Image Credit: Toyota Boshoku Tennessee / Facebook
Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –
Amid an ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Toyota Boshoku Jackson has been named by the Tennessee Department of Conservation as the recipient of the 2026 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Materials Management.
In place since 1986, the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards “recognize outstanding achievements for environmental initiatives in Tennessee”, including categories like Building Green, Energy and Renewable Resources, Clean Air and Transportation Solutions, and Environmental Education and Outreach.
Under the Materials Management category for which Toyota Boshoku has been recognized, recipients are lauded for “conserving natural resources and reducing costs through waste prevention, toxicity reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, environmentally preferable purchasing, supply chain improvements, and product design. Initiatives may involve input or product reformulation, production process redesign, conservation strategies, or beneficial reuse and land application. Special consideration is given to initiatives that demonstrate a comprehensive approach linking environmental, social, and economic benefits.”
The Jackson Toyota Boshoku Tennessee facility is being recognized for achieving landfill-free status, which was a goal set by the company in 2020. Through a “comprehensive transformation of its operation, guided by a principle that ‘waste is a resource out of place,’” Toyota Boshoku diverted 11,921 tons of material from landfills in 2025, which is an increase from 9,639 tons 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,” said Toyota Senior Environmental Health and Safety Specialist Steven Westerfield.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit against Toyota Boshoku Jackson at the beginning of the month, alleging that managers and supervisors at the automotive manufacturing plant repeatedly groped, insulted, and demanded sexual favors from female employees.
At least six women reported harassment between January 2021 and July 2024, according to the suit, which includes a long list of incidents including offers to approve time off requests in exchange for sex, inappropriate touching, male employees engaging in sex with subordinate employees, sexual comments made towards female employees, and offers to purchase a vehicle or pay for hair and nail services in exchange for sex.
The EEOC first issued a letter to Toyota Boshoku in June of 2025 citing reasonable cause for Title VII violations after two women filed discrimination charges with the commission and allowing the company to remedy the discriminatory practices identified, but the EEOC and Toyota could not come to agreement. A formal notice of failure to resolve was issued in August of 2025, followed by the lawsuit this year.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
