This beautiful, blue indigenous flower is rich in nectar and plays a vital ecological role by attracting pollinators such as butterflies, bees and birds. VWGA employees rolled up their sleeves to help plant almost a thousand plants.

VWGA says it is committed to biodiversity initiatives, raising awareness among employees and within the communities where it operates throughout the year. Two years ago, employees planted nearly 5 000 spekboom cuttings on the grounds of its Kariega facilities, and hundreds more were planted at local schools through the Volkswagen Community Trust.

This remarkable succulent is known for its carbon-absorbing properties, making it an essential player in combating climate change. A single hectare of spekboom can absorb up to 4.2 tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director, emphasised that biodiversity is essential for healthy ecosystems. "Without a wide variety of animals, plants and micro-organisms, we wouldn’t have the balanced ecosystems that provide us with clean air, nutrient-rich soil and food," said Schwabe. "We cannot have a Zero Impact Factory and not invest time in promoting biodiversity."

Additionally, the company actively removes invasive trees, shrubs and grasses from its sites while the premises is home to about 40 neutered cats. As natural hunters, cats help control the rodent and pest population.