Toyota is set to enhance its commitment to sustainability by launching a Circular Factory at its Toyota Motor Europe (TME) manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire.
Scheduled to commence operations in the third quarter of this year, the facility will serve as a pioneering hub for maximising the recycling, repurposing, and remanufacturing of end-of-life vehicles.
The initiative, which will run alongside Burnaston’s primary production of Toyota Corolla vehicles, is poised to become a benchmark for future recycling operations across Europe and beyond. The Toyota Circular Factory aims to significantly reduce environmental impact by integrating innovative recycling processes while setting new standards for sustainable automotive manufacturing worldwide.
Toyota’s Circular Factory initiative represents the core of Toyota Motor Europe’s (TME) recycling strategy, centred on three key areas: reusable parts, remanufacturable commodity items, and recyclable materials.
Under this approach, reusable parts will be reintroduced into the market through retailers and parts distributors, while commodity items such as batteries and wheels will be carefully evaluated for further use. Additionally, Toyota aims to recycle essential raw materials—including aluminium, copper, steel, and plastic—and incorporate them into the production of new vehicle components to minimise reliance on virgin resources.
TME anticipates recycling approximately 10,000 vehicles annually at its Burnaston facility, extending the life of 120,000 parts while recovering 300 tonnes of high-purity plastic and 8,200 tonnes of steel.
Leon van der Merwe, Vice President of Circular Economy for TME, said, "As a next step for the Toyota Circular Factory concept, we plan to roll out similar operations across Europe."
"We are eager to collaborate with other organisations who share our passion for circularity and commitment to carbon neutrality."
TME aims to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2040, with all its owned facilities reaching this milestone by 2030. By 2035, Toyota plans to eliminate CO₂ emissions entirely across its European product lineup.
Image credit: ITVX
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