Toyota

Toyota Australia’s environmental vision is to achieve environmental leadership across the entire vehicle lifecycle; from the suppliers of our components and materials; to our operations and those of our dealer network.

In May 2010 we launched the Toyota Environmental Dealership (TED) program to Toyota Dealerships nationwide. The new program aims to integrate environmental thinking and sustainable business practices into the daily operations of Toyota Dealerships and to encourage Dealers to continuously improve their environmental performance.

While several state-based small business environmental programs operate across Australia, no national programs exist. In response, TED was developed to provide a nationwide small business environment program tailored for Toyota Dealerships. TED is activity-based and membership to the program is free for Toyota Dealerships.

TED provides Dealers with a practical roadmap to achieve environmental gains, and to the countless ways their small businesses can bring about positive environmental change.

TED is a 5 star benchmarking program. 5 stars correspond to the top 10 per cent of national performance for that activity, which is based on the model of 5 star buildings, appliances and hotels.

TED allocates points for environmental action against seven environmental dimensions being:

1. Risk management and commitment
2. Energy use
3. Recycling and waste management
4. Water use
5. Environmentally preferred purchasing
6. Employee training and communications
7. Social contribution and innovation

Dealerships can be awarded 3, 4 or 5 stars for their overall environmental performance.

TED works by allocating up to three points for performance against each of the seven dimensions. One base point for achieving the minimum performance standard and a further two points for carrying out two of the improvement initiatives activities from a list of options. A pilot was conducted to assist in establishing these standards and options.

A Dealer, performing well and implementing activities in all seven dimensions, reaching 19-21 points has achieved environmental leadership and is a 5 Star TED. 15-18 points are equivalent to 4 Stars and 10-14 points, 3 Stars. This system allows Dealers to develop their own pathway to environmental leadership that is activity-based.

Over time, the TED program will produce useful information on environmental benchmarks amongst the Toyota Dealer network. Case studies will allow Dealerships to both continually improve and encourage best practice information sharing.

Other dealership environmental programs have been developed by European and American Toyota affiliates. These have generally focused on building performance. TED takes a more holistic approach and looks at the dealership’s overall environmental performance, from staff engagement to supplier development.