As a car manufacturer operating on a worldwide scale, we see it as our task to promote sustainable environmental protection. This responsibility extends from research into future technologies over the development and production of our products and the everyday use of Volkswagen vehicles everywhere in the world through to waste avoidance in spare parts logistics. We thus audit all areas of production to ensure that they achieve the highest possible environmental compatibility. To do so, we have developed a special controlling system. It secures reductions in environmental impact on soil, water and the air, while minimising energy consumption. As a result, our production locations have been certified according to the stringent EMAS regulation or ISO 14001, which is recognised worldwide. And the cars produced there are built for people who take their responsibility just as seriously.

By reducing fuel consumption, we can avoid unnecessary emissions. That is why Volkswagen has developed the BlueMotion models with efficient engines, low-friction tyres and tall gear ratios. Compared with equivalent standard models, they allow you to save at least half a litre per 100 km. For instance, the Polo BlueMotion has the lowest CO2 emissions of any vehicle in its class (59 kW/80 hp TDI with diesel particulate filter, combined fuel consumption 3.8 - 4.0 l/100 km/combined CO2 emissions 99 - 104 g/km).

The TDI engine is known for being equally powerful and frugal – a true model of efficiency: Volkswagen’s diesel direct injection currently offers the highest efficiency of any diesel engine as it converts into motion a remarkable proportion of the energy stored in the fuel. No wonder the first car to average 3 litres per 100 km was a Volkswagen TDI.

But Volkswagen is also showing the way in petrol-engine fuel economy with the TSI engine: we are the first and, so far, the only manufacturer worldwide to develop innovative twin-charger engines that combine petrol direct injection and twin-charging with a turbocharger and supercharger. This allows the engine to produce an impressive power output from a small displacement – thus reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

A car’s fuel consumption and consequently its emissions are not determined by its engine alone. The objective of Volkswagen’s eco-friendly technologies is to make full use of all means to maximise fuel efficiency. The dual-clutch gearbox DSG is another element of this: it enhances comfort with smooth gear-changes while its lower power loss means that it achieves far better fuel economy than other automatic transmissions.

Even when a Volkswagen is no longer on the road, our responsibility for it isn't over yet: that is why we are continuing our research to improve recycling. For instance, we have already developed an innovative process in collaboration with SiCon GmbH to recover raw materials from shredder residues. This achievement has brought us the EU Commission’s European Business Award for the Environment and the environmental award of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). In 2007 Volkswagen’s pioneering role in the eco-friendly recycling of vehicles was confirmed once again: the Eos is the first production car to already receive certification from Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority as having a recyclability rate of at least 85 % and an overall recoverability rate of at least 95 % in accordance with an EU directive, due to come into effect in December 2008.