TOYOTA CONNECT
Olivier’s department works within the confines of Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050, which has set the bar high with six very ambitious challenges: new vehicle zero CO2
CO2 emissions; plant zero CO2
emissions; life-cycle zero emissions;
minimising and optimising water usage; establishing a recycling-based society and systems; and establishing a future society in harmony with nature, specifically through the Toyota Green Wave Project, the Toyota Today for Tomorrow Project and the Toyota ESD Project. Operating in Africa, a continent with unique challenges, makes the 2050 vision even more ambitious. “We don’t have assurances that we’ll be able to meet all these goals, but we’re going to try very hard to do so,” says Olivier. He explains that the organisation’s
environmental drive is an extension of the Toyota Way Culture, which is one of continuously moving forward. “We understand that current conditions can never remain static. There must always be improvement and challenging the status quo is how we drive progress in line with customers’ and societies’ demands in the future. This ensures we remain a progressive organisation,” he says. A lot has changed in the 21 years
Olivier’s spent in the Environmental Department. When he joined the company in 1996, it was as an Environmental Officer working on the ISO14001 to ensure Toyota met global export standards. His role’s grown organically to include health and
“WE LEAVE THIS PLANET WITH NOTHING, SO LIVING LEANER IS THE BEST
WAY TO LIVE SUSTAINABLY.”
safety, fire safety and the company’s Johannesburg Division. In 2010, under his watch, the Environmental Engineering Department was formed, with a primary focus on energy and water efficiency improvements. “This team comprises high-calibre engineers who can study, implement and confirm successes of our energy and water reduction projects,” he says. This year’s seen the Facilities
Department report to Olivier too, meaning that all facilities infrastructure, operations and manufacturing fall under his purview. “There’s a lot of synergy between facilities and what we do from an environmental perspective. Now we can be more proactive in what we implement and impact.”
BEYOND THE CALL
OF DUTY Olivier’s commitment to the environment extends to his private life. As a passionate wildlife photographer, he spends a lot of time in nature reserves with his wife. “It’s made us more
aware of the pressures that society and an increasing population are putting on these special areas and our planet,” he says. Accordingly, the Olivier family are
very conscious of the need to reduce their personal environmental footprint. “We try to minimise energy usage in our home,” he says. They now use gas to heat water, rather than electricity, which removes the need for a geyser. They’ve also planted a water-wise indigenous garden. Olivier says he tries to lead by example.
“The happiest people are those with the fewest earthly belongings. We leave this planet with nothing, so living leaner is the best way to live sustainably,” he says. His son, who’s studying architectural
technology, has adopted these environmentally friendly values. “He shows me plans of eco-houses. He’s very interested in eco-living, so my influence is clear!” laughs Olivier. What advice can he offer friends,
family and colleagues? “I always say: drive a Toyota, because we really care!”
OLIVIER’S TOP
ENVIRONMENTAL TIPS “Consider the way you drive your vehicle. As a manufacturing company, we put a lot of effort into making it lighter on the earth, so the way you handle it can reduce that impact too. “Be aware of the way you accelerate and maintain a constant speed. These factors contribute to the reduction of CO2
emissions.”
TODAY FOR TOMORROW
AS THE URGENCY AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES ESCALATES, TOYOTA’S LEADING THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY’S DRIVE TO MAKE A TANGIBLE DIFFERENCE. RIAAN OLIVIER, TOYOTA’S GENERAL MANAGER: GROUP SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT, EXPLAINS HIS ROLE IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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WORDS: GAYE CROSSLEY. PHOTOGRAPHER: ANDREW GRIFFIN
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