Wolfsburg, 2010-11-19
Environmental management has a long history at Volkswagen
All our technical development processes have been subject to certification since 1996
For the 15th time in succession, the Volkswagen technical development environmental management system has been awarded DIN EN ISO 14001 certification. An 'anniversary' brochure has been produced to mark the occasion. The brochure explains exactly how environmental protection became a core part of the product creation process at Volkswagen.
The Volkswagen technical development environmental management system has today been awarded its latest DIN EN ISO 14001 certificate from TÜV NORD. The ISO/TR 14062 certification first achieved in 2009 has also been renewed. The standard stipulates binding conditions for the integration of environmental aspects into product design and development.
"Volkswagen set itself the goal back in 1995 of achieving continuous improvements in the environmental compatibility of its products and production processes", said Günter Damme, Head of Environment at Volkswagen. "The technical development environmental management system is the key to ensuring that each and every new Volkswagen is more environmentally friendly than its predecessor".
Dr. Ortrun Janson-Mundel from the TÜV NORD Group also added that 15 years ago it was almost revolutionary for a company to implement an operational environmental management system and apply for certification from an independent testing organisation. According to Janson-Mundel: "What Volkswagen has shown us is that the future belongs to companies that are prepared to adopt a long-term approach of environmental awareness and responsibility".
When Volkswagen introduced its technical development environmental management system in 1996, it was the first automotive company ever to take such an approach. The effectiveness of the system was confirmed that very same year when it was awarded ISO 14001 certification. The "Rückblick nach vorn" ["Looking back, looking forward"] brochure published to celebrate the 15th year of certification chronicles the development of Volkswagen's environmental management system since the mid-1990s and looks ahead to the environmentally friendly Volkswagen of the future. The brochure will soon be available to download at: www.volkswagen.de/nachhaltigkeit.
The Volkswagen technical development environmental management system has today been awarded its latest DIN EN ISO 14001 certificate from TÜV NORD. The ISO/TR 14062 certification first achieved in 2009 has also been renewed. The standard stipulates binding conditions for the integration of environmental aspects into product design and development.
"Volkswagen set itself the goal back in 1995 of achieving continuous improvements in the environmental compatibility of its products and production processes", said Günter Damme, Head of Environment at Volkswagen. "The technical development environmental management system is the key to ensuring that each and every new Volkswagen is more environmentally friendly than its predecessor".
Dr. Ortrun Janson-Mundel from the TÜV NORD Group also added that 15 years ago it was almost revolutionary for a company to implement an operational environmental management system and apply for certification from an independent testing organisation. According to Janson-Mundel: "What Volkswagen has shown us is that the future belongs to companies that are prepared to adopt a long-term approach of environmental awareness and responsibility".
When Volkswagen introduced its technical development environmental management system in 1996, it was the first automotive company ever to take such an approach. The effectiveness of the system was confirmed that very same year when it was awarded ISO 14001 certification. The "Rückblick nach vorn" ["Looking back, looking forward"] brochure published to celebrate the 15th year of certification chronicles the development of Volkswagen's environmental management system since the mid-1990s and looks ahead to the environmentally friendly Volkswagen of the future. The brochure will soon be available to download at: www.volkswagen.de/nachhaltigkeit.