Toyota Motor Europe has announced ambitious plans to apply an environmental standard based on BREEAM to all its Toyota retail units.
There are over 3,000 outlets throughout Europe and, starting in 2009, all new builds and refurbishments will be subject to an independent environmental assessment, with their first two "Sustainable Retailers" to be piloted in Sweden and France this year.
The assessment method will include environmental criteria across eight categories: energy, water, waste and materials, pollution, land use and ecology, health and well-being, management and transport.
"We are working with Toyota to develop a bespoke version of BREEAM specifically geared to their Toyota retailers across Europe " said Clare Lowe, Associate Director, BREEAM.
"This work has involved us tailoring the UK BREEAM Retail guidance to the specific needs of car showrooms in a European context."
Toyota's adoption of BREEAM adds a further influential name to the list of users throughout Europe.
Earlier this year the International Council of Shopping Centers announced that it is adapting the methodology for European retail developments.
It is already applying BREEAM to pilot projects in Germany and Turkey.