In-Process Environmental Protection

The Volkswagen Group is committed to integrated environmental protection. In addition to taking account of the environmental compatibility of our products, we therefore also assess and reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and logistics processes. A systematic continuous improvement process is implemented across all production sectors. For us, environmentally compatible production starts with product development, since decisions taken at this stage, for example in terms of design and choice of materials, also have an influence on the environmental impact of subsequent production and recycling processes. At the practical level, our in-process environmental protection work focuses on water and wastewater, air, energy and waste.

Water of life
Saving water and conserving drinking water are fundamental tasks of our in-process environmental protection. We use rainwater, recycle rinsing water and have introduced a wastewater flow management system which helps us to manage these complex processes successfully.
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Closing the loop
Our in-process waste management is based on systematic separation and reprocessing using new technologies. We have also won an award for a process with which we convert production waste back into a valuable raw material for our production processes.
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Air to breathe
Air pollution by Volatile Organic Compounds primarily occurs in our automotive painting operations. We have been able to achieve a dramatic reduction in gaseous emissions by using solvent-free coating materials, process optimisation and afterburning of the waste air from our paintshops.
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Saving power and eco-friendly production
Ensuring an efficient energy supply and Group-wide energy saving programmes are the cornerstones of our energy management system. The result: lower costs and lower CO2 emissions.
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