Kiyosu, Japan, February 21, 2017: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. is installing liquefied natural gas (LNG) equipment at its Morimachi Plant and switching boiler fuel from heavy oil to LNG. The Morimachi Plant (Shizuoka, Japan) produces weatherstrips and other rubber automotive parts. The company is also planning to switch the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) currently used in the heating furnaces in production processes to LNG by February 2018, bringing combined annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission reductions of about 2,000 tons.

Toyoda Gosei set long-term environmental goals in its TG 2050 Environmental Challenge, introduced in February 2016. Minimizing carbon emissions by 2050 is one target, and this switch to LNG at the Morimachi Plant is a part of that effort.* LNG emits less CO₂ than other fossil fuels when burned and produces fewer sulfur oxides (SOX) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), which are causes of environmental pollution. Toyoda Gosei’s Sixth Environmental Action Plan (2016?2020), a five-year action plan for progress toward achieving the goals in the TG 2050 Environmental Challenge, has the goal of cutting CO₂ emissions 20,000 tons (17%) by 2020.

*The changes at the Morimachi Plant are being made under the Ministry of the Environment’s 2016 Advanced technologies promotion Subsidy Scheme with Emission reduction Targets (ASSET) project.

Outline of LNG Equipment Installed Morimachi Plant

1. Main facilities	・ LNG tank (100 kL × 1) ・ LNG-fired steam boilers (2.5 t/h × 5)	LNG tank
2. Start of operation	February 2017
3. CO2 reductions	Approx. 2,000 t-CO2/year (Equivalent to about 8% of the Morimachi Plant’s total CO2 emissions)

4. Energy supply flow diagram

Previous	New (from Feb. 2017)

About Toyoda Gosei

Established in 1949 and headquartered in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Toyoda Gosei is a leading specialty manufacturer of rubber and plastic automotive parts and LEDs. Today, the Toyoda Gosei Group provides a variety of high-quality products internationally, with a network of approximately 100 plants and offices in 18 countries and regions. Through its flexible, integrated global supply system and leading-edge technologies for automotive safety, comfort, and environmental preservation, Toyoda Gosei is a global supplier that aims to deliver the highest levels of quality, innovation, and satisfaction to customers worldwide.