Toyota Kirloskar Motors has now become 100 percent carbon neutral at its Bidadi manufacturing plant in Karnataka. The company has installed a combined 8.2 MW rooftop as well as ground based solar power plant and has been operating using 10 percent renewable energy since June 2021 offsetting 16,635.54 tons of carbon
Toyota, a global automobile manufacturing giant has been operating in India since year 1997. Recently, Toyota along with its partner company Kirloskar Motors achieved the feat of being 100 percent carbon neutral at their Bidadi plant in Karnataka.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) announced that they have been operating on 100 percent renewable energy since June 2021 which includes the entire manufacturing plant and eight on-site supplier companies.
This step take towards sustainable mobility has seen the Bidadi plant offset 16,635.54 tons of carbon cumulatively from April 2021 to September 2021. This achievement of TKM aligns with the goal of Toyota of completely being carbon neutral.
The Japanese automobile giant announced in 2015 ‘Toyota Environment Challenge 2050’ with an aim of achieving net-zero CO2 products. Toyota later revised its ‘challenge 3’ to achieve plant zero CO2 emissions to 2035, from 2050.
TKM had started on its journey towards being carbon neutral in 2014 and has taken significant strides over the years. In 2014, TKM started gradually converting to green energy sources to meet its energy requirements. The efforts put by TKM projects on the company’s commitment in contributing towards the sustainable development programme and leading the revolution from the front. The company also acknowledges the help they received from the government of Karnataka in form of various incentives and impressive policies to promote the use of renewable energy sources.
TKM achieved the 100 percent carbon neutrality target with help of a 8.2 MW rooftop solar per plant that powers the Bidadi premise along with a 18 MW capacity of dedicated solar park outside the company.
Speaking about the achievement, Raju Ketkale, Deputy Managing Director, Manufacturing said that the TKM has always prioritized environment protection by incorporating values and sustainable practices.
He added that every single initiative taken by TKM is designed towards reducing the environmental footprint left by the company, and achieving the goal of “Living in harmony with nature”. Mr. Ketkale also emphasized that going forward, the company has set an ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions, and TKM will continue to focus to strengthen the company’s ecological efforts.