Volkswagen Group UK aftersales boss drives carbon literacy progress

Volkswagen Group UK has been named a Silver Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO) driven by efforts from head of aftersales business development Leanne Thomas.

Over 220 VW Group UK colleagues are now certified as carbon literate as part of the company’s drive to improve sustainability across the business.

A CLO is one that has been accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project as having and maintaining a substantial proportion of its workforce as ‘Carbon Literate’, and demonstrating Carbon Literacy through its organisational behaviour.

CLO accreditation is a tiered system with Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels, requiring increasing levels of commitment to action on climate change and creating a low-carbon culture.

Thomas has been leading this sustainability initiative for VW Group UK since 2022.

The company has a tailored Automotive Carbon Literacy programme for its employees.

This includes a one-day training course where participants learn about the science and impacts of climate change, actions to combat it, and how the automotive industry is affecting climate change.

Professional and personal pledges

To achieve their Carbon Literate certificate, participants also have to make a professional and a personal pledge which is then tracked and monitored.

On a personal basis, individuals have made myriad commitments, including switching energy suppliers, changing travel and eating habits, reducing fast-fashion, and changing numerous products to more sustainable suppliers.

Professionally, a number of teams have initiated changes too.

These include the increased use of renewable fuels and LED lighting, fleet electrification, solar panel installation, a significant reduction of printed materials in the brand’s network and the removal of single use cups.

Thomas said: “Having support from members of our board of management has really helped us to move this forwards, especially in allowing colleagues time and ‘permission’ to take part and then to fulfil their pledges.

"We’re really proud of the accreditation but even more proud of the changes we’re making and the impact it’s having on our carbon footprint.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to do more and grateful for the guidance and support of the Carbon Literacy Project team.”