Mercedes-Benz has become the first automotive company to join the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), marking a major milestone in its mission to eliminate fossil carbon from vehicle production.
Established by the Nova-Institute, the RCI unites leading players from the chemical, energy, and automotive industries to replace fossil-based carbon sources with renewable alternatives derived from biomass, carbon dioxide utilization, and recycling.
The decision aligns with Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to responsible resource management under its strategic pillar ‘Resource Use & Circular Economy.’
Working alongside global partners such as BASF, Covestro, Michelin, Continental, and the WWF, the company seeks to advance a carbon-based circular economy while phasing out fossil resources.
Pilot projects are already planned for 2026, focusing on carbon capture and utilization for automotive plastics, the use of bio-based carbon materials, and circular carbon solutions that reinforce the brand’s sustainable business strategy.
These initiatives aim to conserve resources, strengthen circularity, and drive decarbonization across the automotive value chain.
“Joining the ‘Renewable Carbon Initiative’ is an important step in driving the transition to renewable carbon sources and working with strong partners to develop innovative, fossil-free solutions,” said Dr. Ulf Zillig, Vice President of Group Research, Sustainability and RD Functions at Mercedes-Benz AG.
Through its membership, Mercedes-Benz is expanding its network of strategic partners to include innovative start-ups and research institutions, broadening its access to renewable carbon technologies.
In 2023, suppliers representing around 87% of the company’s annual purchasing volume signed an Ambition Letter, committing to provide only net carbon-neutral production materials in the future.
By joining the RCI, Mercedes-Benz reinforces its leadership in sustainable mobility and strengthens its vision of a fossil-free automotive industry.
Guided by the principle ‘Tomorrow drives Mercedes-Benz,’ the company continues to embed sustainability at the core of its global business and supply chain transformation.
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