Environmental Declaration 2010 for the Audi Plant in Ingolstadt

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Corporate social responsibility – Harmony between
ecology, economy and social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility
Bavarian Environmental Pact
The work of the Bavarian Environmental Pact III
consists in the commitment of the partners to the
conservation of resources and to the application
of eco-friendly technologies with the goal of
achieving environmentally compatible economic
growth. For this purpose there are topic-specific
working forums, which formulate targets and
issue recommendations for their implementation
with the help of external experts. As a member
of the Bavarian Environmental Pact III, Audi is
involved in such things as the installed IPP
working forums and management systems.
The goal of both working forums is that the experience
acquired by Audi and other big companies
in the subject area of Integrated Product Policy
(IPP) and the field of environmental management
systems is made available to small and mediumsized
enterprises. The Bavarian Environmental
Pact III will expire in September 2010. Since the
beginning of 2010, Audi representatives have
been involved in various working groups that are
working on a possible successor agreement to the
Bavarian Environmental Pact III.
Creating attractive working conditions
Motivated and committed employees secure the
success of the company. Employee identification
with the brand is very high at Audi. In the Universum
“Ideal Employer” ranking, the Ingolstadt
car company has repeatedly been voted into first
place by engineering graduates. Audi is also in the
top five among economics and business students.
When choosing an employer, a good working
atmosphere plays a key role, but so do factors
such as fascinating products, market success,
interesting work, as well as secure employment
and personal development possibilities.
Enhancing the quality of life
Audi makes an active contribution to enhancing
the attractiveness and quality of life of the
Ingolstadt location. This involves such fundamen
tal things as secure jobs and employee
profit-sharing. Audi is intensively involved in the
Basic principle: responsible action.
immediate, regional area surrounding its plant in
Ingolstadt. This is also demonstrated by the establishment
of an association for the development
of the Ingolstadt region, together with the city,
administrative districts and other companies. Its
objectives include a high level of innovation in research
and development in the region, as well as
enhancement of the attractiveness of the region
for visitors, future residents and employers.
Audi Stiftung für Umwelt GmbH
Last year AUDI AG reinforced its commitment to
environmental protection issues. For example,
Audi established a foundation with a nominal
capital of five million euros devoted exclusively
and directly to charitable causes in the ecological
domain.
Oak forest project
In collaboration with the Bavarian State Forests
and the Chair of Forestry at the Technical Univers
ity of Munich, Audi launched the “Oak Forest
Carbon Storage” project in 2008. This cooperative
venture started with the reforestation of a wooded
area in the Kösching Forest to the northeast of
Ingolstadt. Massive damage had been caused by
bark beetles, drought and the winter storm “Kyrill”
in early 2007. Where pine trees used to stand,
stable, ecologically high-quality deciduous
woodland is now growing: 36,000 oaks have been
planted. Oaks are among the types of trees that
can store a very large quantity of carbon in their
fully-grown state. They also create a very diverse
habitat for all sorts of animal and plant species.
The area has been established according to a special
scientific experimental design in order to investigate
the most favourable planting density with
regard to carbon storage and biological diversity.
The project is particularly suitable for research into
the reciprocity of climate change and biodiversity.
Similar projects are planned at additional Audi
production sites.
The research facility in Köschinger Forst is the starting
point for the international expansion of the
project to sites with differing climatic conditions.
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