AJAX,
ON, April 17, 2024 /CNW/ - To celebrate the
arrival of spring and to underscore the brand's commitment to
sustainability, Volkswagen Canada is launching the first of three
commissioned pollution-eating paint murals to contribute to cleaner
air and a more sustainable future.
Beginning this week, the first mural will be available to view
at 144 Ossington Avenue in Toronto, showcasing the work of local artist
Ronaldo. The three commissioned murals will cover 5,600 sq ft. of
otherwise blank wall space with revolutionary pollution-eating
paint that absorbs carbon dioxide.
This initiative is part of the most significant transformation
phase in Volkswagen's history - the pursuit of sustainable mobility
for all. In the process of the global brand's transition,
Volkswagen has saved more than 850,000 metric tons of carbon
dioxide globally since 2017 and is on track to decrease its dealer
network's carbon footprint 30%, by 2030.
"We've made significant progress as an organization and it's
become second nature to consider the sustainability and
environmental impact of our work for the future of mobility," says
Edgar Estrada, the brand's newly
appointed President of Volkswagen Brand, Canada. "These murals serve as a visual and
engaging representation of our vision for a greener city and a
greener world – where even street art helps to reduce carbon
emissions."
In addition to three commissioned murals, Volkswagen is taking
it one step further with a donation of paint to Calgary's BUMP Festival. This donation will be
in the form of pollution-eating paint that will contribute to one
of the festival's large-scale murals in 2024, as part of an
accessible and sustainable public art exhibit.
Canadians can view Volkswagen's second and third murals at 1149
Queen Street West across from the Drake Hotel in Toronto, and at 10025 106 Street NW, southwest
of Edmonton's downtown core, which
will both go live on May 6.
Beyond the art installations, Volkswagen is also prioritizing
smaller steps that all Canadians can take on the path to reducing
their carbon footprint. The brand has launched a pollution-eating
car cover for their new line-up of all-electric ID.4s. Activated by
daylight, the titanium dioxide coating absorbs pollutants from the
environment, which breaks down into inert organic compounds like
water and other basic elements. The brand has also offered VW
owners a zero-waste sustainable car detailing kit including carbon
capture car soaps and wheel cleaner, and launched the
Carbon-Neutral Net in 2021 to build awareness and offer education
about sustainability and the carbon emissions created through
online search engines and websites.
"Volkswagen Canada is thrilled to celebrate the season and share
our commitment to sustainability with Canadians," says Lynne Piette, Director of Marketing for
Volkswagen Canada. "We can't wait to see these living works of art
doing good in communities across Canada." Learn more about the murals, and the
steps Volkswagen is taking towards a more sustainable future by
visiting www.vw.ca.
About Volkswagen Group Canada
Founded in 1952, Volkswagen Canada is headquartered in
Ajax, Ontario. It is the largest
volume European automotive nameplate in Canada, and sells the Golf GTI, Golf R, Jetta,
I.D. 4, Taos, Tiguan, Atlas and
Atlas Cross Sport through 146 independent Canadian Dealers. It
forms part of Volkswagen Group Canada Inc., a subsidiary of
Volkswagen AG headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger
cars and is Europe's largest
automaker.
SOURCE Volkswagen Group Canada