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n response to societal demand, the strategic objectives of the Vitoria factory have been integrated into the Mercedes-Benz Group's environmental strategy, which encompasses several complementary objectives, all of them affecting the stages of production, from the factory, to the suppliers, to the vehicles themselves.
In the production process area, the GreenProduction 2022/2030 Project, designed by the Mercedes-Benz Group, defines efficiency objectives in order to meet several challenges by that date.
The manufacture of electric vehicles is a key component of the strategy of the Mercedes-Benz Group and the Vitoria factory. Already having achieved several milestones, such as the launch of the e-Vito van, and the electric EQV, it will culminate in 2039 with the production of exclusively CO2-neutral vehicles.
These products are just one part of a whole suite of mobility solutions that Mercedes-Benz has undertaken to support sustainable transport and improve the quality of life in urban environments.
Environmentally friendly, safe and accessible urban mobility for all is critical to achieving a high quality of life in cities. To do this, it is necessary to implement smart systems that integrate and coordinate the use of all modes of transport, prioritizing that which offers the greatest benefits in each case.
In the field of individual mobility, it is crucial to expand the public charging infrastructure, both in cities and on the main transport axes, in order to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles guaranteeing reliable mobility free of local emissions.
The transformation of urban mobility is a challenge that concerns society as a whole. Thus, the Mercedes-Benz Group actively participates in initiatives such as the German platform VDA Urbane Mobilität (PUM) and the Agora Verkehrswende Council, where representatives of industry and cities converge to discuss the most urgent aspects of the transformation of mobility, and to take joint measures in this direction.
The Mercedes-Benz Group aims to prevent, minimize or, as far as possible, eliminate (potentially) negative environmental impacts throughout its supply chain. To achieve this, it has focused on achieving sustainable supply chain management, as its suppliers must comply with Responsible Sourcing Standards (RSS) in order to participate in the new contracts awarded by the Group.
The RSS is the central contractual document containing sustainability requirements for suppliers and defines, among other issues, mandatory requirements regarding environmental protection. Beyond these minimum requirements, the expectations set out in the report provide a non-binding perspective for the coming years, and lay down a foundation of contents for strategic dialogues and other formats.
Thus, the RSS has become the most important instrument for implementing the ambitious objectives of the Mercedes-Benz Group in its complex supply chains. These standards are the guidelines for sustainable supply chain management.
Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans are also addressing other sustainability requirements. For future series of vehicle models and architectures suppliers must meet the targets set by Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans, especially regarding the reduction of CO2 emissions, and implement the appropriate measures. These requirements apply, in particular, to CO2-focused and energy-consuming materials like steel, aluminum, polymers and electric battery cells.
In order to reduce CO2> emissions in the supply chain, Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans are helping to accelerate the transformation of their suppliers and business partners. With our “Letter of Ambition,” which applies to all new contracts, suppliers promise the segments that, by 2039, they will supply Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans with exclusively net-carbon-neutral* products.
Together with the mobility objectives of the Mercedes-Benz Group, the Vitoria factory has adopted its own strategy, which aims to improve sustainable mobility and the quality of life in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz and its environs. This strategy has set several key dates leading up to its 2039 horizon:
The primary objective of the Circular Economy is to preserve the value of products, components and materials for as long as possible. In line with this approach, the Mercedes-Benz Group is actively committed to implementing measures that promote this circular economic model.
With waste hierarchy as a fundamental guide, the ultimate goal is to avert the generation of waste, for which various actions are carried out. These include the work of the Mercedes-Benz Group to extend the life of all vehicle components through, for example, the use of particularly durable materials. Additionally, the efficient use of resources is promoted and the use of raw materials of limited availability is reduced. Only as a last resort, in accordance with the waste hierarchy, measures are planned to reuse various components and parts, as well as to recover materials through recycling.
Within the framework of product development, the Mercedes-Benz Group integrates the Circular Economy from the outset. A specific recycling concept is developed for each new model series. This process involves a thorough analysis of all components and materials, evaluating their suitability for the different stages of the recycling process.
The Group has embraced the recycling and reuse of the resources used in the production process as keys to sustainability
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