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Volkswagen Receives WEC’s Gold Medal Award for Sustainability

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Gold Medal Award for Sustainability

The Passat is built using VW’s sustainable practices

Volkswagen Group has received the World Environmental Center’s 30th Anniversary Gold Medal Award for sustainability. Volkswagen’s dedication to preserving the environment, eco-friendly mobility, and sustainability were among the reasons the German automaker stood out.

Numerous global companies across multiple business sectors were evaluated for the award, but it was Volkswagen that stood out thanks to its long-term commitment to integrating sustainability in not only its products but also the way it operates.

Volkswagen follows a strong set of environmental principles at every stage of building a car—from design to recycling at the end of its lifecycle—by establishing sustainability contracts with suppliers and even offering efficiency training to its employees around the world.

The automaker’s plant in Chattanooga, TN, where the Passat is built, is a great example of Volkswagen’s sustainability efforts. The plant conserves 720,000 kilowatts of energy every year through insulation made of recycled materials and rock wool. Volkswagen also built a 66-acre solar park at the Chattanooga site, which uses 33,000 solar panels to generates 13.1 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year, or enough to power 1,200 homes.

“As one of the world’s leading companies Volkswagen is providing unique commitments,” said Dr. Terry F. Yosie, President & CEO of World Environmental Center. “Volkswagen’s approach to sustainability is both broad and deep across its business operations.”