000 people with the direct investment here currently valued at more than $18 billion.

Susan Ellis, of Cameron-Cole said, "Cameron-Cole is thrilled to have helped Toyota produce its seventh North America Environmental Report. The report's new format and its expanded presence on the Web will make it easier for readers to learn about Toyota's environmental initiatives."