Reducing vehicle emissions through the introduction of hybrids and electric vehicles is just one step in making transportation more sustainable. Automakers are now seeking out more holistic approaches to become more environmentally friendly. At the same time, these efforts take into consideration human rights in production.
Porsche, for instance, has ensured that all of its factories are powered by renewable energy, and has begun helping suppliers work to meet the company’s own sustainability standards. With its upcoming iX electric SUV, BMW has focused on manufacturing with recycled materials and in a way that allows as much of the car as possible to be recycled.
Now, BMW is working to clean up the lithium mining industry. The company invested $334 million to assure that the lithium in its batteries comes from sustainable sourcing. Lithium mining is an industry with a poor record of environmental destruction and exploitative employment practices. These mines are often in places that lack human rights enforcement or bans on unsustainable extractive techniques.
BMW to Supply Lithium
Automakers usually buy batteries from suppliers that source their own raw materials. But BMW’s investment creates a supply chain where the automaker supplies lithium to the companies that make its batteries.
BMW will buy the lithium from a U.S.-based company, Livent. In a statement, BMW explains, “Livent employs an innovative method that emphasizes sustainable water use and minimizes the impact on local ecosystems and communities.”
“The BMW Group became the first automotive manufacturer worldwide to join the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) in early 2020,” the statement adds. IRMA standards attempt to ensure its members respect workplace safety, cultural heritage at mining sites, and fair labor standards.
BMW expects 50 percent of its global sales to come from electric vehicles by 2030.
