Toyota UK engine plant achieves carbon neutrality

While not within the usual coverage remit of Power Progress, it’s perhaps of interest to our readers that the Toyota Deeside engine plant (TMUK), located in north Wales, has announced the start of carbon-neutral engine production.

The Deeside plant is the first Toyota production facility outside Japan to achieve carbon neutrality.

Key to this is the installation of a £282 million ($373 million) anaerobic digester on the site which recycles waste collected from nearby communities to deliver biomethane gas.

Employees at TMUK in Deeside celebrate the start of carbon-neutral production (Photo: Toyota)

Replacing natural gas, the installation can eliminate around 3,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. TMUK also uses electricity from renewable sources, while also eliminating waste to landfill.

“Congratulations to Toyota on achieving carbon-neutral status for the Deeside plant,” said Stephen Kinnock, Secretary of State for Wales. “Toyota is a major employer with a long and proud commitment to north Wales, and it is a testament to the talented workforce here who have worked hard to reach this important milestone.”

In another application of the circular economy, alloy wheels are recycled to produce new aluminum engine blocks.

Following the example at the Deeside plant, Toyota is planning to make all European manufacturing locations carbon-neutral by 2030.

“We are on a journey towards carbon neutrality across our entire value chain while also reducing our reliance on finite resources through circular approaches that keep valuable materials in use for longer,” said Yoshihiro Nakata, Toyota Motor Europe president and CEO.

TMUK produces engines which are used at the Toyota plant in Burnaston, UK, and also assembly facilities in Turkey and South Africa. In 2025 it produced around 245,000 engines.