Main areas of application: Cathode material in battery cells (high-/low-voltage batteries)
Small quantities: Transmission, engine and electronic components (e.g. speakers)
Raw-material-specific risks.
Negative environmental impacts, such as deforestation and loss of biodiversity, contamination of soil and groundwater (especially due to tailings), as well as air pollution
High CO2 emissions from mining (energy mix) and, in particular, from pyro- and hydrometallurgical processing
Hazards from flotation tailings and ageing dams
Violation of the rights of local communities and indigenous groups
Violation of workers’ rights
Weak government regulation
Future risks of deep-seabed mining
Measures taken by the BMW Group.
Comprehensive ESG risk assessment carried out and critical mining countries and regions identified. Known risks are higher in the main mining countries of the Global South, in the so-called “lateritic belt”, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia
Increased transparency in the nickel supply chain up to the fifth generation of high-voltage batteries, as well as for low-voltage batteries. Binding requirements for supply chain transparency established in individual contract documents with suppliers
Enabling of direct suppliers in the tendering process, with a request for them to be audited and/or obtain recognised certification for smelting plants/refiners (RMI standard) and mines (IRMA standard)
Cross-vendor initiative as part of the Raw Materials Working Group of Drive Sustainability: Nickel risk profile developed for all automotive manufacturers (OEMs): the so-called Raw Material Outlook
High standards for secondary raw material content, which is both resource-efficient and reduces CO2, compared to primary extraction
Responsible Minerals Initiative: Membership of RMI, an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and commitment to Emerging Minerals Working Group
