Whereas: Vehicle manufacturing relies on extraction, processing, and manufacturing of natural resources such as aluminum, steel, rubber and leather – activities associated with intensive environmental degradation and substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
-The aluminum and steel sectors emit billions of tons of carbon dioxide pollution annually, accounting for approximately 13% of global GHG emissions., In 2019, vehicle manufacturers consumed 18% of aluminum and 11% of steel, globally.
- Clearing forests for cattle raising is a leading cause of deforestation in Brazil, a country considered a major source of leather for U.S. auto manufacturers.
- Unsustainable practices used to expand rubber tree cultivation in Southeast Asia and in Africa threaten the destruction of biodiverse ecosystems.
General Motors (GM) is working on important sustainability initiatives but has not set trackable procurement goals with clear indicia of progress.
For example, GM is a member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), with reporting requirements on deforestation and sustainability concerns regarding natural rubber. Yet, GM has not publicly disclosed applicable information about its tire (or leather) deforestation risks or approaches to mitigate those risks. Nor has it set related procurement targets.
In November, GM joined the First Movers Coalition, an organization that urges companies to use their purchasing power to stimulate demand for low carbon materials. GM has yet to set purchasing targets for aluminum and steel aligned with the coalition’s recommended targets.
Meanwhile, competitors Volvo and Mercedes-Benz have taken steps to improve the sustainability of the steel supply chain by participating in the ResponsibleSteel™ standard and certification initiative. Volvo has signed on to the SteelZero initiative, pledging to procure 50% net-zero steel by 2030 and 100% by 2050. Similarly, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, participate in the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative, a standard-setting organization that promotes sustainable and responsible aluminum mining and production.