Toyota Motor Europe (TME) announced a year ago the establishment of the Toyota Circular Factory, an initiative for the systematic treatment of end-of-life vehicles with the aim of maximizing environmental benefits through recycling, reuse and parts restoration. The first plant, located at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) plant in Burnaston, started operating in the second half of last year. This complex should become a center of excellence for future recycling operations throughout Europe and the world. This initiative will be implemented in parallel with the main production activity of TMUK – the production of the Corolla model.
The Toyota Circular Factory encompasses all of TME’s recycling activities, and bases its approach to end-of-life vehicle processing on three key areas: parts reuse, component renewal and material recycling. After a thorough verification process, reusable parts are returned to the market through retailers or parts distributors. Components such as batteries and wheels are evaluated with a view to refurbishing, reusing or recycling them. There is also recycling of raw materials such as copper, aluminum, steel and plastic. These recycled materials will, to the greatest extent possible, replace new raw materials in the production of parts for new vehicles.
Now Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has announced the establishment of a Circular Factory in Walbrzych, Poland. The facility will cover 25,000 square meters and will annually process almost 20,000 end-of-life vehicles. This investment represents another significant step in TME’s strategy aimed at developing a circular economy model based on the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle. The goal is to maximize the benefits for the environment through precise and systematic processing of vehicles at the end of their life cycle.
The Circular Factory will expand the activities of the existing facility in Walbrzych, which already produces key components for Toyota’s hybrid and conventional powertrains. Circularity is both the path to carbon neutrality and its key driver. It reduces the need for raw materials whose production is intensive in terms of carbon emissions and strengthens supply chains. By designing vehicles for reuse, restoration, recycling and efficient use of materials, a circular approach can help reduce emissions throughout the aftermarket process.