Volkswagen Group

The production and operation of our vehicles have an impact on biodiversity through emissions, land use and transport. We want to counteract this influence by working to reduce our land use and thus create added value for nature and improve biodiversity. We have set ourselves the goal of increasing biodiversity at the production sites and within the supply chain as well.

The Volkswagen Group is aware of its responsibility. We support nature conservation projects worldwide and have been committed to the protection and preservation of biological diversity through them since 2007. As a founding member of Biodiversity in Good Company, we recognize the goals of the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). We have also defined corresponding fields of action in order to make our contribution to achieving these goals within the framework of our economic activities. We provide information about this every two years in our progress report.

In our regenerate+ sustainability strategy, we have formulated "nature" as one of the four central dimensions and promote biodiversity under our vision of having a positive impact on people and nature and making a regenerative contribution. In addition, we have defined the preservation of ecosystems as one of four fields of action in our Group Environmental Mission Statement.

In addition, we want to promote biodiversity by intending to set up a biodiversity fund of up to 25 million euros per year for external projects from 2025. The selection of the projects to be supported is to be made by an independent decision-making body.

Examples of the nature conservation projects initiated and supported by the Volkswagen Group worldwide are the following:

On the Barnbruch, in the immediate vicinity of the Group's headquarters and production site in Wolfsburg, the Volkswagen Group is supporting the Lower Saxony State Forests in the development of a commercial forest into a wet forest - the original function of the forest.

In South Africa, Amarok pick-ups donated by Volkswagen are used in protected areas to protect rhinos. VW de México is involved in various projects in both nature conservation and environmental education. Since 2008, VW de México has contributed to the integration of more than 4,000 hectares into Mexican nature reserves, among other things. By supporting reforestation measures, the erosion of soil by erosion processes is also prevented and groundwater storage is promoted. The installation of trenches also supports the infiltration of rainwater. For example, on the volcanic slopes of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, where open areas have been created by years of deforestation, livestock breeding and fires, the soil is protected again and groundwater recharge is promoted. To protect habitats and promote sustainable development, Volkswagen Group China has launched the "Green Belt" reforestation project together with the Volkswagen, Audi and ŠKODA brands. By 2030, more than 8.5 million trees will be planted on over 40 million m2 in 10 ecologically sensitive regions in northern China. Afforestation serves as a carbon sink, supports biodiversity and helps prevent wind erosion and soil loss.

In addition to supporting nature conservation projects worldwide, we have also set ourselves the goal of increasing biodiversity at and around our production sites. These measures include, for example, the creation of flowering meadows, the planting of trees and shrubs and the installation of nesting aids for bats, birds and insects. These are decided and implemented on the basis of the local conditions.

Further examples of our commitment:

• Krakonoš's Gardens (Škoda Auto)

• Ecopark at the Pune plant (Škoda Auto Volkswagen India)

• Oxygen park at the Aurangabad plant (Škoda Auto Volkswagen India)

• Membership in the Biodiversity in Good Company initiative (AUDI AG)

• Restoration of peatlands (Volkswagen Financial Services)

• River restoration (Volkswagen Financial Services) 

• Biomonitoring with bees (Ducati)