Toyota’s feasibility study on End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) dismantling in Thailand has begun

Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050 includes a challenge of establishing a recycling-based society and system where End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) can be properly recycled with the materials then used to build new cars. This is crucial in meeting the demands of the world’s ever accelerating rate of natural resource consumption while reducing environmental pollution.

To fulfill our goal by 2050, Toyota worked closely with the Thai Government and the DOWA group in Thailand, holding a joint press conference to announce the launch of a Feasibility Study on the “End-of-Life Vehicle Green Recycling Project in Thailand”.

There is currently no legislation on proper handling and recycling of ELVs in Thailand. Such facilities are also not present on a mass-scale despite the expanding automobile market. The combined efforts from both the Thai government and private sector entities in the country look to position Thailand at the forefront of establishing an ELV framework and technologies that can be implemented globally.

Being the first automobile company in the world to initiate ELV dismantling and recycling, “Toyota Metal” was first introduced in Japan as early as 1970. Through the establishment the “Toyota Global 100 Dismantlers project” with the goal of having 7 proper ELV treatment facilities by 2020, with a long-term goal of a 100 locations globally by 2050. Toyota aims to use their expertise to better treat and reintegrate recycled materials from ELVs back into society, without imposing a regional environmental impact.

Toyota’s first ELV project outside of Japan was established in China in 2014. With Thailand looking to join the ranks as the second country globally and first country in the ASEAN region to provide proper dismantling of ELVs. In April 2017, Toyota started working with the Thai government and private sector to establish the ELV recycling task force in collaboration with the Thai government and the DOWA group. The feasibility study period from April 2017- February 2018 will see 20 prototype vehicles be dismantled every month, and the ELV industry in Thailand will be studied alongside the government throughout the project.

Since November 2017, trials focused on dismantling operations like the extraction of greenhouse gases such as CFCs, HFCs and other hazardous materials like airbags and lubricant oil from ELVs have already begun. Green Metals (Thailand) Co. Ltd is focused on the recovery of the aforementioned gases and hazardous materials, while Bangpo Environmental Complex Co. Ltd. (DOWA Group) has been in-charge of the dismantling process and treatment of recycled parts.

With more than 40 years’ experience between Toyota and the DOWA Group, we will continue to study and develop newer better technologies. Through the first environmentally friendly dismantling facility in Thailand, as we strive towards our goal of fulfilling Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050.