Audi Brussels wins "Trends Business Tour 2016" environmental award
Audi Brussels has received the coveted "Trends Business Tour 2016" environmental award. The car manufacturer with the four rings beat strong competition from energy giant "EDF", investment cooperative "Energiris", and organic drinks manufacturer "Simone a soif". According to the jury, the comprehensive Audi Brussels concept on sustainable development was decisive in selecting the winner.
The award was collected by Patrick Danau (plant director and spokesperson for the AUDI BRUSSELS S.A./N.V executive committee) during a prize-giving ceremony in Brussels: "We are extremely proud and delighted that the "Trends Business Tour Award 2016" has been awarded to Audi Brussels. It is deserved recognition for the entire plant!"
Audi Brussels consistently strived for innovation and sustainability. According to the chairman of the jury and editor of "Trends-Tendances" magazine, Guy Van den Noortgate, the car manufacturer based in the Brussels district of Vorst has succeeded in harmonising economic operations and environmental protection: "The jury was particularly impressed with their approach to sustainability, which is a common thread throughout the entire Audi concept. Investing in sustainability is not easy for large companies. They can be compared to large tankers, which find it extremely difficult to change course. However, Audi has proved an extremely successful exception. Audi Brussels actively applies sustainability to all its daily operations."
The company attaches huge importance to environmental protection, maximum efficiency and respect for natural resources. Audi Brussels operates a photovoltaic installation for example. Covering a total surface area of approximately 37,000 m², it is the largest photovoltaic installation in the Brussels-Capital Region. A heat pump has also been installed in the new paint pre-treatment plant. The recovered heat is reintroduced into the production process, resulting in energy savings and a demonstrable reduction in CO₂ emissions. Audi’s environmental commitment is a response to customer demand and changes to society worldwide.
The first fully-electric vehicle in Audi’s history is set to drive off the Brussels plant assembly line from 2018 onwards. The plant is currently gearing up for the production of this state-of-the-art e-SUV. Plant Director, Patrick Danau, stressed that all plant innovations comply with the highest environmental standards: "The same applies to our car manufacturing concept: intelligent and sustainable vehicles must come from an analogous production site set-up. All production standards must be organised in accordance with this concept."
Audi Brussels consistently strived for innovation and sustainability. According to the chairman of the jury and editor of "Trends-Tendances" magazine, Guy Van den Noortgate, the car manufacturer based in the Brussels district of Vorst has succeeded in harmonising economic operations and environmental protection: "The jury was particularly impressed with their approach to sustainability, which is a common thread throughout the entire Audi concept. Investing in sustainability is not easy for large companies. They can be compared to large tankers, which find it extremely difficult to change course. However, Audi has proved an extremely successful exception. Audi Brussels actively applies sustainability to all its daily operations."
The company attaches huge importance to environmental protection, maximum efficiency and respect for natural resources. Audi Brussels operates a photovoltaic installation for example. Covering a total surface area of approximately 37,000 m², it is the largest photovoltaic installation in the Brussels-Capital Region. A heat pump has also been installed in the new paint pre-treatment plant. The recovered heat is reintroduced into the production process, resulting in energy savings and a demonstrable reduction in CO₂ emissions. Audi’s environmental commitment is a response to customer demand and changes to society worldwide.
The first fully-electric vehicle in Audi’s history is set to drive off the Brussels plant assembly line from 2018 onwards. The plant is currently gearing up for the production of this state-of-the-art e-SUV. Plant Director, Patrick Danau, stressed that all plant innovations comply with the highest environmental standards: "The same applies to our car manufacturing concept: intelligent and sustainable vehicles must come from an analogous production site set-up. All production standards must be organised in accordance with this concept."
By 2018, Audi Brussels wishes to reduce key environmental indicators, such as energy use, water consumption, solvent use, waste and CO₂ emissions, by 25% compared to 2011. The plant is already being powered by green electricity and is therefore CO₂ neutral. Like all other Audi sites around the world, the Brussels plant is a forerunner in terms of adopting the necessary environmental protection measures, and actively employs a certified environmental management system. Audi Brussels recently obtained European EMAS recertification. Developed by the EU, EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is an extremely effective voluntary environmental management system for those organisations wishing to improve their environmental performance in a proactive and systematic way.
In total, more than 50 companies competed for the "Trends Business Tour Award". This coveted environmental accolade has been awarded by the weekly magazine Trends-Tendances, BDO company auditors and the financial institution ING for three years running. A seven-member selection committee comprising representatives from these three institutions awards the annual accolade to an enterprise that excels with innovative ideas, creativity and dynamism in the field of environmental protection. The jury also considers the candidates’ dialogue with their staff as their social responsibility.
In total, more than 50 companies competed for the "Trends Business Tour Award". This coveted environmental accolade has been awarded by the weekly magazine Trends-Tendances, BDO company auditors and the financial institution ING for three years running. A seven-member selection committee comprising representatives from these three institutions awards the annual accolade to an enterprise that excels with innovative ideas, creativity and dynamism in the field of environmental protection. The jury also considers the candidates’ dialogue with their staff as their social responsibility.