How Mercedes-Benz is leading the way towards a sustainable future
21-03-2022 - in Testimonial
The company's sustainable strategy
Mercedes-Benz has not only invested in the electrification of its fleet in recent years.
The company's sustainable strategy goes much further.
And Merak also contributes to that, says Helen van Nuffelen, Manager Corporate Communication for Mercedes-Benz Belgium Luxembourg.
“For Mercedes-Benz, sustainability isn’t a buzz word,” Helen van Nuffelen emphasises.
“For years, zero-emission mobility has been our vision for the future and that also means that we have taken a sustainable direction with the whole Organisation.
Or, as we call it here at Mercedes-Benz, a ‘SpurWechsel’ (German for ‘Changing course’, editor’s note.)."
Growing supply of electric vehicles
This strategy has been translated into Ambition 2039: the ambition to offer a CO2-neutral vehicle fleet by 2039. “Wherever we can, we want to go completely electric by the end of this decade,” adds Van Nuffelen. “Thanks to our extensive portfolio of plug-in hybrids and the growing range of fully electric cars, the average CO2 emissions of our fleet of new vehicles are currently well below the European directive.”
More than cars alone
‘However, our responsibility does not stop with the development of electric vehicles’, Van Nuffelen also acknowledges.
“That is why we launched the Green Charging initiative.
Mercedes-Benz BeLux guarantees that the first 200,000 km of each battery-electric vehicle sold will be charged with green energy."
According to Van Nuffelen, the sustainable approach of Mercedes-Benz is now an intrinsic part of the entire production chain.
“At the end of this year, our global production will be CO2 neutral.
We are committed to recycling and re-use of materials and we offer a second life to our batteries.
At the same time, we will continue to look ahead."
“The Vision EQXX concept car, for example, has the lowest air resistance ever and has solar panels fitted into the roof.
The upholstery is in vegan leather, made of mushrooms, among other things, and the floor mats are made of bamboo.
We're even investigating an organic battery.
Because what's better than a battery that can simply be thrown on the compost heap after it has been used?"
A shared vision
Mercedes-Benz expects the same innovative, sustainable approach from its partners. And that includes Merak. “We share the same vision of quality, reliability and sustainability,” says Van Nuffelen. “And that goes far beyond the ecological efforts. Privacy and data protection are also covered by the term 'sustainability', and they are a top priority for both companies. In short, a fine and long-term collaboration based on shared values, which has been extended and expanded over the past year."
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