The report, which has been published since 2021, now covers 18 priority raw materials, including battery materials such as lithium and cobalt. Cotton and magnesium were added as new raw materials last year.
Since 2019, all relevant direct business partners of the Volkswagen Group must undergo a mandatory sustainability rating, in which environmental and social standards are assessed on an equal basis with other sourcing criteria such as costs or quality.
Since 2020, the Volkswagen Group has demanded full disclosure of the supply chain right up to the mining level as part of all new contracts relating to battery raw materials.
As part of the new, holistic regenerate+ sustainability strategy, the Volkswagen Group has set a target for 95% of suppliers to have a positive sustainability rating by 2040.
The Volkswagen Group’s supplier network comprises 63,000 supplier locations in 96 countries. A Group-wide network of 110 sustainability experts not only ensures cooperation with suppliers and business partners on the ground, but also share information and knowledge directly between the Group brands and regions.
The common goal of the collaboration is to increase the traceability of raw materials and establish joint initiatives to develop higher standards and due diligence approaches.
