TOTO Confirmed As Global Leader By Dow Jones Sustainability World Index For Fourth Consecutive Year

Company Again Recognized as Best in Class Worldwide Based on Economic, Environmental, and Social Performance

News provided by

Oct 14, 2014, 03:00 ET

MORROW, Ga., Oct. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TOTO, the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world with $5.1 billion dollars in annual sales, announced today that it has been distinguished as a global leader in the building products industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) based on its long-term strategy and economic, environmental, and social performance. This is the fourth consecutive year the TOTO Global Group has received this top honor.

TOTO Logo

Annually, DJSI World tracks the 2,500 largest sustainability-driven companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index. In 2014, only 319 companies were named to the elite DJSI World listing.

After careful review by RobecoSAM, specialists focused exclusively on sustainable investment, the TOTO Global Group scored highest in social performance for the third year in a row. The company was lauded for its human capital development, corporate citizenship, and talent attraction and retention. The TOTO Group also received top honors for its economic performance in customer management and environmental performance for its initiatives to reduce global warming.

"The TOTO Global Group is deeply committed to making people's lives better, protecting the planet, and keeping our water pure. We are proud to have contributed to environmental sustainability through innovative plumbing products and water-related services since TOTO was first established in 1917," said Daijiro Nogata, Chief Executive Officer for TOTO USA. "We are deeply honored to be named a global leader for the building products industry again this year by the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. We will continue to lead the way as a genuinely sustainable company that operates in harmony with the earth for better living today – and a better tomorrow."

Recently, the TOTO Group announced its Global Environmental Vision that defined key performance indicators and targets, which the TOTO Global Group will work together to achieve by 2017, the year of TOTO's centenary:

Conserving Water

The TOTO Global Group will help protect the world's water supply by:
- manufacturing water-efficient products and promoting their use around the world, which will reduce the amount of water consumed by TOTO products during their life-cycle by 343 billion gallons, and
- promoting the use of water-saving toilets around the world, with a target shipment ratio of toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush, or less, of 70% in Japan and 80% for the TOTO Group worldwide.

Preventing Global Warming

The TOTO Global Group will help prevent global warming by:
- manufacturing water-efficient products and promoting their use worldwide, which will reduce CO₂ emissions during their life-cycle by 5.63 million tons, and
- reducing CO₂ emissions by its worldwide business units by 352,000 tons.

Conserving Natural Resources

The TOTO Global Group will help conserve natural resources by:
- promoting a zero emissions policy worldwide, and
- increasing the recycling rates in its manufacturing facilities by 99% in Japan and 90% for the TOTO Group worldwide.

Keeping the Earth Clean

The TOTO Global Group will help keep the planet clean by preventing the generation of hazardous chemical substances.

Conserving Biodiversity

The TOTO Global Group will select raw materials by using criteria that help conserve biodiversity.

Contributing to Local Communities

The TOTO Global Group will contribute to local communities by:
- resolving social and regional issues that concern the environment in collaboration with stakeholders in each country and region, and
- increasing the number of Green Volunteers worldwide to 55,000.
  - The TOTO Group calls its social contribution projects that relate to the environment (such as tree planting and environmental cleanup) Green Volunteer programs.
  - The company encourages all of its employees to participate in these programs.

About TOTO:
TOTO USA is headquarters for the Americas Division of the TOTO Global Group, which was established in 1917 with the founding of TOTO, Ltd., in Kitakyushu, Japan. TOTO is the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world with $5.1 billion dollars in annual sales. To date, TOTO has produced more than 60 million plumbing fixtures. Today, this international company maintains 25,000 employees in 69 offices around the world and owns manufacturing facilities in Japan, Mexico, the USA, China and Europe with an affiliated network of more than 80 production facilities worldwide. With over 1,500 engineers on staff and three centers devoted solely to research and development, TOTO is the undisputed global leader in product innovation, precision engineering, high design, and sustainability in products that are designed to meet people's real world needs. Exemplified in the company's philosophy – People-First Innovation -- TOTO offers consumers elegant luxury products that save money and water without sacrificing an ounce of performance and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they purchased a brand that sets the standard for world-class performance, enduring quality, and reliability. Winner of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions, TOTO is the only plumbing manufacturer honored as Water Efficiency Leader by the Environmental Protection Agency. TOTO continues to raise industry standards and consumer expectations as to what is possible in the bath space, as it connects people with water in ways that enrich the flow of their daily lives.

For more information, consumers may visit www.totousa.com or call 1.888.295.8134, Option 5. Follow TOTO on Twitter (@TOTOUSA) and become a TOTO fan on Facebook

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141013/151873LOGO
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110930/CL77906LOGO-b

SOURCE TOTO