Sustainable corporate governance
Along the value chain
GRI 2-6
The automotive industry is currently undergoing a profound process of change, which the Mercedes-Benz Group would like to actively shape. In doing so, the Group considers the entire value chain. This encompasses the complete life cycle of the vehicle – from development to its recycling after the use phase. It aims to avoid or minimise the negative impacts of its business activities as far as possible, and to create sustainable value – economically, ecologically and socially.
The diagram below shows the main stages of the Mercedes-Benz value chain in simplified form.
Product development
The Mercedes-Benz Group offers a broad product portfolio of passenger cars along with both private and commercial vans. It is systematically electrifying all model series and, as part of this, is strongly involved in research and development.
Supply Chain
Mercedes-Benz vehicles consist of several thousand components – raw materials such as iron, copper or aluminium, preliminary products such as steel, semi-finished products such as seats, wiring harnesses, etc. – and the supply chain is accordingly complex: it comprises nearly 40,000 direct suppliers for production and non-production materials, mainly from the regions of Europe, Asia and North America. These in turn have sub-suppliers.
Production
The Mercedes-Benz Group has more than 30 production sites of its own on five continents worldwide. There, components for electric vehicles are assembled, transmissions, axles and engines are produced, batteries are assembled or recycled, or the final assembly of vehicles takes place.
Use/operation
With its brands and mobility products/services, the Mercedes-Benz Group is represented in almost every country in the world. In 2022, Mercedes-Benz delivered around 2.5 million passenger cars and vans to its customers. It markets all-electric vehicles under the Mercedes-EQ brand. It also wants to support its customers in adopting an eco-friendly driving style and in their decision to buy locally emission-free vehicles.
Remanufacturing & recycling
The Mercedes-Benz Group observes the waste hierarchy, with the top priority of avoiding waste. Only then, according to the waste hierarchy, should measures be implemented to allow reuse of various components and parts through remanufacturing, or to recover materials through recycling.
The following table shows some of the significant progress made by the Mercedes-Benz Group in the various fields of action and with respect to its defined enablers over the course of 2022.
1. Prevention
2. Preparation for reuse
3. Recycling
4. Other recovery, especially incineration for the generation of energy and use as a filling material
5. Disposal