RECYCLING IS

NOT ENOUGH

THE ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF HUMAN

ACTIVITIES IS A CRUCIAL ISSUE TODAY. FOR THIS

REASON, WE NEED TO REFLECT ON THE

CIRCULAR ECONOMY’S PRINCIPLES

T 

he idea of a circular economy is

becoming an integral part of sustainable mobility. It looks beyond

the current extractive industrial model of take-make-waste and aims to redefine growth from the use of resources.

“We are looking for new ways of developing, producing and using carbon-neutral and circular products and services.

I consider it a key contribution by ŠKODA

to offer sustainable mobility solutions to

our customers. That's why we are exploring ways to integrate this concept

into our ŠKODA Green Future strategy”, says Friederike Kloeckner, assistant to the Board Member for Technical

Development.

“Basically, we are at the beginning.

We’ve put together a cross-functional team that is looking beyond the status quo of developing and producing

cars. We started work on a white paper and invited experts to understand

the implications of shifting from a linear

Pavel Grmela

PSU – ECOLOGY AND

OCCUPATIONAL

PROTECTION

to a circular approach in the context of

ŠKODA AUTO. We are all invited to ask

ourselves, ‘How can I contribute?’” explains Pavel Grmela from the PSU – Ecology and Labour Safety department.

ŠKODA AUTO already thinks and acts

circular in many areas. One tangible example is the second life project of batteries from our electric cars. ŠTĚPÁN VORLÍČEK

As part of the ZEBRA

Improvement Program,

ŠKODA AUTO employees

can contribute with

their idea to improve

sustainability, for example,

in the Plastic Pitfalls

motivational campaign.

From the viewpoint of

the circular economy, one

of the projects currently

being implemented at the

carmaker can be followed.

Thanks to the Tritan bottles

that the carmaker distributes

to its employees to improve

their drinking regime, we

are reducing the amount

of waste in the form of

disposable PET bottles. The

outcome, however, largely

depends on whether our

employees decide to use

these washable bottles

or not.

CIRCULAR

ECONOMY AT

ŠKODA AUTO

Three key principles based on those

of the Ellen McArthur Foundation will

guide us towards a circular economy.

In short, it is the transition to a system

in which we will:

RAW

MATERIAL

CIRCULAR

ECONOMY

RESIDUAL

WASTE

PRODUCTION

DISTRIBUTION

CONSUMPTION

VERSUS

DISTRIBUTION

3. Regenerate natural systems

We will not only protect our

environment but may even improve

it, too.

LINEAR ECONOMY

16

ŠKODA MOBIL  FEBRUARY 2020

1. Keep Products and Materials in Use

Enable systems to extend life time and

get materials back so they do not end

up in a landfill.

Examples: Ground limestone from

our Paint Shop is used for the

desulphurisation of flue gases at the

ŠKO-ENERGO heating plant. It is also

used in the construction industry. Our

mobile filtration systems extend the

life cycle of oils. Recycled thinners are

used to clean our Paint Shops. Waste

cardboard is used to package parts at

our CKD Centre.

2. Design out waste and pollution

Design and development ensures

that waste and pollution are not

created in the first place. We design

products and components so that

they can be re-used, repaired and remanufactured.

COLLECTION

RAW MATERIAL

EFFICIENT AND

HIGH-QUALITY

TREATMENT OF

WASTE FOR RE-USE

WILL REQUIRE BOTH

NEW TECHNOLOGY

AND SOPHISTICATED

LOGISTICS AND

A LOT MORE HANDS

AND BRAINS TO

MAKE THESE

CHANGES.

PRODUCTION

CONSUMPTION

WASTE