Volkswagen 'Think Blue. Factory.' initiative yields results

With all the worlds major corporations doing all that they can to reduce their carbon footprint, Volkswagen’s ‘Think Blue. Factory.’ program seems to be yielding results. The ‘Think Blue. Factory’ program, aimed on cutting down environmental implications has yielded successful results in 2013 cutting down on key aspects such as waste generation and CO2 emissions. Implemented in 2012, the program is in its second successful year.

Volkswagen’s ‘Think Blue’ program is a comprehensive approach that tries to create environmentally friendly products and solutions that encourage eco-friendly and eco-conscious behaviour towards the goal of a sustainable future. The ‘Think Blue. Factory.’ Program is an addition to the ‘Think Blue’ portfolio concentrating on the aspects of car production. The program aims to improve efficiency, improve production techniques and bring an overall improvement in terms of energy awareness.

Mahesh Kodumudi, Chief Representative Volkswagen Group India and President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, said, “We are on the right track towards achieving our set goals for reducing the impact on environment due to manufacturing processes. Our results are showing how effective our strategies are. We have made ‘Think Blue. Factory.’ a part of our day-to-day working at our Poona Plant.”

Some of the key areas that the ‘Think Blue. Factory.’ program effects are specific waste generation, which has been reduced by 21.8 percent in the year 2013. Similarly, overall CO2 emissions that are a direct result of the automotive manufacturing process have been reduced by 10.8 percent. An automotive plant consumes a large amount of water especially in processes like preparation of the body panels for the paint process and the actual paint process itself. In the year 2013, Volkswagen’s Poona plant has cut down water consumption by about 17.4 percent. Similarly, the Chakan factory, responsible for producing the Volkswagen Polo, Vento and Jetta has cut down on overall energy consumption by 10 percent. These overall reduction have greatly helped reducing the Volkswagen India automobile manufacturing plant’s carbon footprint.