Quantifying supply chain decarbonization as a pillar for becoming a net-zero company

• 分析与建模 - 过程分析

• 汽车

• 物流运输
• 采购

• 能源管理系统
• 供应链可见性(SCV)

Mercedes-Benz, as part of their Ambition 2039, committed to becoming a carbon-neutral company by 2039 across their entire value chain. This includes not only the emissions produced by their vehicles but also those that occur during the production process. A significant proportion of these emissions occur not at Mercedes-Benz locations, but within its supply chain. To develop a realistic yet ambitious decarbonization strategy, it was crucial to gain transparency about emissions hotspots in the supply chain and quantify possible reduction measures. However, the company faced challenges such as missing emissions transparency in the supply chain, lack of reliable, detailed emissions inventories for steel, aluminum, and plastics, lack of knowledge about the influence of renewable energy and recycled or bio-based materials and their impacts on supply chain emissions, and lack of CO2 reductions potentials for target setting.

Mercedes-Benz is a globally recognized automotive company founded in 1926 and headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. The company has a significant presence with over 173,000 employees and 40 production sites spread across four continents. In 2019, the company sold nearly 2.4 million cars and more than 438,000 vans. As part of their commitment to environmental sustainability, Mercedes-Benz has set an ambitious goal, Ambition 2039, to become a carbon-neutral company by 2039. This commitment extends beyond the emissions produced by their vehicles to include those that occur during the production process, a significant proportion of which occur within its supply chain.

To address these challenges, Mercedes-Benz decided to use Sphera’s consulting services and their detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) models and supply chain knowledge. Sphera’s consultants conducted a detailed CO2-modelling of the supply chains for steel, aluminum, and plastics and derived and quantified possible reduction measures. This involved alternative production routes for steel, including steel via direct reduced iron, renewable energy used in the supply chain of aluminum and plastics, and the use of secondary and bio-based materials. Additional environmental impacts, such as acidification, water consumption, etc., were considered wherever needed and relevant. Sphera’s Sustainability Consulting services enable companies to build business value from sustainability, gain new investments, and future-proof their businesses by providing insight into the concepts behind decarbonization and net zero, helping organizations to assess their status quo, and developing a decarbonization roadmap suitable for a specific business model.

• Gained CO2 transparency in the supply chain
• Developed the ability to quantify supply chain strategies (e.g., use of renewable energy) in terms of decarbonization potential
• Acquired the ability to formulate, quantify and refine CO2 reduction targets