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Sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainable mobility is firmly anchored in the Volkswagen brand’s strategy. Key aspects include increasing the environmental compatibility of products, developing innovative mobility solutions to relieve the strain on cities and customers, continuously reducing the environmental impact of production and logistics, and optimizing ecological and social aspects along the entire value chain from raw material extraction to recycling.
Press releases
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New gearbox generation enables CO2 savings of up to five grammes per kilometre
Volkswagen has developed a new state-of-the-art manual gearbox: the MQ281, as it is known, works efficiently and saves up to five grammes of CO2 per kilometre depending on the engine-gearbox combination. The new Passat is the first vehicle to be equipped with the MQ281, followed by almost all vehicle classes of the Volkswagen Group. -
Volkswagen with New Corporate Mission Statement Environment "goTOzero"
The Volkswagen Group is bundling all its measures in environmental protection under the new "goTOzero" environmental mission statement. Oliver Blume, Member of the Group Board of Management responsible for environmental protection, says: "With the new Group Environmental Policy, the Group is giving itself and its stakeholders a clear orientation. Our efforts to improve environmental protection cover the entire product cycle, from development, production and operation to the subsequent recycling of our vehicles and administration. We also involve our suppliers. Only together can we achieve our goals". -
Volkswagen Group commits suppliers to sustainability
As of 1st July 2019, the Volkswagen Group will introduce a worldwide Sustainability Rating for its suppliers. This enables the company to assess the sustainability conduct of its business partners in its supply chain with regard to risks relating to human rights, environmental protection and corruption. -
Green Computing Performance: Volkswagen opens carbon neutral data center in Norway
The Volkswagen Group moved into a new, climate neutral data center in Rjukan (Norway) today. The facility was set up in just six months in collaboration with the Norwegian partner Green Mountain. The data center will be 100 percent powered by hydropower in the future, thus saving more than 5,800 tons of CO2 per year compared to a conventionally operated data center. The maximum output of 2,750 kilowatts will be used by the Volkswagen Passenger Cars and AUDI brands for high-performance servers, on which computer-intensive vehicle development projects are processed. These include the simulation of crash tests and virtual wind tunnel tests. The Volkswagen Group focuses on economic and ecological factors in the development of additional computing capacity. Volkswagen already operates a climate neutral data center in Iceland. -
Worldwide Volkswagen Group Accompanies International Biodiversity Day with Initiatives for Species Conservation
On the occasion of the International Biodiversity Day on 22 May 2019, Volkswagen is calling on all corporate brands and locations to provide support to nature conservation projects and especially conserve insects under the motto "Biodiversity as a livelihood". -
Electric Vehicles with Lowest CO2 Emissions
For the same vehicle models with different powertrains, the carbon footprint of the battery-powered E variants is already better than those of the corresponding vehicles with internal combustion engines. In addition, the electric vehicles offer a higher CO2-saving potential in all phases of the product cycle. Furthermore, it is of crucial importance for CO2 emissions whether the propulsion energy is generated from fossil or regenerative sources. This is the result of a certified life cycle assessment (LCA) of the Volkswagen Golf, which compares the CO2 emissions of the different vehicle versions with either an electric or an internal combustion engine. -
Electric Life: Volkswagen subsidiary Elli offers Volkswagen Naturstrom® throughout Germany with immediate effect
The Volkswagen Group is taking a further consistent step towards sustainability. The new Group subsidiary, Elli Group GmbH, is offering an eco-power tariff that is available throughout Germany with immediate effect. The first product from Elli is called “Volkswagen Naturstrom®”, comes from 100-percent renewable sources and is intended for private households and small businesses. The new tariff is expressly intended not only for current customers of Volkswagen Group brands or owners of electric vehicles. -
First Interim Report of the Sustainability Advisory Board of the Volkswagen Group
In its first interim report, today the Sustainability Council of the Volkswagen Group has published an interim report on its activities from October 2016 to October 2018 in Berlin. The eight-member international panel summarizes its experience of working with the Volkswagen Group and assesses progress in sustainability matters and describes its attitude towards the future development of the Group in this area. -
"Open Source Lab" sets course for the mobility of the future
Yesterday, the "Open Source Lab for Sustainable Mobility" has started dialogue as a platform for sustainable mobility in Berlin. It is funded by the Volkswagen Group Sustainability Council, is independent in its research agenda and is obliged to publish all research results and other results. -
Volkswagen Sachsen reduces environmental footprint using Naturstrom® hydropower
The Volkswagen brand is stepping up the use of renewable energy in production with a view to further reducing its environmental footprint. Starting this year, the three production plants of Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH have been supplied with Volkswagen Naturstrom® electric power from 100% renewable sources by VW Kraftwerk GmbH. This measure is playing its part in meeting the target of Volkswagen's Think Blue. Factory environmental program to produce each vehicle and component in a way which is 45 percent more environmentally compatible in 2025 than in the base year of 2010. -
Volkswagen intends to almost halve environmental impact of production by 2025
The Volkswagen brand has set itself new, ambitious targets for reducing the environmental impact of production. By 2025, vehicles and components are to be produced in a way which is 45 percent more environmentally compatible than in 2010, the reference year for the current Think Blue. Factory. environmental program. This was announced by Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Production and Logistics: "We reached our environmental target of producing our vehicles 25 percent more sustainable by 2018 before the date set. We now intend to reduce environmental impact by a further 20 percent by 2025. We are on the way to the resource-optimized factory at all the locations of the brand." -
100 CSR projects throughout the world: Volkswagen brand fosters talents and transformation in Brazil
Throughout the world, the Volkswagen brand is involved in numerous environmental and social projects beyond the factory gates. 100 current CSR projects are highlighted by the Sustainability Report of the Volkswagen Group and featured on an interactive world map (www.sustainabilityreport2015.volkswagenag.com/csr-projects). -
100 CSR projects around the world: Volkswagen brand improves water supply, medical care and educational opportunities in India
Throughout the world, the Volkswagen brand is involved in numerous environmental and social projects beyond the factory gates. 100 current CSR projects are highlighted by the Sustainability Report of the Volkswagen Group and featured on an interactive world map (www.sustainabilityreport2015.volkswagenag.com/csr-projects). This commitment to sustainability in a variety of areas is intended to contribute actively to realizing the global development targets laid down in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030. -
100 CSR projects around the world: Volkswagen brand supports greater equality of opportunity in South Africa
Throughout the world, the Volkswagen brand is involved in well over 100 environmental and social projects beyond the factory gates. This is highlighted by the Sustainability Report of the Volkswagen Group. An interactive world map shows all the current CSR projects (www.sustainabilityreport2015.volkswagenag.com/csr-projects). -
Volkswagen brand supports 100 CSR projects throughout the world
Throughout the world, the Volkswagen brand is involved in 100 environmental and social projects for people beyond the factory gates. This is highlighted by the Sustainability Report of the Volkswagen Group. An interactive world map shows all the current CSR projects in the fields of education and science, equal opportunities, voluntary work, health, culture and arts, environmental protection, regional support, sports and traffic education (sustainabilityreport2015.volkswagenag.com/csr-projects). -
Volkswagen Group appoints international Sustainability Council
The Volkswagen Group is strengthening its sustainability management and appoints an international top-class Sustainability Council. The council members will advise the Group Board of Management on the topics of sustainable mobility, environmental protection, and social responsibility as well as integrity, the future of work, and digitisation. They will be independent and not obliged to follow instructions. -
Volkswagen brand improves environmental compatibility of car production by 25 percent
The Volkswagen brand has taken a major step towards environmentally sustainable production. At the brand's production facilities throughout the world, vehicles and components are now manufactured in a way which is 25 percent more environmentally compatible than five years ago. An ambitious self-defined sustainability target of the brand has therefore been reached three years earlier than originally planned. -
Goods transport of the future: MAN and Scania rely on digitally connected trucks
Transporting goods on highways could soon become even more efficient and safe thanks to digitally connected semitrailer tractors. To demonstrate this, MAN and Scania will participate in the "European Truck Platooning Challenge" - a test drive for trucks that are connected in platoons via digital data transfer. In this case, two or more trucks drive behind each other at a small distance making optimum use of the slipstream of the vehicle driving in front. The driver in the first vehicle sets the direction and speed. The other trucks that follow are semi-automated. This reduces diesel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to ten percent. -
Volkswagen Group presents sustainability report
The Volkswagen Group continues to make significant progress on the way to becoming the world's most environmentally compatible automaker. This is documented by the new sustainability report published on Tuesday. The report, which consists of 152 pages, provides information on the progress achieved in economic, environmental and social sustainability in 2013. -
Volkswagen Group is first German automaker in Clean Shipping Network
The Volkswagen Group is the first German automaker to join the Clean Shipping Network, an association of cargo owners. In future, Volkswagen Group Logistics will use the Clean Shipping Index (CSI) assessment tool to analyze and reduce the environmental impact of marine shipment. This step is part of the Volkswagen Group's strategy with the objective of anchoring environmental sustainability in more and more business activities along the process chain. -
Volkswagen inaugurates solar park in the USA
Today, the Volkswagen brand has inaugurated its largest solar facility in the world at its US plant in Chattanooga. The Volkswagen Chattanooga Solar Park has a peak output of 9.5 megawatts and is the largest solar facility operated by an automaker in the USA. The environmentally compatible power is to be used for Passat production
Stories
From the well to the wheel
A holistic approach from start to finish: A vehicle’s environmental footprint reveals the sources of environmental pollution. Therefore, the analysis helps on the path to quickly achieving CO2-neutral mobility.
Is lithium replaceable?
Why is lithium so important for the production of electric car batteries? How will Volkswagen secure a sustainable supply chain? We provide the answers and explain with five graphics the importance of this well-sought after alkali metal.
"Decarbonization" - WHAT?
Decarbonization is important to halt climate change. But what exactly is behind it? And what is Volkswagen doing about it?
The magic of the mix
Volkswagen is banking on electric cars to achieve overall carbon-neutral mobility. We explain why the energy mix is so important. And how the company is already using and offering sustainable electricity.
The mega potential of the supply chain
Volkswagen is doing everything in its power to make its contribution to achieving the Paris climate targets. CO2-neutral components and raw materials play an important role. Check this overview and three info graphics.
Volkswagen boosts environmental protection
The Volkswagen brand is setting itself higher targets for environmental protection in production. As a result, the plants will be able to produce even more competitively.
Media
Mario Müller
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Story: From the well to the wheel
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Volkswagen’s new company links energy and mobility
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Volkswagen boosts environmental protection
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