Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg has hit a major environmental milestone: one full year without discharging any process wastewater into the public sewer system. The achievement comes thanks to the facility’s advanced, on-site wastewater treatment system, which recycles 100% of its industrial process water.
“Today marks 1 YEAR without any process-wastewater being discharged into the public sewer,” said André Thierig, Senior Director of Manufacturing at Gigafactory Berlin. “Making a sustainable product matters a lot but doing it sustainably is just as important.”
The factory’s innovative treatment system has become a key part of Tesla’s sustainability efforts, addressing earlier concerns from environmental groups about the plant’s water usage in drought-prone Brandenburg. Tesla says the factory now uses just 2.16 cubic meters of water per vehicle built, well below industry averages. The site’s wastewater treatment facility, adorned with futuristic graffiti featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, serves as both an engineering solution and a cultural symbol of Tesla’s unique approach to sustainability.
This milestone comes as Tesla ramps up production at Giga Berlin to meet surging Model Y demand across Europe. The factory also recently began producing Model Y units for the Canadian market, expanding its global footprint. Earlier this week, Giga Berlin officially kicked off production of the new, more affordable Model Y Standard variant, which Tesla hopes will further boost sales across Europe and beyond.
Giga Berlin continues to serve as a showcase for Tesla’s growing commitment to sustainable, high-efficiency manufacturing. The combination of record-low water consumption and zero wastewater discharge demonstrates how the company is evolving its production practices to align with its broader environmental goals.
