Toyota opens ‘circular factory’ in UK

Brussels-based Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has established a Toyota Circular Factory in Burnaston, England, which has been designed “to carefully and systematically process vehicles at the end of their life to maximize the environmental benefits of recycling, repurposing and remanufacturing,” according to the automaker.

The inaugural TCF plant, which is located at an existing Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) facility in Burnaston, will be able to process 10,000 end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) annually, according to the firm.

The announcement follows another recent announcement that a United States-based Toyota subsidiary has made an offer to purchase Portland, Oregon-based ELV dismantler and shredding plant operator Radius Recycling. That offer from Toyota Tsusho America Inc. was accepted by the Radius board of directors.

In Europe, additional Toyota Circular Factor (TCF) operations are anticipated to roll out on that continent and beyond, “including with like-minded partner organizations.”

The Burnaston TCF is expected to begin activities in the third quarter of this year and has been structured to approach ELV processing to involve three areas: reusable parts, commodity items that can be remanufactured and materials that can be recycled.

“Following a comprehensive validation process, reusable parts will be reintroduced into the market through retailers or parts distributors,” TME says, listing batteries and wheels as commodity items that will be assessed for their potential to be remanufactured and repurposed, or that may be recycled for materials.

Finally, Toyota lists several secondary raw materials it intends to recycle, including copper, aluminum, steel and plastic.

“These recycled materials would then replace virgin materials as much as possible in the production of new parts for new vehicles,” TME says.

“We initially anticipate recycling around 10,000 vehicles a year in our U.K. facility, which will give new life to 120,000 parts, recover 300 metric tons of high-purity plastic and 8,200 metric tons of steel, amongst other materials,” says Leon van der Merwe, vice president of circular economy at TME.

“As a next step for the Toyota Circular Factory concept, we plan to roll out similar operations across Europe, and we’re not stopping at our own facilities: We are eager to collaborate with other organizations who share our passion of circularity and commitment to carbon neutrality.

“With this initiative, Toyota aims to significantly reduce future environmental impact associated with the manufacturing of vehicles and sub-components. This effort not only aligns with company’s global and European sustainability objectives but also sets a new industry benchmark for responsible recycling and material reuse.”

The European business unit of Japan-based Toyota ties the effort to its commitment to being fully carbon neutral by 2040 and to achieve carbon neutrality in all its owned facilities 2030.

TME’s European footprint includes the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles on that continent and operating eight European manufacturing plants in the Czech Republic, France, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the U.K.