360° APPROACH
LEXUS' ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS HAVE GROWN OUT OF A GENUINE RESPECT AND CONCERN FOR THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT. WORK THROUGH THE 5-STEP PROCESS TO LEARN HOW LEXUS REDUCES ITS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE WORLD AROUND IT.
AIM: ZERO EMISSIONS
AT LEXUS WE BELIEVE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD THE INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE.
We believe that environmental sustainability is the single biggest challenge facing our industry and our society this century. Our response affects not only our products but every aspect of our business and every person in it.
Guided by a clear vision of sustainable mobility, we are:
- Pioneering ground-breaking environmental technologies such as hybrid cars
- Reducing the environmental impact of all our operations
- Minimising the natural resources we use in manufacture and maximising recycling and reuse
- Working with local communities to improve the quality of the environment
We call this our 360° approach to environmental leadership. We strive to achieve zero emissions, with zero waste across every part of our business. We believe that given the time and skills, and through Kaizen (the Japanese word for “continuous improvement”), this is possible. We believe that the growth and success of Lexus depend on it.
STEP ONE: PRODUCT AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
TO ACHIEVE LOWER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PLAN AND MEASURE PROGRESS. SO WE UTILISE 'LIFE CYCLE THINKING', A COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS OF CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE RESOURCES CONSUMED AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH PRESSURES ASSOCIATED WITH OUR PRODUCTS.
We are pioneering the use of high-recovery materials, and researching and using parts that are easy to recycle at the end of their usable life to help easy recycling and recovery. Even the least visible parts of a Lexus are designed with this in mind: recycled bumpers are being used to make trim for the luggage compartment and recycled, shredded soundproofing material is used for the silencer behind the dashboard.
Car door trims are now made with the stem of kenaf – a member of the hibiscus family – rather than the woodchips previously used.
Kenaf absorbs between two and five times as much CO2 than other plants and is mixed with old waste bumpers from car repair shops to make door trim that is lighter, has better sound-proofing and uses material that doesn’t deplete forests.
"WE HAVE DEVELOPED INFINITELY RECYCLABLE PLASTIC - USED IN ALL OUR VEHICLES AND NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL CAR MANUFACTURERS."
STEP TWO: PRODUCTION
At Lexus we believe it is our responsibility to lead the industry’s response to the environmental challenge. We believe that environmental sustainability is the single biggest challenge facing our industry and our society this century. Our response affects not only our products but every aspect of our business and every person in it.
We call this our 360° approach to environmental leadership. We strive to achieve zero emissions, with zero waste across every part of our business. We believe that given the time and skills, and through Kaizen (the Japanese word for “continuous improvement”), this is possible. We believe that the growth and success of Lexus depend on it.
STEP THREE: LOGISTICS
Lexus' environmental concerns range from the gathering and transporting of raw materials to the processing and assembly of vehicle parts, and from the processes at our centre showrooms to the handling of materials at the end of a vehicle's life..
However we have managed to reduce our logistics miles by 3,057 miles a year, which has enabled a saving of 1,020 tonnes of CO2. This has been achieved by planning our transport routes carefully and by doubling the payload per truck.
STEP FOUR: RECYCLING END OF LIFE VEHICLES
THE END OF LIFE VEHICLE DIRECTIVE SEEKS TO PREVENT AND LIMIT WASTE, IMPROVE REUSE, RECYCLING AND THE RECOVERY OF END OF LIFE VEHICLES
Lexus endorses the Directive's requirements and as part of the implementation has introduced a policy of free take-back for all qualifying Lexus vehicles.
We have appointed Autogreen as our service provider to manage the free take-back scheme; they can provide advice on whether or not your vehicle qualifies for free take-back and the location of your nearest take-back facility. For more information, please visit www.autogreen.eu
At Lexus we work on a global scale to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment. In choosing a business partner for End of Life Vehicle recovery and recycling, it was essential that the highest standards were demonstrated, ensuring Lexus owners are given a responsible, reliable and efficient service for the final disposal of their vehicles.
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
We have been taking steps to reduce our impact on the environment, long before European legislation made it a requirement. We have reduced or eliminated the use of heavy metals such as lead*, cadmium and mercury that can cause long-term environmental damage if not disposed of properly. We use lead-free car parts and anti-corrosion treatments and mercury-free lighting and switches. We also avoid using solvents and paints that contain harmful substances.
We fully comply with REACH, the European regulation on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals, and work with all our business partners to ensure they also understand their duties and responsibilities. REACH activities take place in every part of our business, including manufacturing, parts and accessories. It is our intention to become a world leader in the field of safe chemicals and other chemical regulations.
*Except in starter batteries as indicated in the exemptions in Annex II of Commission Directive 2000/53
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) Information
Article 33 of the REACH Regulation states that customers must be informed about the presence of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in our products. You may find your vehicle information in list below:
