Carbon neutral

Audi’s commitment to protecting the environment doesn't stop with its vehicles.

Audi has announced a plan to make all of its production facilities CO2-neutral by 2030.

16 May, 2018


While Audi is renowned for producing high-performance vehicles, the company is also well known for its commitment to efficiency. The Audi philosophy dictates that each new model be lighter, yet stronger and with greater performance than its predecessor. Engines are continually refined to be more fuel efficient and produce less emissions, and of course Audi’s commitment to producing alternative fuel sources – Audi e-fuel – and its groundbreaking work in the field of electric mobility are well known, with the brand striving to become the number one premium automotive manufacturer of electric vehicles in the premium sector.

But the company’s philosophy to improving efficiency is not limited to its vehicles – present and future – but to the company’s entire global operation. Responsible use of resources, clean energy and greater efficiencies across all areas of the business are a core philosophy at Audi.

Audi also takes a holistic, resource-conserving approach to production, selecting its Brussels site to produce the Audi e-tron due later this year and making it the first premium car to be produced in certified CO2-neutral high-volume production. 

Audi Brussels was awarded the ‘CO2-neutral site’ certificate by the Belgian testing company Vinçotte, making Audi Brussels the world's first certified CO2-neutral high-volume production plant in the premium segment.

The site covers all production processes and all other emissions generated at the plant either by renewable energies (approximately 95 percent) or compensates for them with environmental projects (approximately five percent).

"The company’s philosophy to improving efficiency is not limited to its vehicles – present and future – but to the company’s entire global operation."

"Audi has announced that it will make all its production sites worldwide CO2 neutral by 2030, a goal that is well within reach thanks to forward planning and ongoing work to improve efficiencies across the board."

“We are working hard to make all our factories in the Group even more sustainable. We intend to gradually supply our plants with green electricity. And last year, we were the first company in Germany to make all domestic rail transport climate-neutral,” says Peter Kössler, Member of the Board of Management for Production and Logistics at AUDI AG.

Indeed, Audi has announced that it will make all its production sites worldwide CO2 neutral by 2030, a goal that is well within reach thanks to forward planning and ongoing work to improve efficiencies across the board.

To achieve its CO2-neutral status, the Belgian site first changed over to green electricity in 2012. It also boasts a total area of 37,000 square metres of roof fitted with photovoltaic panels – the largest photovoltaic system in the region. This saves around 17,000 tons of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to the consumption of around 1,500 people.

The plant uses only renewable resources for heating offices, and covers this usage with certificates for biogas – this in turn prevents CO2 emissions of up to 40,000 tons each year.

The plant also offsets further emissions that cannot currently be avoided through renewable energy, such as emissions caused by company cars, by means of carbon credit projects and is actively seeking other technologies and strategies to further reduce water consumption, prevent air pollution and improve recycling.

Other sites have already begun work on achieving the 2030 goal, while newer plants, such as the purpose-built facility in San José Chiapa, Mexico, which builds the Audi Q5, were established with best environmental practice in mind.

The plant was built in accordance with applicable Audi standards, including sustainability and environmental protection considerations. As in the other plants of the Audi Group, a mechanical, chemical and biological process-water treatment system was installed, to make the factory wastewater neutral, and the same applies to CO2‑emissions from production (CO2‑neutrality). Audi México has already planted more than 100,000 trees on 100 hectares in the neighbouring county of San Jose Ozumba to help replenish groundwater. 

Audi also expects a responsible attitude from its business partners, introducing sustainability ratings for its suppliers, so that in the future, orders will only be placed with suppliers that obtain a positive rating. 

In these ways and many more, Audi is not only looking to improve efficiencies in the future, but to ensure that there is a future and it is a bright one for all concerned.

“As the first plant in the Audi Group purely for electric cars, sustainable and environmentally friendly production is particularly important to us,” says Patrick Danau, Managing Director of Audi Brussels. “We see this as an obligation to society that pays off for all sides.”

"Audi México has already planted more than 100,000 trees on 100 hectares in the neighbouring county of San Jose Ozumba to help replenish groundwater."