- 50 measures worked out with suppliers in 30 workshops: successful first year for the "CO2 Program" at Audi Procurement
- Focus on aluminium, steel and battery materials
- Board of Management Member for Procurement Bernd Martens: "We are creating more transparency in the supply chain."
Ingolstadt, December 9, 2019 – The consistent electrification of the product range means that a large proportion of the CO2 emissions are no longer accounted for by cars' exhaust systems, but by the supply chain and in upstream production processes. Together with its suppliers, therefore, Audi is developing measures to reduce CO2 emissions that take effect already in that phase. The focus of the CO2 program is on particularly energy-intensive materials used in production, such as aluminium, steel and battery components.
In 30 workshops with suppliers, 50 measures have so far been developed with the potential to reduce CO2 per car by 1.2 tons. Specific potential for CO2 reductions exists in closed material cycles, successive increases in secondary materials, the use of recycled materials in plastic components and the use of green electricity. For future orders, Audi intends to agree with its suppliers on the implementation of these measures, which are to be fully effective by 2025. The use of green power has been an integral element of supplier agreements with manufacturers of high-voltage battery cells since 2018. The company analyses the effectiveness of these measures on the basis of lifecycle analyses and has them certified by independent third parties. Audi plans to conduct further workshops next year in order to identify additional potential. The comprehensive program includes sub-suppliers as well as direct suppliers.
Bernd Martens, Board of Management Member for Procurement and IT at AUDI AG, says: "Already in the first year of the CO2 Program, we identified 50 concrete measures with our partners that contribute to the consistent decarbonisation of our company. We are also creating more transparency in the supply chain."
As the first step, Audi is focusing on aluminium, because the production of this material consumes a lot of energy. Audi has launched several innovations to make progress here.
Audi introduced the so-called aluminium closed loop at its Neckarsulm plant in 2017. The aluminium-sheet offcuts produced in the press plant are returned directly to the supplier, where they are prepared and reprocessed. Audi then uses the new aluminium sheets produced in this way in its production. On balance, Audi reduced CO2 emissions by about 90,000 tonnes in this way in 2018 alone. In the future, Audi will roll out the aluminium closed loop at other plants.
With a view to the economical use of resources, Audi is also currently examining the possibility of increasing the proportion of components made of secondary aluminium. In addition, the company is sensitizing its direct suppliers to the use of renewable energy in the production of components also at the sub-supplier level.
Audi requires its battery-cell suppliers to use green electricity in cell production. This requirement is a fixed and binding component of all new orders for the supply of high-voltage battery cells. Before an order is placed, suppliers must submit an appropriate green-power concept.
Audi intends to make its contribution to achieving the Paris climate targets. The company is pursuing the ambitious, self-imposed vision of working towards CO2 neutrality on balance by 2050. To achieve this goal, Audi is starting at the beginning of the value chain and in 30 workshops with suppliers since 2018, has identified a total of 50 measures with a reduction potential of 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per car.
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The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 18 locations in 13 countries. 100 percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).
In 2018, the Audi Group delivered to customers about 1.812 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 5,750 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and 53,004 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2018 fiscal year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €59.2 billion and an operating profit before special items of €4.7 billion. At present, approximately 90,000 people work for the company all over the world, more than 60,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on sustainable products and technologies for the future of mobility.