Toyota Unveils Ground-breaking Toyota Circular Factory in Derbyshire to Advance Sustainable Vehicle Recycling
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has unveiled the Toyota Circular Factory (TCF) to meticulously process end-of-life vehicles, significantly reducing environmental impact through maximised recycling, repurposing, and remanufacturing.
The first TCF will be located at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire, with activities beginning in the third quarter of this year. This facility will serve as a centre of excellence, guiding future recycling operations worldwide.
TCF operations concentrate on three main areas: reusing parts, remanufacturing commodity items, and recycling materials. After a stringent validation process, TME will reintroduce reusable parts to the market through retailers or distributors. Commodity items, such as batteries and wheels, will be assessed to determine their suitability for remanufacturing, repurposing, or recycling.
Toyota also plans to recycle raw materials like copper, aluminium, steel, and plastic to replace virgin resources and produce new vehicle parts as much as possible. Leon van der Merwe, TME Vice President of Circular Economy, commented: “We initially anticipate recycling around 10,000 vehicles a year in our UK facility, which will give new life to 120,000 parts, recover 300 tonnes of high-purity plastic and 8,200 tonnes of steel, among other materials. As a next step, we plan to roll out similar operations across Europe. And we’re not stopping at our facilities – we are eager to collaborate with other organisations who share our passion for circularity and commitment to carbon neutrality.”
Through this initiative, Toyota aims to reduce emissions linked to vehicle and sub-component manufacturing drastically. This commitment aligns with the company’s global and European sustainability goals, establishing a new industry benchmark for responsible recycling and material reuse.
TME has pledged to achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2040 and to make all its owned facilities carbon-neutral by 2030. By 2035, Toyota intends to secure a 100 per cent CO2 reduction across its European product range, demonstrating a clear commitment to sustainable mobility and environmental stewardship.