Contribute to a Greener North Spring City FORVIA Green IT Classroom Opened in Changchun

Lippstadt, 15 November 2024. On November 15th, FORVIA, the world's seventh largest automotive technology supplier, inaugurated its 12th Green IT Classroom at the Nongan Zhenchai Primary School in Changchun, Jilin Province. Faurecia and FORVIA HELLA, companies of the FORVIA Group, donated 33 recycled computers and organized IT and art classes, enriching digital educational resources, enhancing students' awareness of the circular economy, and demonstrating FORVIA's steadfast commitment and relentless efforts in promoting sustainable development and co-creating a better future.

On the day of the event, Ma Chuan, Member of FORVIA's Executive Committee and Faurecia China President, alongside Heiko Lässig, Managing Director FORVIA HELLA Corporate Center Asia & Executive Vice President of Finance & Controlling China, and more than 30 employee volunteers from Faurecia and FORVIA HELLA, joined school principal Mr. Chen Mingde and student representatives for the inauguration ceremony of the FORVIA Green IT Classroom Inspiring Tomorrow.

Ma Chuan, Member of FORVIA's Executive Committee and Faurecia China President, declared: "’ FORVIA is committed to creating greater value for society beyond our business. In the face of today's increasingly severe climate challenges, promoting sustainable development is where greater value lies. Today, we have not only completed the transmission of educational resources, but also the transmission of green concepts and commitments. We hope that this Green IT Classroom can not only facilitate the learning of teachers and students, but also foster the concept and awareness of sustainable development in the hearts of students, inspiring and guiding them to take more practical actions to protect our shared blue planet."

Heiko Lässig, Managing Director FORVIA HELLA Corporate Center Asia & Executive Vice President Finance & Controlling China, added: "I am very pleased to witness another milestone of the FORVIA Green IT Classroom program in Changchun, which is a clear example of our active practice of corporate social responsibility. In the future, we hope to introduce this program to more communities where our business is located, to better support local education and contribute to the sustainable development of China."

Changchun, known as the "Cradle of China's Automotive Industry," is a strategic hub for FORVIA's operations in China. Both Faurecia and FORVIA HELLA have presence with nine factories and joint ventures (including research centers) here. To further the "One FORVIA" vision and accelerate the synergy between two companies, the Green IT Classroom program called for volunteers from both companies in Changchun, inviting them to co-create two courses in the school: the "Green IT Classroom" and the "Innovative Art Classroom".

In the “Green IT Classroom”, FORVIA volunteers engaged students in a quiz about ecological conservation, arousing their interest in environmental protection and sustainable development. Through creative poster design activities, they helped students understand the concept of circular economy, resulting in vivid artworks that conveyed environmental ideas. The "Innovative Art Classroom" adopted a playful approach, merging education with enjoyment. It began with the students' favorite toy cars, seamlessly weaving in the idea of new energy. Under the guidance of volunteers, the students crafted their very own "new energy vehicles" powered by solar energy. Through a combination of technology and experience, the volunteers introduced the knowledge of new energy to the students in an accessible way, allowing them to experience the power of future technology in the interactive activity and enhanced their practical skills and innovative thinking.

Sustainable development is not a one-time effort but a continuous endeavor. The FORVIA Group has placed sustainability at the heart of its strategy and innovation, with Planet, Business and People as its three pillars to promote sustainable changes in industry and society. FORVIA is committed to being a member of the community in each region where it operates worldwide. In China, the Group contributes to local economic development and creating local social value by initiating or contributing to projects and programs that address local needs, and by offering its expertise and resources in support of these actions.

The FORVIA Green IT Classroom (formerly known as the Faurecia Green IT Classroom) Program is a prime example of the company's commitment to contribute to society. Initiated by FORVIA in collaboration with social enterprises Maverlinn and Netspring, the program donates refurbished computers – rigorously inspected and repaired - to schools in need across China. Since its launch in 2013, the program has landed in Shanghai, Suzhou in Jiangsu, Macheng in Hubei, Chengdu in Sichuan, Liaoyuan and Changchun in Jilin, Chongqing, Fengcheng in Jiangxi, Liuzhou in Guangxi, Zhangzhou in Fujian, and Nanjing in Jiangsu, providing a total of 360 recycled computers to benefit over 6,800 students, with participation from 260 company volunteers.

Over a decade, the FORVIA Green IT Classroom program has effectively extended the life of electronics, ensuring the eco-friendly dismantling of 1.5 tons of obsolete computers, reducing more than 132 tons of CO2 emissions, and contributing to the development of the circular economy. The program designs small courses imbued with innovation, sustainability, and technology, stimulating students' imagination and creativity regarding sustainable development, illustrating FORVIA's solid commitment to support education, mobility, and the environment.