Contribute to the transition to a decarbonized society by reducing CO2 emissions from automobiles and factories/plants through the use of clean energy and innovative technologies
Climate change is a major issue that affects all life on Earth. To tackle this issue, Toyota Tsusho is actively increasing sales of next-generation eco-cars (HEVs*1, PHEVs*1, BEVs*1, FCEVs*1, etc.), developing infrastructure such as hydrogen stations, reducing vehicle weight by using alternative materials, and securing lithium resources that support increased production of the automotive batteries essential for eco-cars. Our initiatives include reducing automobile CO2 emissions and CO2 emissions throughout product life cycles, including in the logistics business, and eliminating CO2 emissions from factories/plants. Further, we will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society with renewable energy, leveraging the largest wind power generation company in Japan, Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation, and one of the largest solar power generation companies in Japan, Terras Energy Corporation.
KPI
- Note:Both global market share of electrified vehicles and greenhouse gas emissions: Carbon neutrality by 2050 are based on a calendar year.
- *1HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles), PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles), BEVs (battery electric vehicles), FCEVs (fuel-cell electric vehicles)
- *2Renewable energy includes wind power (including offshore wind power), solar power, geothermal power, hydroelectric power, and wood biomass power
- *3Electrified vehicles: HEVs, PHEVs, BEVs, FCEVs,
- *4Scope 1 and Scope 2
Long-term policies for realization of a decarbonized society In July 2021, Toyota Tsusho established long-term targets toward 2050 and targets for 2030 as intermediate targets. For further details, click here.
Aluminum is said to be the most effective replacement for iron to reduce vehicle weight. Since 1998, Toyota Tsusho has been supplying recycled secondary aluminum alloy ingots in a molten state, which has better CO2 emissions reduction effects, and is one of the world's top suppliers.
Even though it is still aluminum, the supply of molten recycled aluminum can generally be expected to have about a 98% CO2 emissions reduction effect compared to the use of new aluminum ingots refined using massive amounts of energy.
Demand for aluminum is expected to increase in the future due to electrification and further weight reduction. Thus, we are developing technologies to increase the value and utilization rate of low-grade aluminum scrap and promoting smart factories to increase energy efficiency.
As a part of the circular recycling business that Toyota Tsusho is developing, we are reinforcing functions in the aluminum recycling value chain from upstream to downstream.
From the perspective of mobility, the widespread uptake of next-generation eco-cars is a key factor in reducing CO2 emissions and combating climate change. We have been producing lithium carbonate at Salar de Olaroz, Argentina since the end of 2014 together with Allkem Limited (formerly Orcobre Limited), in an effort to ensure a stable supply. By enhancing our production capacity to meet the robust demand, we are aiming to build a long-term, stable lithium supply structure.
Toyotsu Lithium Corporation, Japan's first company specializing in lithium hydroxide production, began operations in 2022. Lithium hydroxide is a raw material for the cathode material of automotive lithium-ion batteries. Demand for lithium hydroxide is expected to increase with the accelerated spread of electrified vehicles and improvements in battery performance. Therefore, a stable supply is required.
Toyotsu Lithium's production capacity is 10,000 tons/year. However, in order to meet the expectations of the rapidly expanding lithium-ion battery market, the company is looking to expand its production capacity in the future, as well as to expand overseas.
