TDEC Names Toyota Boshoku Tennessee, LLC a Governor's Environmental Stewardship Award Recipient

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has named Toyota Boshoku Tennessee, LLC as the recipient of the 2026 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Materials Management. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards which honors individuals, businesses, and other organizations for their commitment to preserving the state’s natural resources.

The award for Materials Management recognizes conserving natural resources and reducing costs through waste prevention, toxicity reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, environmentally preferable purchasing, supply chain improvements, and product design.

Toyota Boshoku Tennessee has officially achieved landfill‑free status, reaching an ambitious goal first set in 2020 and positioning the Jackson facility as the top-performing Toyota Boshoku site globally in total material recovery and recycling.

The facility’s landfill‑free achievement reflects a comprehensive transformation of its operations, guided by the principle that “waste is a resource out of place,” and backed by a facility‑wide culture of data‑driven waste reduction, employee engagement, supplier collaboration, and continuous improvement. In 2025, Toyota Boshoku Tennessee diverted 11,921 tons of material from landfill, an increase from 9,639 tons diverted in 2024.

Toyota Boshoku Tennessee’s program has become a model for other manufacturers, with the company leading statewide education and outreach efforts. It hosted a TDEC sponsored Zero Waste TN event in 2025, diverting 4,800 pounds of community sourced materials including batteries, e‑waste, paper, tires, and plastics from the landfill.

The company supports regional sustainability through annual Earth Day tree distributions, roadway cleanups, and extensive community partnerships. It is a member of the Tennessee Green Star Partnership and earned the Greater Jackson Chamber’s 2025 Industry of the Year Award for environmental stewardship and community impact.

There are ten categories for the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards. Other recipients include:

• Agriculture and Forestry – Cumberland River Compact
• Building Green – iFixit
• Clean Air and Transportation Solutions – Clarksville-Montgomery County School System
• Environmental Education and Outreach – Clearloop and Jackson-Madison County School System
• Energy and Renewable Resources – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
• Natural Resources – Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful
• Pursuit of Excellence – OxyChem
• Sustainable Performance – Carlex Glass America, LLC
• Water Quality – Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency

The Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards event in September.

For more information on the recipients and the awards program, visit the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards website.