ERLANGER, Ky., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TMMNA) is challenging its North American-based suppliers to adopt environmental standards specified in its ``Green Supplier Guidelines: Leadership in Environmental Performance'' brochure being distributed this month.

"Toyota has a unique relationship with its suppliers,'' said Teruyuki Minoura, TMMNA president and CEO. "We are known for expecting them to share our high quality standards. Now we are asking them to join us in becoming environmental leaders.''

Toyota's Green Supplier Guidelines extend the company's environmental commitment beyond its own direct processes to the business relationships and partnerships it maintains with its North American supplier community. As part of the Toyota Supplier Environmental Program, approximately 500 suppliers who provide parts, materials and components directly or indirectly to Toyota are required to complete one or more of the following initiatives:

Obtain ISO 14001 Certification

Toyota is requiring suppliers who provide raw materials and/or parts and components to develop and implement by Dec. 31, 2003 an environmental management system that conforms to the ISO 14001 standard. Certification is determined by a third-party auditor.

Comply with Chemical Ban List

Toyota has identified approximately 450 chemicals and substances that suppliers of raw materials must phase out from new and/or reformulated materials beginning Aug. 1. Toyota developed its initial chemical ban list based on an evaluation of toxic chemicals regulated worldwide. The list will be updated regularly.

Hazardous Materials Transportation Management System

Toyota is committed to safe transportation of hazardous materials, therefore it is requiring all of its suppliers in North America to develop the appropriate policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable state, federal and international hazardous materials transportation requirements.

While the Green Supplier Guidelines outline specific requirements suppliers must meet as part of the Toyota Supplier Environmental Program, a supplier's eligibility for compliance is based on criteria established by Toyota's environmental and purchasing groups and the individual Toyota plants.

Toyota's Environmental Commitment

As part of its environmental commitment, Toyota Motor Corporation maintains a worldwide Earth Charter, which was first established in 1992. The Charter reinforces Toyota's goal of being the global environmental leader in both product and manufacturing process.

"For our own North American plants, we have defined tough standards for being environmentally responsible,'' said Kevin Butt, TMMNA assistant general manager for environmental affairs. "We are now working with our business partners to join Toyota to continually improve environmental performance.''

By the end of 2000, all of Toyota's North American manufacturing plants and facilities will be ISO 14001 certified. In addition, Toyota has implemented a hazardous materials transportation policy at each of its manufacturing plants in North America. An important part of that policy is training all Toyota employees involved with handling and/or transporting hazardous materials to ensure that they perform their jobs safely and that they understand how their roles affect Toyota's entire process of transporting hazardous materials.

About Toyota

Toyota employs more than 30,000 people in North America, including about 20,000 at its manufacturing plants in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, and Ontario and British Columbia in Canada. Once the Indiana-built Sequoia and the Canadian-built Lexus RX 300 debut, Toyota will produce nine vehicles in North America: Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Lexus RX 300, Sequoia, Sienna, Solara, Tacoma and Tundra.

SOURCE: Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.