Volkswagen receives prestigious environmental award from Federation of German Industries

The company along with its partner SiCon, based in Berlin was presented with a prestigious environmental award by the Federation of German Industries (BDI). The award honours Volkswagen's commitment to an end of life vehicle recycling process characterized by its high environmental compatibility and ability to preserve resources.

The technology which was spearheaded by Volkswagen in cooperation with SiCon GmbH converts waste back into raw materials.
Earlier this month, Volkswagen received an environmental award for this process from the European Commission.

The award-winning Volkswagen- SiCon process recovers materials from end of life vehicle residue which in the past could not be viably separated. The treated secondary raw materials can then be returned to production processes rather than ending up on landfills or in waste incineration plants.

'This recycling technology underlines Volkswagen's commitment to sustainable development. It closes the cycle of environmentally sound production, clean operation and subsequent recycling. For us, end of life vehicles are not tiresome waste, but rather a valuable raw material source. That is why we developed the appropriate processes for environmentally compatible recycling at an early stage,' commented Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Dr. Bernd Pischetsrieder, during the award ceremony in Berlin.

Following treatment in the Volkswagen-SiCon process, hard plastics, rubber, textiles, glass and metal residues replace primary raw materials and thus contribute to protecting natural resources. Apart from the ecological aspect, this process presents an economically attractive alternative for secondary raw material users as raw material prices continue to rise.

Commenting on Volkswagens accomplishment Mr. Andreas Prinz, Managing Director of Volkswagen Middle East said, 'This achievement, which we are very proud of, underlines Volkswagen's commitment to the preservation of the community and further re-instates the company's core values of a progressive and far-sighted organization with a deep social conscious.'

The demonstration plant for the Volkswagen-SiCon process is located in Kallo near Antwerp, Belgium, on the site of one of Europe's most progressive scrap recycling companies Belgian Scrap Terminal N.V. (BST). Further plants based on this process are planned or under construction in seven European countries.