Inspiring tomorrow: FORVIA establishes Green IT Classroom in Baguazhou, Nanjing

NANJING 14 December 2023. On December 14, FORVIA, the world's seventh-largest automotive technology supplier, combining the complementary strengths of Faurecia and HELLA, established the "Green IT Classroom Inspiring Tomorrow" in cooperation with the social enterprise NETSPRING at Baguazhou Zhongqiao Primary School in the Qixia district of Nanjing. To support the construction of this classroom, Faurecia and HELLA, under the umbrella brand of FORVIA, donated 30 recycled computers, aiming to provide students and teachers with a more convenient way to access information while further demonstrating FORVIA's ongoing efforts in environmental protection and sustainable development.

Sustainable development stands as a paramount challenge in our era. FORVIA has positioned it as a pivotal development strategy. The Group is guided by three fundamental beliefs: a commitment to caring for the Earth, embodying responsibility as an enterprise, and actively contributing to society. FORVIA actively drives transformative change in both industry and society through responsible business practices. This entails the seamless integration of low-carbon environmental protection throughout multiple aspects, encompassing business operations, product development, and the supply chain. Through collaborative efforts with internal and external stakeholders, FORVIA is dedicated to making positive contributions to the communities in which it operates.

The FORVIA Green IT Classroom Project, formerly known as the Faurecia Green IT Class-room Project, stands as a prime example of the group's sustainable development strategy within corporate social responsibility. Initiated in 2013, this project plays a pivotal role in bridging the "digital divide" and distributing the "digital dividend" by donating recycled computers to schools in underdeveloped areas of China. Through rigorous professional and technical recycling processes preceding donation, these computers not only extend their service life but also defer the generation of electronic waste, actively contributing to the circular economy. Over the past decade, a total of 300 recycled computers have been deployed across 11 Green Computer Classrooms, resulting in the reduction of approximately 100 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This accomplishment is in perfect alignment with the group's overarching objectives of "avoiding, managing, and recycling waste" and "reducing carbon footprint."

In consonance with the Group's sustainable development strategy and the commitment to "give back to the community," the project strategically selects locations for green IT classrooms intricately linked to the Group's business interests. The latest embodiment of this initiative, the "Green IT Classroom Inspiring Tomorrow," is strategically positioned in Nanjing, a pivotal hub in China's automobile industry and a city where both Faurecia and HELLA maintain a significant business presence. Nanjing's Baguazhou, the chosen location for this green IT classroom, holds distinction as the largest island in Nanjing and the third largest in the Yangtze River, earning the moniker "green island in the river." Driven by the ecological protection mission of the Yangtze River, Baguazhou continually enhances its ecological environment, aspiring to depict a new, harmonious tableau of coexistence between mountains, rivers, people, and cities. FORVIA envisions the green IT classroom seamlessly integrating into Baguazhou's sustainable development blueprint, acting as a catalyst for local ecological civilization construction, and actively contributing to ongoing efforts in the Yangtze River region. This initiative aims to foster greater public awareness of green environ-mental protection.

Today, the launch ceremony of the "Green IT Classroom Inspiring Tomorrow" witnessed the presence of Mr. Ma Chuan, President of Faurecia China; Ms. Guan Li, Executive Vice President Human Resources Asia Pacific at HELLA and Deputy General Manager of HELLA Corporate Center Asia; representatives from project partner social enterprise NETSPRING; 28 volunteers from Faurecia and HELLA Nanjing; and the principal, teachers, and students of Baguazhou Zhongqiao Primary School.

Mr. Ma Chuan, President of Faurecia China, emphasized, "The scarcity of resources and environmental pollution are common challenges faced by all mankind. As a leading automotive technology company, we believe that responsible action is key to ensuring sustainable development, and we are committed to playing a significant role in it. Through the green computer classroom project, we aim to empower children to explore the world, channeling every ounce of our strength towards a greener future."

Ms. Guan Li, Executive Vice President Human Resources Asia Pacific at HELLA and Deputy General Manager of HELLA Corporate Center Asia, stated, "FORVIA actively contributes to society through practical actions, striving to create more value for the community via sustained community investment and diverse activities. Today, in collaboration with social enterprise NETSPRING, and with the active participation and support of Faurecia and HELLA volunteers, we have launched this green IT classroom. Our aim is to provide additional support for local education and foster sustainable development in Nanjing and Baguazhou."