An overhaul of its sustainability targets has seen BMW recognised as the greenest automaker in the world by the Dow Jones sustainability index, with the company’s procurement and supply chain operation playing a key role in the German car manufacturer’s green rise. 

BMW established a Sustainability Board earlier this summer, with the new body now responsible for overseeing every project submitted to the BMW Group Board of Management from a sustainability standpoint.

The board is made up of the companies entire Board of Management, including Dr Herbert Deiss, the head of the company’s purchasing and supplier network, and will meet twice a year to discuss the firm’s long-term sustainability strategy.

BMW published its Sustainability Value Report 2008 at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show this month, in which it outlined its intention to set sustainability as a corporate target, which will be measured across all of its divisions.

The report itself has been classified as Application Level A – the highest ranking available from the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) International guidelines on sustainability reports.