In the wake of the recession, there has been an outcry for greater transparency in businesses. Volkswagen took transparency to a whole new level with their Phaeton assembly plant in Dresden, Germany. Dubbed the Transparent Factory, it has glass walls, resembling something from a futuristic fairy tale. VW facilitates daily guided tours for anyone who is interested in seeing one of the greenest manufacturing plants in the world. Even the way VW moves parts and supplies is green, using an electric tram transportation system.
If I could hop on a plane to Germany, this is one stop I definitely wouldn’t miss. It would be amazing to witness what VW is doing for sustainability. While their competitors are trying to cut costs and payback government bailout, the German automaker is focusing on sustainability.
Indubitably, riding on the forefront of the “Green Wave” is advantageous for VW’s image. I believe it is also vital for their survival. Traditional transports rely on diminishing supplies of oil. Furthermore, air pollution and congestion resulting from conventional transports cause inefficiencies in supply chains, increasing the production cost. Thus, going green is not only embracing a dream of happily-ever-after for mankind; it is financially viable as well.