BMW To Produce Wheels From Upcycled Aluminum & Green Power
In a bid to be more sustainable, the BMW Group will produce its wheels using recycled cast aluminum and 100% green power for BMW and MINI vehicles from 2024.
The brand plans to replace the current energy-intensive process of electrolysis used in producing aluminum and wheel-casting, which account for 5% of supply-chain carbon emissions.
As aluminum is a material that’s easy to recycle, it’s now possible for the firm to melt down old wheels to be reused as part of the circular production chain.
Additionally, by transitioning to sustainable power, it believes that the figure can be cut by more than half, especially as the group produces 10 million light-alloy wheels annually, 95% of which are made from aluminum.
Independent audits have found that the move would save up to 500,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, furthering the automaker’s push to become the most sustainable supply chain in the industry.
From next year, its subsidiary MINI will also begin using light-alloy cast wheels made from 70% secondary aluminum in the release of the MINI Countryman. By using 100% green energy and 70% recycled raw material, the firm believes it can reduce greenhouse emissions by up to 80%.
“Green power is one of the biggest levers for reducing CO2 emissions in our supply chain. We have already signed more than 400 contracts with our suppliers, including suppliers of wheels and aluminum, requiring them to use green power,” said Joachim Post, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG for Purchasing and Supplier Network.
