BMW Group tops sector in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index

BMW has been working hard in pushing for sustainable operations. There have been multiple efforts across the world to ensure this is happening, including investing on sustainable manufacturing facilities. These efforts have really paid off as the German Automaker is awarded as the world’s most sustainable automotive company in 2016 by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

“The BMW Group is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. For us, sustainability is an important part of our identity and our strategy. We have accomplished a great deal in recent years and continue to set ourselves concrete goals for the future. We are delighted to be named sector leader once again in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. This shows that our activities continue to have an impact and we are on the right track,” according to Ursula Mathar, head of Sustainability and Environmental Protection at BMW AG. Sustainability is something that the automaker has successfully embedded in their corporate strategy and culture.

The efforts toward sustainability started way back in 1973 when BMW became the first automotive company to appoint an environmental officer. Since then, BMW has applied a holistic approach in implementing sustainability throughout the value chain. Significant efforts include the reduction of CO2 emissions, corporate environmental protection strategies, supply chain sustainability, social commitment, and even employee orientation.The company has successfully reduced their new vehicles CO2 emissions by 40%. Now there are seven models that are either all-electric, or combine a conventional engine with an electric motor as a plug-in hybrid, which are good signs that BMW is serious about what they are doing.

BMW is also aiming to be a leader in the use of renewable energy in production and value creation. BMW is currently purchasing 58% of the energy they use from renewable resources. BMW also made headlines last year for becoming the first automobile manufacturer in Europe to use a 40-ton electric truck for transporting materials on public roads. In 2015 alone, BMW invested a total of € 352 million in further education and training programmes that help communities. The bigger goal of the company is to significantly increase transparency and resource efficiency throughout its supply chain by 2020.