Toyota Material Handling gets green supply chain honor

Toyota Material Handling USA Inc. (TMHU), has been named as one of the 25 Inaugural Green Supply Chain Partners in Inbound Logistics’ listing. Chosen for this title because of their environmentally friendly solutions, the ranking demonstrates Toyota’s dedication to supply chain sustainability.

"Inbound Logistics readers have always been concerned about supply chain sustainability. After all, they are seeking to better align demand to supply through the most efficient use of corporate resources. The companies selected as this year's 25 Green Supply Chain Partners, including Toyota, have a long-standing history of driving efficiencies in their customers' operations and an internal commitment to be as lean and green as possible," explained Felecia Stratton, editor, Inbound Logistics.

The Green 25 feature is designed to provide decision support for Inbound Logistics’ readers seeking to do business with sustainable providers. To be eligible for the ranking, companies must provide logistics service with an emphasis on eco-friendly solutions. The listing includes 25 companies, which are categorized based on the services provided.

“Toyota is honored to be named to the first Green Supply Chain Partners Top 25 list,” said Brett Wood, president of Toyota Material Handling USA Inc. “Environmental leadership has been a core philosophy for Toyota for many years from research on fuel cell and hybrid lift truck solutions to achieving a zero-landfill status at our Indiana manufacturing plant Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc. This award acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our associates and dealers.”

Environmental Leadership

The Toyota 8-Series introduction in 2007 broke new barriers toward clean emission technology, becoming the World’s Cleanest Internal Combustion Lift Truck. Toyota’s catalytic muffler system coupled with an exclusive closed-loop fuel system design that adjusts and optimizes the air-fuel mixture ratio, results in a very low emission lift truck that produces 70 percent less smog forming emissions than current federal EPA standards. In addition, the 8-Series met California’s more stringent 2010 emission standards three years early.  This achievement resulted in great benefits for customers with lift truck fleets in California striving to meet the California End User Fleet Average measures.

Two years ago, Toyota unveiled the world’s first fully integrated Hydrogen Fuel Cell Lift Truck at the 2007 ProMat show in Chicago. This year’s ProMat show proved to be just as exciting with Toyota’s showcasing of its Hybrid Concept Lift Truck. The working prototype combines an internal combustion engine, a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery and a generator to produce significant fuel efficiency gains, while cutting down harmful smog forming and carbon dioxide emissions in half.

Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. also was presented the 2008 Environmental Stewardship Award by the Association of Indiana Solid Waste Management District, in the category of Outstanding Corporate Partner. TIEM also was honored as a recipient of the 2006 Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for Five Years of Continuous Improvement. The recognition was due in part to the company’s complete elimination of solid waste (a zero landfill facility) and for reducing Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) by 80 percent and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) by 33 percent in both paints and solvents by reformulating the products.  

About Toyota Material Handling USA Inc.

Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based TMHU has been the No. 1 selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002 and currently offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. TMHU, as the sole United States distributor for Aichi, now offers a line-up of aerial work lifts, including scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled boom lifts designed specifically to meet a wide range of indoor and outdoor needs.

Built on a reputation of excellence, Toyota remains the industry leader due to its quality, durability and reliability. Quality is the hallmark of Toyota’s world-renowned Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc. (TIEM). Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured at TIEM in Columbus, Ind.