Volkswagen Group South Africa’s (VWSA) successful implementation of the environmentally responsible Think Blue. Factory strategy has inspired the first ever Environmental EXPO at the Uitenhage Plant. Employees were treated to an interactive exhibition by environmentally focused businesses and educational talks on the advantages of operating within an environmentally aware business model.

Exhibitors at the EXPO included Eskom, the Nelson Mandela Bay Waste Exchange and Energy Departments, Ellies Renewable Energy, the Rhino Group, Green Overall, Kestrel Renewable Energy, the NMMU Solar Car, Greentech Biofuels, the Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre and the Waste Trade Company.

VWSA Communications Manager Matt Gennrich lauded the exhibitors, saying the Expo was set to become an invaluable asset in the area.

“Given the scarcity of resources and the need for companies to lower their CO₂ emissions and reduce their carbon footprints, forums such as this are an increasingly important platform for businesses to share ideas,” said Gennrich.

“The success of VWSA in implementing the Volkswagen Group Think Blue strategy is a perfect example of how business can excel, while at the same time exhibiting best practice when it comes to being environmentally aware.”

VWSA’s implementation of the Volkswagen Group “Think Blue Factory” strategy has contributed significantly to its lower carbon emissions. The strategy focuses on reducing waste, water, energy and emissions by 25% by 2018 and is currently being implemented in Volkswagen plants around the world. It has seen, among other interventions, employees at the Uitenhage plant preferring bicycles to get them to meetings at far corners of the plant, rather than hopping into company cars.

This environmental strategy saw VWSA recently awarded the prestigious SJM Flex Environmental Award – the Exporters Club Eastern Cape top annual environmental accolade – for the second year running.

Internationally, Volkswagen was listed as the most sustainable automaker in the world in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. RobecoSAM AG classed Volkswagen as the Industry Group Leader in the automobiles and components sector in this year’s review of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). The review analysed the corporate economic, environmental, and social sustainability performance of a total of 31 automotive companies, seven of them from Europe, with reference to criteria such as environmental and climate protection strategy, innovation management and corporate social responsibility.

Gennrich said: “Thanks to the EXPO, we have managed to engage our employees and show case a variety of energy efficient products and solutions, which helps us to become more environmentally responsible.”