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| | New Development of Automobiles Designed to Be Recycled - Activities Undertaken for the New Raum |
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In order to increase the recycling / recovery rate of end-of-life
vehicles, Toyota has been working on developing easy-to-recycle materials and
designs that allow for easy removal, starting at the design stage. Many of the
results from these efforts have been incorporated into the new Raum.
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Key Points in Improving Recyclable Designs |
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In advance of the enforcement of the Automobile Recycling Law,
Toyota has been developing easy-to-recycle vehicle structures and taking steps
to reduce substances of environmental concern. Toyota's efforts in this area focus
on the following four key points:
1. Adoption of technologies that are environmentally considerate
2. Attention to dismantlability
3. Reduction of substances of environmental concern
4. Reduction of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin usage
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Shortening the Necessary Dismantling Time by 30% |
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In pursuit of an easy-to-dismantle structure Toyota employed
innovative dismantling techniques in the new Raum and has succeeded in shortening
the time required for dismantling by 30% compared to the previous model. Improvements
were made in individual processes, including fluid removal and removal of large
resin parts, resulting in increased dismantling efficiency.
In order to design an easy-to-dismantle vehicle structure, Toyota took the following
specific steps:
1. Structures that allow fastened areas to come apart when pulled hard
2. Use of clips instead of screws for securing components whenever possible
3. Parts integration
4. Avoidance of composite materials
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Development and Adoption of the "Easy to Dismantle Mark" |
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In order to simplify the dismantling process, Toyota designed
a new "Easy to Dismantle Mark." This mark is added to vehicle parts
clearly indicating certain points that assist in initial dismantling, such as
the positions at which large resin parts can be easily separated and the locations
at which holes can be drilled for removing fuel.
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Significant Reduction in Substances of Environmental Concern |
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With the new Raum, Toyota also worked on reducing substances
of environmental concern, such as lead.
| 1. |
Lead: Toyota eliminated lead from wire harness shields and fuel tanks, and
has achieved ahead of schedule the Japanese automobile industry's voluntary goal
of reducing lead usage to 1/10 or less of the 1996 level from 2006 (reduction
to 1/4 of the previous model or 123g/unit). |
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Mercury: Toyota has achieved ahead of schedule the voluntary goals set out
by the Japanese automobile industry prohibiting usage of mercury in parts other
than LCD displays of navigation systems, etc. from 2004. |
| 3. |
Cadmium: Toyota has abolished the use of cadmium in fog lights and turn signal
lamp bulbs. |
| 4. |
Hexavalent chromium: Toyota began using alternative materials in some nuts
and bolts, etc. |
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Use of Materials with Consideration to the Environment |
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Toyota stopped using PVC resin in some wire harness shields,
reducing PVC usage in the entire vehicle to 1/4 of the previous model.
Toyota has also actively adopted materials with little environmental impact, such
as recycled materials and Toyota Eco-Plastic. LCA results show that when recycled
materials are used, CO2 emissions are reduced by approximately 52% compared to
new materials.
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Comparison of Dismantling Time by Process
(Assuming the Dismantling Time for the Previous Model to Be 100) |
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| | Use of Renewable Resources |
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The new Raum has a distinctive characteristic in terms of its
materials too. It has become the first vehicle to use Toyota Eco-Plastic, a plastic
derived from plants.
Because Toyota Eco-Plastic is derived from raw materials such as sugar cane and
corn, etc., which grow by absorbing CO2, not only does it help preserve the petroleum
resources from which conventional plastics are derived, but it is also a carbon
neutral product that offsets any CO2 emitted during its production.
Polylactic acid improvement and composite formation with kenaf have resulted in
the development of Toyota Eco-Plastic, a new material that can withstand use in
automobile parts. It is used in the spare tire cover and floor mats in the new
Raum.
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