The Volkswagen Group’s local branch has helped the global German company with its rebound since the company’s global emissions scandal erupted in September 2015. The Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) was recently awarded the new International Environmental Certification – ISO 14001:2015. 

This certification was awarded and confirmed by lead auditors from technical service provider, Tuev Nord and Volkswagen AG, after VWSA made notable improvements in its safety, environmental and energy management performance processes. The company also achieved this certification in record time.

Thomas Bunge, an external auditor from Tuev Nord said: “It must be noted that the Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, BS:OHSAS 18001 is well-embedded at VWSA with all employees understanding the importance of the principles of good health and safety practices.  This is evident in the results.”

VWSA implemented the new standard of ISO 14001:2015 in the record time of one year. Normally, it takes organisations two to three years to receive a similar level of compliance, which makes VWSA one of only five manufacturing plants in the Volkswagen production network to receive this certification in 2016.

“VWSA’s sales and marketing offices in Johannesburg have also successfully implemented the International Standard on Energy Management ISO 50001, ensuring that the entire VWSA now has a formalised and certified Energy Management System in place,” VWSA said in a statement.

Thomas Schaefer, chairman and managing director at VWSA said the company was very grateful for the diligent work of its Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Department as well as all its employees for their roles in helping our company to receive the certification.

“We always strive to ensure that all our facilities fully comply and adhere to the required standards,” he said.

The German automaker came under fire a year ago when the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice of violation of the Clean Air Act to the Volkswagen Group after it was found that Volkswagen had intentionally programmed turbocharged direct injection diesel engines to activate certain emissions controls only during laboratory emissions testing.