CO₂ reduction in the aluminium supply chain.

Accordingly, aluminium with reduced carbon footprint is an important lever for CO₂ emissions reduction. A key milestone has already been achieved with the all-new electric C-Class: Around two thirds of the aluminium used in the vehicle is produced in electrolysis plants using renewable energy or with an increased proportion of recycled material. This reduces the CO₂ footprint for these aluminium components by around 30 percent compared with production without these measures.

Mercedes-Benz has strategically established partnerships to help decarbonise the aluminium supply chain. In December 2022, the vehicle manufacturer brand with the three-pointed star and the Norwegian aluminium manufacturer Hydro signed a letter of intent (LoI) for a low-carbon technology roadmap between 2023 and 2030.

Already today, Hydro supplies Mercedes-Benz with low-carbon aluminium that comes from electrolysis powered by renewable energy. Since 2023, Hydro has been supplying low-carbon aluminium to the foundry at the Mercedes-Benz plant Untertürkheim (Mettingen section).

In Mettingen, Hydro aluminium has been used since 2023 in sophisticated structural components for body-in-white applications: Among other parts, the aluminium from Hydro is going to be used for safety and crash-relevant components, such as the shock towers for the models EQS, EQE, S-Class, E-Class, GLC and C-Class. Furthermore, the EQE will be equipped with longitudinal members made of low CO₂ aluminium. Mercedes-Benz also plans to use the material for various other parts such as the support frame for the electric powertrain of the upcoming vehicle platform MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture).

Mercedes-Benz considers the use of low-carbon production materials, such as aluminium, to be a key factor in decarbonising its supply chain. To support this goal, Mercedes-Benz is working with partners to advance the next generation of aluminium production technologies.

Next to technological improvements, increasing the use of recycling material content plays a major role for realising further CO₂ reductions. Producing aluminium by using only secondary material requires five percent of the energy compared to aluminium production based on primary resources.

As part of the non-profit Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Mercedes-Benz supports the spread of an independent certification scheme for the entire aluminium value chain.

For Mercedes-Benz, it is a priority to engage with local communities to address human rights risks in raw material supply chains. To build expertise around community participation in audits and standards processes, the company supports a project in cooperation with the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) since late 2021. The pilot project pursues the goal of creating better opportunities to participate in audit processes for the local population affected by mining. The core of the project is to gain insights into the participation of communities in audits and to incorporate these into standardisation processes. Very specifically, the collaboration aims to increase the involvement of affected local communities before, during and after the assessment of mine sites. This is to ensure that the processes actually have a positive impact on the situation on-site.

In 2024, Mercedes-Benz and Hydro extended their collaboration to cover the entire aluminium value chain from raw material to finished product. Together, the companies launched the joint initiative Corridor Program in Brazil, strengthening social responsibility and human rights due diligence along the supply chain through a holistic approach.

This article was last updated in September 2026.