The Sustainability Report 2008 consists of the present, detailed document as well as an abridged Website edition. Editorial Policy Click here to view current issue Editorial Policy (for the present detailed document) The Sustainability Report 2008—A New Future for People, Society, and the Planet describes the concepts and policies that serve as the foundation for Toyota′s environmental and social undertakings conducted primarily during FY2007 (April 2007 to March 2008). The section on the environmental aspects of those undertakings addresses four main topics—energy/global warming, recycling of resources, substances of concern, and atmospheric quality—and reports on environmental management conducted to promote initiatives in each area in accordance with the Fourth Toyota Environmental Action Plan. The section on social aspects reports on activities relating to each stakeholder group including customers. Starting this year, the report will make use of a universal design font, which enhances visibility, legibility and readability for people with reading difficulties, including the elderly and those with poor sight, who make up 5% of the earth’s population. Topics believed to be of particular importance that are discussed in this year’s report include the following.  • Executive message and special features reporting on sustainability in three areas intended to promote ongoing social development   p.2–p.9  • Adoption of Toyota Global Vision 2020   p.11 • Establishment of CSR Committee to oversee and encourage key activities to fulfill social responsibilities   p.12 • Setting CO2 emissions reduction goals in production areas   p.17–p.19 • Explanation of the basic concept underlying Toyota's energy usage reduction / global warming counter measures   p.20–p.23 • Progress in the creation of global consolidated environmental management system   p.39 • Establishment of Toyota’s biodiversity guidelines   p.41 • Introduction to partner robots as new direction in Toyota’s social contribution   p.58–p.59 • Establishment of Toyota Loops Corporation as means of encouraging employment of disabled persons   p.63 • Examples of overseas initiatives with focus on traffic safety, human resource development, and the environment   p.82–p.85   p.21 Average fuel efficiency improves in Japan, North America and Europe p.39 The first meeting of the South Africa Environment Committee p.59 A robot assists by lifting and carrying a person p.63 Toyota Loops Corporation (established in May 2008) p.82 The Maui's dolphin is threatened by extinction (New Zealand) Period covered The period covered in the data is from April 2007 to March 2008, and major developments are described as of June 2008. Scope of report Environmental Aspects   TMC's initiatives on an unconsolidated basis, and examples of activities by overseas consolidated subsidiaries, as well as the progress of consolidated environmental management both in Japan and overseas. Social Aspects TMC's initiatives on an unconsolidated basis, and examples of activities by overseas consolidated subsidiaries. Economic Aspects A summary of the TMC Annual Report. Editorial Policy (for Website edition) In issuing its Sustainability Report, Toyota’s fundamental policy has been to place an emphasis on being comprehensive and accurate, to incorporate as much data as possible, and to have the information bear up to the evaluation by relevant experts.  Toyota has been striving to make its reports easy to read by using universal design colors and fonts, and through such efforts as including special pages highlighting its activities throughout the year and examples of overseas initiatives. In this year’s report, Toyota has responded to the requests for more concise information by creating the abridged Sustainability Report 2008 Web edition, featuring the main highlights.  This abridged version can serve as the starting point to learn about Toyota’s sustainability activities, and can be used by our customers in general or as a material for university courses and the like.  Those interested in learning more can then consult either the Sustainability Report or the Toyota Website. It is my pleasure to present the Toyota Sustainability Report 2008 and to explain my thoughts on Toyota′s activities as global warming and energy-related issues, which are both closely related to the automobile industry, become increasingly serious worldwide. Click here for details (PDF file) Toward the Goal of Achieving Sustainable Mobility Achieving Harmony between Manufacturing and the Natural Environment Promoting Technologies and Human Resource Development for Environmental Improvement and Playing a Role in Addressing Environmental Issues, a Problem Shared by all of Humanity To mark the 70th anniversary of its foundation, in November 2007 Toyota established the Toyota Global Vision 2020 based on the Guiding Principles at Toyota, as an expression of the type of company that Toyota is aiming to become. This future image that Toyota is working to achieve in 2020 was shared with employees around the world. Sustainable development of the earth will require achieving compatibility between environmental preservation and economic growth. Toyota is enhancing initiatives centered on tackling the issue of global warming and on energy-related issues through technological innovation, which holds the key to this compatibility. Furthermore, Toyota is advancing initiatives for traffic safety by viewing people, vehicles and the traffic environment as an integrated whole, aiming at the complete elimination of traffic casualties as well as increasing vehicle performance and reducing the impact on the environment. Some of the progress and activities regarding the various ideas in the Sustainability Report 2008 that form the basis for the initiatives conveying Toyota’s Contribution towards Sustainable Development are presented here as relates to all stakeholders—customers, employees, business partners, shareholders and global society/local communities. TMC and its overseas affiliates work together with NPOs and other entities to carry out a range of activities carefully tailored to local needs and circumstances in an effort to contribute to the development of local communities. Presented here are some examples of initiatives undertaken by Toyota’s overseas affiliates which appear in the Sustainability Report 2008.