German car maker Volkswagen has released its 2014 Sustainability Report, revealing good progress towards its plan to become "the world's most sustainable automobile company".

 

Emissions and energy use per vehicle have fallen, while a higher percentage of waste is being recycled than ever before.

 

"As one of the world's largest industrial companies, we bear a special responsibility," said chairman of Volkswagen's board of management Dr. Martin Winterkorn. "And we want to use our power for the benefit of people, the environment and society. For us, sustainability is not a 'nice to have'. Sustainability is a real, measurable value driver for our business."

 

The headline figure from the report is a 36% drop in scope 1 emissions per vehicle compared with a 2010 baseline.

 

A focus on in-house energy supplies contributed to the drop, while 'resource-optimized manufacturing processes also played a part' according to VW.

 

When including Scope 2 emissions, the drop per vehicle since 2010 was 23%, powered by increased procurement of renewable energy.