Protecting biodiversity: Projects at all Audi locations
In addition to decarbonisation, resource efficiency, and water use, Audi’s cross-site environmental program Mission:Zero also focuses on biodiversity as one of its four key areas of activity. From fields of flowers and colonies of wild bees to reforestation projects: As a member of the “Biodiversity in Good Company” initiative, the brand with the four rings again took action in 2023 with a variety of projects to protect biodiversity at all Audi locations.
Along with climate change, loss of biodiversity is one of the most serious challenges of the twenty-first century. Against this backdrop, the United Nations has declared the decade from 2021 to 2030 a time for restoring the world’s ecosystems. Audi is aware of the responsibility the automotive industry has for protecting biodiversity and supports the UN’s biodiversity targets. In addition, the brand with the four rings has also signed the leadership statement put out by the “Biodiversity in Good Company” initiative, of which Audi is also a member.
Mission:Zero environmental program treats biodiversity as key area of activity
Audi China also participates in the biodiversity projects of the brand with the four rings: With the “Audi China Biodiverse City Initiative”, Audi China has published another measure to promote urban biodiversity in the form of its birdwatching guide titled “Beijing Biodiverse City Birdwatching Guidebook”.
Suitable for experienced and novice birdwatchers, the guidebook is also a call to residents of the city to spend more time in nature and seeks to inspire them to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Published jointly by Audi China and the environmental organization “Friends of Nature”, the guidebook showcases 15 of Beijing’s parks and four suburban routes. More than just a list, the book offers a glimpse into the natural environments, the birdwatching routes, and the most common bird species at the locations it covers.
Ingolstadt: biotopes and wild-flower meadows
A new habitat for endangered animal and plant species is currently being created a few kilometres outside the Ingolstadt plant’s gates on 1.24 hectares of land: the Audi AzuBioTop. The idea for the project came from Audi trainees. Since October 2022, the young Audi employees have been gradually planting meadows of fruit trees and flowers as well as a replacement habitat for sand lizards.
Other Audi employees followed the trainees’ example and planted 5,000 wild perennials typical of the region on a 500-square-meter area on the factory premises as part of a team workshop. On the Ingolstadt premises, suitable lawns are gradually being converted into meadows of wild flowers to provide a habitat for flora and fauna. Ultimately, the project will convert some 20,000 square meters into meadow habitats.