Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin has officially been awarded the European Union’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification, highlighting the automaker’s growing commitment to sustainability in Europe.
The award, presented on September 1, positions the facility as a leader in balancing industrial growth with environmental responsibility.
A Model for Industry
The Brandenburg state government praised Tesla’s achievement, describing the factory as a model for combining climate goals with industrial development. Hanka Mittelstädt, Brandenburg’s Environment Minister, emphasized that the certification builds public trust: “It’s all public and it also creates a bit of trust. That can also be an incentive for others.” (via rbb24)
EMAS certification is regarded as prestigious because it is a stringent, voluntary EU standard that demands high environmental performance, ongoing improvement, and transparency beyond international standards. More than 40 companies in Brandenburg now carry EMAS certification, but Tesla’s scale makes this recognition especially significant.
Environmental Commitments and Results
EMAS requires organizations to measure, document, and publish their environmental impacts while setting measurable goals for improvement. Tesla’s latest environmental report shows notable progress in resource efficiency:
- Energy Use: In 2024, the factory consumed roughly 419,503 megawatt hours of energy, with electricity making up the majority. The company plans to expand its solar capacity by 5 to 15 megawatt peak this year.
- Carbon Emissions: The facility reported greenhouse gas emissions of around 39,667 tonnes of CO2, with ongoing efforts to cut natural gas consumption through waste heat recovery.
- Water Efficiency: Tesla used about 456,953 cubic meters of water in 2024. At 2.16 cubic meters per vehicle produced, this figure is significantly below the industry average of 3.5 cubic meters. The company aims to recycle 90% of process wastewater in the current year.
- Reforestation: More than two million trees have already been replanted as part of local compensation measures, with plans for continued reforestation.
Plant manager André Thierig noted that Tesla will keep expanding its use of photovoltaics and pursue further water conservation efforts.
Support and Criticism
While government sees EMAS as a milestone, not everyone is convinced. Steffen Schorcht, spokesperson for the Grünheide Citizens’ Initiative, welcomed Tesla’s efforts but warned the certification could amount to “greenwashing.” and could reduce oversight and accountability.
Opened in 2022, Giga Berlin is Tesla’s only European vehicle plant and plays a crucial role in meeting the region’s EV demand. Approximately 12,000 employees produce around 5,000 vehicles each week, with annual output around 250,000 units. Recently, the factory built its 500,000th vehicle, the 100,000th refresh Model Y, and also started production of the new Model Y Performance.
