BMW Aluminium Stewardship Initiative participation connected vehicle lightweighting with responsible materials sourcing. BMW joined the industry initiative to help develop stronger standards across the aluminum value chain.
BMW Linked Lightweighting With Responsible Sourcing
BMW Group to support development of stringent standards for sustainable aluminium production.
Munich. The BMW Group is underscoring its leadership as a sustainable company by joining the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative. The aim of this non-profit initiative is to create sustainable standards throughout the aluminium value chain – from responsible business management to compliance with environmental and social standards. The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), founded in September 2012, is the first such initiative to establish sustainable standards for the aluminium value chain.
Aluminium also plays a major role in lightweight construction at the BMW Group, alongside carbon fibres. Like carbon, aluminium, which weighs 30% less than steel, also contributes to weight reduction. The BMW i3 uses mainly recycled aluminium or aluminium produced using electricity from renewable sources. As a result, all of the aluminium used in production of the BMW i3 entails much lower CO2 emissions than traditional manufacturing processes using aluminium.
“Our aim is to continue to make a major contribution to future mobility through Efficient Dynamics. Lightweight construction will play a key role in this. That is why we are participating in the development of sustainable aluminium standards. We firmly believe that a cross-industry initiative, with the involvement of civil society, is the right approach,” commented Ursula Mathar, head of the BMW Group’s Sustainability and Environmental Protection department.
By joining the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, the BMW Group is strengthening its leading role as the world’s most sustainable automobile manufacturer. The BMW Group leads many sustainability ratings and rankings, and has been named industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the past eight consecutive years. In 2012, the BMW Group was also the highest-ranked automobile manufacturer in the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) Global 500 Ranking. The BMW Group has also been listed in the FTSE4Good, one of the most important indices of sustainable companies, for eleven years.
Source: BMW
Related: how automakers are pursuing a cleaner and more sustainable industry.
Aluminum Can Reduce Vehicle Weight
Aluminum is widely used in vehicles because it can reduce mass while maintaining strength. However, producing primary aluminum can require large amounts of electricity, which makes sourcing and manufacturing practices important to the material’s overall footprint.
For more automotive sustainability coverage, see our cleaner automotive industry article.
Conclusion
BMW’s participation showed that vehicle sustainability extends beyond tailpipe emissions. Material sourcing, recycled content and production energy also shape a car’s environmental impact.
Source: BMW Group announcement preserved in the original article.
