We have an ongoing commitment to a more sustainable future that can be seen at every stage of our vehicles’ lifecycle.
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BMW: DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY.
BMW: DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY.
BUT WE’RE NOT STOPPING THERE.
We’re continuing to work on reducing CO2 emissions and make use of renewable energy wherever possible. To use more sustainable materials and constantly improve vehicle design. And to support our 70,000 suppliers to advance with us as part of the Carbon Disclosure Project.
OUR COMMITMENTS AT A GLANCE.
- Reduce CO2 emissions for every vehicle over the entire value chain
- Achieve climate neutrality by 2050 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement
- Follow the guiding principles of the circular economy
- Continue to consider sustainability in terms of our employees and society
TIMELINE: OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND AMBITIONS SO FAR.
THE FUTURE IS CIRCULAR.
Our commitment to BMW sustainability involves replacing the traditional linear product cycle and embracing the circular economy. This approach to car production is built upon 4 pillars – re:think, re:use, re:duce and re:cycle. It’s about extending the value of our products, using fewer resources and returning materials back into the production loop, rather than disposing of them.
THE FUTURE IS CIRCULAR.
Our commitment to BMW sustainability involves replacing the traditional linear product cycle and embracing the circular economy. This approach to car production is built upon 4 pillars – re:think, re:use, re:duce and re:cycle. It’s about extending the value of our products, using fewer resources and returning materials back into the production loop, rather than disposing of them.
Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management BMW AG" The BMW iVision Circular represents our ambition to be a pioneer in the development of a circular economy. "
Below, we’ve detailed what we’re doing at every stage of a car’s life to keep things circular. You can also visit the following link for more information and to meet the BMW iVision Circular – a concept car based entirely on circular economy principles.
SOURCING SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS.
We’re working towards a sustainable value chain by introducing renewable and responsibly sourced raw materials, while ensuring due diligence with our suppliers in terms of their social and environmental standards…
- As a part of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), we support our suppliers in taking measures to reduce CO2 emissions and increase the share of renewable energies.
- The metal foundry at our Landshut Plant in Germany has been certified by the ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative) for its sustainable use of aluminium, confirming that it handles aluminium consciously and responsibly.
- Through our involvement in the cross-industry initiative 'Cobalt for Development', we are encouraging our supply chain partners to meet our high social and environmental standards. To this end, we are also sourcing all lithium for battery cells from a second leading supplier from 2022 onwards, making ourselves technologically, geographically and geopolitically less dependent on individual suppliers.
- We set out social and environmental obligations for our suppliers in our contractually binding sustainability standards. Read more here.
- We continue to innovate and introduce recycled materials in our cars. For example, the new BMW iX features floor mats that incorporate Econyl – a regenerated nylon product made entirely from recycled fishing nets and carpets.
PRODUCTION WITH THE PLANET IN MIND.
We're working hard to increase the energy efficiency of BMW manufacturing plants by using more renewable sources. And as we make more and more hybrid and electric cars, which require high-voltage batteries and intensive energy use, we're undertaking a range of measures across the entire end-to-end production process in order to reduce CO2 emissions...
- We continue to explore more sustainable resources such as hydrogen and geo-thermal energy. For example, the new all-electric BMW iX and i4 are produced at Plant Dingolfing and Munich entirely using hydropower from rivers Isar and Lech.
- Data analytics are enabling us to reduce electricity consumption and simultaneously minimise the quantity of scrap parts.
- We have environmental management systems at all our production sites, constantly developing and optimising our operations.
ELECTRIC ON THE ROAD.
With zero emissions while on the road, fully electric vehicles are just one of the ways we’re shaping a more sustainable future. Find out more below on what we’re doing – and plan to do – through electric mobility.
- We’re continuously working to optimise our battery technology. The aim is to deliver a greater range with smaller batteries that have less environmental impact.
- We’re dedicated to the sustainable sourcing of cobalt and lithium for our batteries by making sure our suppliers and their supply chain consistently comply with the social and environmental standards we expect.
- We’re continuing to diversify our electric range and currently have six fully electric models on the road (September 2022)
- We’re aiming to make 50% of BMW vehicles sales electric by 2025.
- BMW Charging offers access to an extensive network of charging stations across Ireland, making the switch to electric driving easier than ever.
To explore our range of all-electric BMWs, click here. You can also discover the many benefits of electric driving and calculate your potential fuel savings when charging at home by visiting our dedicated BMW Electrified site through the link below.
END-OF-LIFE VEHICLES.
Key to the recycling process of end-of-life vehicles is the recovery of valuable materials which are placed back into the production cycle. In 30 countries and together with their national sales companies, we have already regulated the take-back of end-of-life vehicles for this purpose and offer environmentally compatible recycling at more than 3,000 take-back points worldwide.
The EU currently demands that 95% of a car is recycled. It’s crucial that this is done in a responsible way which is why BMW Automotive (Ireland) Ltd is a member of ELVES, the compliance scheme for End-of-life Vehicles in Ireland. If you need to recycle your old BMW or MINI, you can find an Authorised Treatment Facility (permitted scrapyard) on the ELVES website.
The Authorised Treatment Facility will take your car for free (as long as it is complete and free of rubbish) and issue you with a Certificate of Destruction ending your responsibility for it.
When recycling your car you will need to provide the Authorised Treatment Facility with evidence of ownership, ideally the vehicle Logbook/Registration Document.
End-of-Life Vehicles taken back through Authorised Treatment Facilities in the ELVES Network are recycled, meeting the targets in the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations of 85% reuse and recycling, and 95% reuse, recycling and recovery. For more information on ELVES, please visit: www.elves.ie
PACKAGING
BMW Automotive (Ireland) Ltd is a member of the REPAK Compliance Scheme (Member number 5641). REPAK membership ensures that we comply with EU Packaging Regulations, meeting our legal obligation to recycle the packaging that we place on the Irish market. The fees we pay to REPAK fund household recycling bins, bottle banks, civic amenities and business back-door packaging waste nationwide.
To find out more about REPAK, please visit: https://repak.ie/
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (EEE) AND BATTERIES
As part of an EU-wide initiative to increase battery collection and recycling, and to reduce the risk of releasing hazardous substances into the environment, BMW Automotive (Ireland) Ltd is registered for EEE, batteries and tyres on the Ireland Producer Register (Registration Number 1264WBT).
For more information on the Ireland Producer Register, please visit: https://www.producerregister.ie/
Quantities of Batteries and Electrical Equipment placed on the Irish market are reported on a monthly basis using the Blackbox portal. Proportionate levies are then paid by BMW Automotive (Ireland) Ltd to finance the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of Waste EEE (WEEE) and batteries.
Vehicle Batteries
Under the 2009 Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulation, BMW and MINI vehicle owners can dispose of their waste automotive, portable and Industrial batteries (from electric/hybrid vehicles) free of charge.
To replace the battery of your vehicle, it can be returned to your BMW or MINI Retail Centre where a new battery is installed. The old battery will be recycled in accordance with the regulations. To arrange the disposal of your vehicle battery, contact your nearest BMW or MINI Retail Centre; to find your nearest Centre visit: https://www.bmw.ie/en/home.html
Alternatively, it can be delivered to one of your local for recycling, in accordance with their policy. To find your nearest recycling facilities visit https://repak.ie
Any battery removal, storage and transportation must be managed by a qualified expert.
TYRES
BMW Automotive (Ireland) Ltd’s registration on the Ireland Producer Register (Registration Number 1264WBT) also includes tyres. Through Blackbox, we report the number of tyres we place on the Irish market then manage our obligations through membership to the REPAK ELT Compliance Scheme (Membership Number 0011868).
REPAK ELT manages the collection and recycling of end of life tyres on behalf of its members; its role is to develop sustainable outcomes for all tyres managed through the compliance scheme we pay a tyre levy for each tyre that we place on the market.
For more information on REPAK ELT, please visit https://repakelt.ie/