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As a mobility provider, the Volkswagen Group has an impact on nature and the environment throughout its entire value chain. A core objective of the Group sustainability strategy is therefore to achieve more than simply cutting emissions. Our vision is to have a positive impact on people and the environment, and to contribute to restoration and improvement of ecosystems and living conditions by means of regenerative actions.

Nature

Climate protection

Climate protection

The Volkswagen Group wants to achieve net carbon neutrality

The Volkswagen Group is committed to the Paris Agreement and aligns its own activities with the 1.5 degree goal. We aim to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050. The intermediate target: To reduce the carbon footprint per kilometer traveled during the use phase of our passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 30% by 2030 (compared to 2018).

A further goal is for global production sites to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2040 – ten years earlier than originally planned. To this end, greenhouse gas emissions are due to be reduced by 90% by 2040 compared to 2018, among other measures. In order to achieve this, the Volkswagen Group wants to change its energy supply, for example, and increase energy efficiency. The objective is to be procuring 100% of external electricity from carbon-neutral sources at all sites by 2030. The external electricity supply at our European sites is already 100% from renewable sources.

Our specific objective in the context of the “Zero Impact Factory” initiative is to gradually reduce the absolute negative environmental impacts of our production sites for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and components by 37.5% by 2030, by 68.8% by 2040, and ultimately towards achieving net neutrality by 2050, all compared to 2018 levels. In the comparative period from 2010 to 2024, CO2 emissions and energy consumption per vehicle produced were reduced by 62.8% and 21.5%, respectively. Furthermore, per vehicle, water consumption has been reduced by 27.1%, waste by 79.4% and VOC emissions by 67.5%. 

Resources

The Volkswagen Group is working to continuously reduce its demand for primary raw materials

The finite nature of natural resources and the social and environmental consequences of mining raw materials make the development of a circular economy a key sustainability topic. The focus here is primarily on conserving resources. The Volkswagen Group aims to be using 40% circular materials in its vehicles from 2040 onwards (excluding China). By increasing its use of renewable, recycled, and reconditioned materials, the Volkswagen Group aims to make a significant contribution to the circular economy, reduce its use of primary raw materials and extend the service life of valuable resources.

Throughout the ID. family, headliners, fabrics, carpets, seats, door trim panels and decorative inlays are already made of recycled materials (e.g., seat covers with yarn made of ocean plastics and recycled PET bottles). 

Ressourcen

Ecosystem

Ecosystem
Expansive roof covered with solar panels, representing a sustainable energy source for an industrial facility.
Aerial view of an industrial facility surrounded by green fields and a small village nearby.
Landscape view of a barren field with dried grass and a line of trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
The specified fuel consumption and emission data does not refer to a single vehicle and is not part of the offer but is only intended for comparison between different types of vehicles. Additional equipment and accessories (additional components, tyre formats, etc.) can alter relevant vehicle parameters such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, affecting the vehicle's fuel consumption, power consumption, CO2 emissions and driving performance values in addition to weather and traffic conditions and individual driving behavior. Further information on official fuel consumption data and official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger cars can be found in the "Guide to fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption for new passenger car models", which is available free of charge from all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at www.dat.de/co2.