Valmet Automotive sets a highly ambitious goal for the Uusikaupunki, Finland car plant to be CO2 neutral by the end of 2021. The goal is part of the Valmet Automotive Group’s Sustainability Action Plan, with which the company aims to be one of the leaders of the automotive industry in sustainability indicators.
The CO2 neutrality is an essential target for Valmet Automotive’s sustainability development, and it will be attained by reducing energy consumption, improving energy efficiency and applying new alternatives for fossil-free and renewable production of electricity and energy. The remaining CO2 emissions will be compensated for with internationally standardized programs.
The action plan complements and systematizes Valmet Automotive’s several sustainability initiatives. An important part of the plan is engaging and training all personnel to the implementation of the Sustainability Action Plan and policy.
Valmet Automotive took a significant step towards carbon neutrality earlier this year when it signed a new electricity contract for the Uusikaupunki car plant. Since March 2020, it has only used fossil-free electricity generated by wind and hydropower. With this measure alone, the car plant’s CO2 emissions were reduced by almost 50 percent.
The carbon-neutral plant meets Valmet Automotive’s sustainability requirements, but it’s also a factor in competitiveness. The planned goals and solutions will increase the efficiency of operations and generate cost benefits. Furthermore, in automotive industry, the importance of carbon-neutral production and actions common to the complete value chain are increasing.
– Our sustainable development program together with our product strategy to boost electrification with our battery systems will ensure Valmet Automotive’s great contributions to reducing global warming, says Olaf Bongwald, CEO, Valmet Automotive.
The net carbon footprint of a carbon-neutral plant is zero, meaning its operation does not change the carbon content of the atmosphere and thus does not contribute to climate change. Valmet Automotive’s Sustainability Action Plan minimizes emissions from the Uusikaupunki car plant and compensates for the rest with other internationally standardized measures.
Additional information:
Mikael Mäki, Manager, Corporate Communications, Valmet Automotive
Mobile: +358 50 317 4308
mikael.maki(at)valmet-automotive.com
Image bank available at https://www.valmet-automotive.com/media/
www.valmet-automotive.com
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The Valmet Automotive Group is one of the largest vehicle contract manufacturers in the world, Tier 1 systems supplier to roof systems and a key development partner to the global automotive industry. In its strategic development, Valmet Automotive Group focuses on electromobility with developing and supplying modules as well as battery systems. The activities in the group are divided into the four business lines: Manufacturing, Engineering, EV Systems and Roof & Kinematic Systems. Since its founding in 1968, Valmet Automotive has produced more than 1.5 million vehicles at the Uusikaupunki, Finland plant. In Salo, near the Uusikaupunki plant, Valmet Automotive opened its first volume production of batteries for the automotive industry in autumn 2019. The company has locations in Finland, Germany, Poland and Spain. The largest shareholders in the Valmet Automotive Group are state-owned Finnish investment company Tesi and the Pontos Group, each with a stake of 38.46 percent. 23.08 percent is held by the Chinese Contemporary Amperes Technology Limited (CATL), the world´s leading manufacturer of batteries and battery cells for electric vehicles.