A project involving recycling plastic parts not used in production has earned the Volkswagen Group Africa’s plant in Kariega-South Africa an international award in a highly competitive pitch.
The competition, which received more than 140 entries in five categories from across the Volkswagen Group globally, awarded Plant Kariega top honours in its zero-impact factory environmental category
The winning project has seen the Kariega plant divert 132 tons of plastic waste, equivalent in weight to approximately 105 Polo GTIs, from landfills since the project was initiated merely a year ago.
The project scope includes collecting discarded plastic parts such as grommets and plastic caps from engines and components, then sorting and transporting these parts to a local non-profit organisation called Vistarus in Port Elizabeth, for recycling.
At Vistarus Mission Station, the plastic parts are extruded into pellets that are sold before being upcycled into new items such as crates. The income generated from recycling projects covers a large portion of Vistarus’s operating expenses and enables them to employ the community.
Vistarus is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that provides shelter for impoverished and substance-dependent individuals. Its vision is to restore the broken in mind and to provide a haven for impoverished, homeless and addicted people to reintegrate them into society.
The whole plastic recycling initiative forms part of the plant’s 2Y24 programme for production and logistics.
VWGA Production Director, Ulrich Schwabe, highlighted that the success of this project is only part of the brand’s efforts to reduce landfill waste. He also mentioned that the company’s overall waste reduction initiatives have resulted in a 14 percent reduction in landfill waste in Kariega since 2021.
Touching on the award he said: “On behalf of the Plant Kariega team, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for this award. This recognition not only validates our work but also motivates us to continue supporting as well as finding new initiatives to contribute to the Volkswagen Group’s environmental strategy.
“As we strive to achieve a Zero Impact Factory (ZIF) in our production plant by 2030, it is essential that we demonstrate a similar commitment to the community, and this particular project allows us to have a direct impact on the lives of those in need around our operating community.”
Volkswagen Group Africa is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (VWAG) in Germany.
VWGA’s brands retain a consistently strong position in the South African passenger vehicle market. Its Kariega plant is the sole manufacturer of the Polo worldwide, exporting to 38 countries including Ghana.
In addition to its South African operations, Volkswagen Group Africa is also responsible for the Sub-Saharan Africa region and North African markets. In terms of its production footprint, Volkswagen Group Africa currently has assembly facilities in Ghana assembling T-Cross, Tiguan, Teramont, Amarok, and the new addition, the Virtus.
