A founding partner of the Greentech Festival, Audi had a significant presence again at this year’s event held in Berlin, where likeminded people and organisations from around the globe came together to share ideas for a brighter future.

28 June, 2022


It’s Europe’s biggest festival for green innovation, inspiration, and ideas and this year the Greentech Festival descended on Berlin in the grounds of Berlin’s former Tegel airport for a two day exchange of ideas, discussions and a showcase of new technologies.

As a founding partner of the festival, Audi was once again there in force, exhibiting the brand’s latest automotive technology in the form of the Audi e-tron GT, as well as the numerous initiatives being undertaken by Audi to reduce the company’s carbon footprint across its entire operation.

Founded by former Formula 1 Champion, now sustainability entrepreneur, Nico Rosberg and engineers Marco Voigt and Sven Krüger, the Greentech Festival offers a platform to anyone wanting to discuss sustainable development, climate and environmental protection while fostering concepts for a sustainable future. 

Aside from Audi, more than 100 other exhibitors offered presentations, with a range of open forums, panel discussions, keynote speeches, and even the chance to experience e-mobility first hand out on the runway in the e-tron GT. 

“Direct dialog with various stakeholders – including critics – is very important to us,” says Silja Pieh, Chief Strategy Officer at AUDI AG. “Exchanging knowledge and seeing other people’s innovative sustainability concepts is enriching for us.” Another highlight are the Green Awards which honour engaged individuals, institutions, companies, startups, and innovations for their ideas about greater sustainability. 

Audi has been ‘walking the walk’ on reducing its footprint for some time and the brand is heavily invested in becoming more efficient and reducing its emissions across the board. With its Mission:Zero environmental program aiming to achieve carbon-neutral production sites globally by 2025 – something that is already well underway with the likes of Audi Brussels becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral high-volume production plant in the premium segment back in 2018 and Audi Hungary likewise became carbon-neutral in 2020.

By 2030, Audi wants to incrementally reduce vehicle-specific carbon emissions by 40 percent over reference year 2018, and to be able to reach that goal, it will also have to intervene in its supply chain processes. To that end, more than 480,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2) were saved in the Audi supply chain in 2021. This was achieved by a combination of using green energy in HV battery cell production and closing the material circuit for aluminium as well as the associated reuse of those materials. 

As well as these major initiatives, work continues to identify other areas where improvements can be made. From glass recycling projects to fast-charging hubs that can be easily erected in urban centres, to more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation methods for components – no stone is being left unturned in the search for improvements.

Audi is also piloting numerous projects through the Audi Environmental Foundation, with programs such as the Nunam project and e-rickshaw initiatives, collaboration with Litro de Luz in the Amazon and battling refuse in European rivers – all in an attempt to produce positive results for tomorrow.