Another Step Towards Sustainability: BMW Invests in CO2-Free Steel Production
Many major automakers have been pushing for a more sustainable future. The goal for a sustainable future is set not just for the cars they produce but also in the production of those cars. While many people acknowledge the changes in the industry as moving towards cars with lower emissions, electric drivetrains, and building hybrid options, but that is only a part of the puzzle. The other part is created more sustainable ways to collect and produce the resources needed for the mass production of cars, and for BMW, that means moving towards CO2-free steel production.
Steps towards a more sustainable future
In the past several years, BMW, as well as other major automotive manufacturers, has been making steps towards more sustainable production. Part of this process has been sourcing materials responsibly, and that including products such as steel, which can be tricky to process responsibly. BMW will be working with a specialized company to work towards CO2-free steel production and refinement.
Boston Metal
Boston Metal is an American-based start-up that is working on creating a way to make the steel-production process CO2-free. This group began through a venture capital fund, BMW i Ventures, as an investment by BMW towards a more sustainable future. There is a lot of technical science that goes into how Boston Metal is developing this process, but the first and most basic steps are to remove the use of coal from steel production.
BMW stays future-focused
BMW has acknowledged that steel is a crucial part of automotive production, so efforts should be made to refine the production of steel, so it is as green as possible. While aiming to be completely CO2-free sounds somewhat outlandish, the team, along with Boston Metal, hopes to continue to perfect the process over the next several years. This is just one of the ways that the team at BMW is changing things up.
“…we have set ourselves the goal of continuously reducing CO2 emissions in the steel supply chain. By 2030, CO2 emissions should be about two million tonnes lower than today’s figure.”
Dr Andreas Wendt, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG
With the major manufacturers stepping up to put more focus on responsible and sustainable resources and production, it will force others to follow suit. The automotive industry, which is responsible for a large portion of CO2 emissions from the production of the car to its daily operation in the hands of owners, every step towards sustainability is crucial.
