Mobility and Sustainability.

The Anchieta location is home to the oldest Volkswagen plant outside Germany. It was opened in 1959 and lies in the industrial belt of Sao Paulo. The Gol, Fox, Polo, Saviero and Santana models are produced here. The plant employs 10,900 staff and has a daily production capacity of 1,400 vehicles. Currently it produces 900 vehicles per day. Preparations for introducing an environmental management system are underway. Other current environment projects include the development of a water-saving system and measures for air purification.

Water consumption
The plant draws its water from its own nine wells. As the water quality differs greatly, it can only partially be used as drinking water. The rest is used in industrial processes. The sanitary waste water is treated in a so-called deep shaft procedure and can then be used in industrial processes. This process raises the oxygen content of the water and saves 5,000 m³ of fresh water per month as well as yielding space and energy savings. It also produces less noise and odours as conventional sewage treatment processes.

Decontamination
A special company cleared the redundant systems and rooms of the old galvanising system of toxic residues. The waste materials were neutralised and deposited, recyclable materials were re-used. The responsible environmental protection authority of the state of Sao Paulo CETESB oversaw all activities. Another programme had the duty of replacing transformers and condensers containing PCB. Since 2000, more than 9,000 kilograms of materials containing PCB have been treated. The solid materials were cleaned, treated and returned. Liquid substances such as insulating fluids were burned in special systems.

Supplier management
Since June 2002 all supply and disposal companies for environmentally hazardous goods have been obliged to undergo an environmental audit. In this process the companies must disclose all relevant environmental documentation such as licences and approvals and all important environmental information such as examples of air and water emissions. An environmental audit report documents the results for each company. From 2006, product suppliers will also be inspected according to the specifications of the environmental management team of Volkswagen do Brazil.