Sustainability Reporting Critical For Business Performance

Sustainability Reporting Critical for Business Performance

Media Release

1 October 2009

Australia's ongoing manufacturing competitiveness requires companies to maintain a high focus on managing sustainability issues concerning the environment, the community and employees, according to Toyota Australia's Executive Director of Corporate Services Bernie O'Connor.

Speaking in Melbourne at the launch of Toyota Australia's 2009 Sustainability Report, Mr O'Connor said that the principles of strong sustainability reporting supported the way Toyota runs its business.

"Against a background of declining sales and production activity during the past year, Toyota Australia retained employment by conducting training days for production employees to ensure their skills were increased for the time when production rates improved.

"In terms of corporate sustainability, the skills and morale of our people remained the most important factor when considering any future economic recovery.

"At the same time, we continued to manage critical environmental performance areas such as water and energy use across our sites. Toyota's national dealer network also played an important role by undertaking environmental improvement projects at their sales sites and within their local communities," he said.

Toyota is Australia's automotive sales leader. It produces the Camry and Aurion vehicles for domestic and export markets at its Altona plant west of Melbourne.

Mr O'Connor added that the launch of the third generation Prius and local production of hybrid Camry next year were key highlights for the company.

"To most people, our vehicles are the most visible example of Toyota's environmental performance. Hybrid Synergy Drive is a technology that is available to Australian drivers right now, delivering fuel and emissions."

Toyota Australia's sustainability report includes details about:

* Case study on training activities that were provided to manufacturing staff on vehicle non-production days.
* The Company's export program which includes Camry and Aurion vehicle exports to 20 countries in the Middle East, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
* The corporate citizenship program Toyota Community Spirit which includes national partnerships in the environment and the arts.

The detailed full version of the Sustainability Report can be found on the Toyota Australia website. Please visit www.toyota.com.au and click on the 'About Toyota' link.

For further information contact:
Katarina Persic, Public Affairs Manager Tele: 03 9647 4222 Mobile: 0417 033 598


SOURCE: Toyota Australia