BMW Group Australia has future-proofed its head office operations and reduced its carbon footprint with installation of a new solar array, EV charging infrastructure and deployment of multiple sustainability measures.
Two hundred solar panels with 100kW of capacity have been installed on the roof of the building in Melbourne to generate a combined annual output of 126,000kWh.
The renewable energy will power the group’s headquarters, which houses BMW, MINI, BMW Motorrad, BMW Financial Services, a national training facility, a fully equipped workshop and a parts distribution centre that supports 47 dealers.
The panels will additionally provide electricity for 13 new EV chargers, which mix AC and high-speed DC charging capability, located around the property.
BMW Group Australia says it has also made multiple changes to its office operations to reduce waste and power demand.
Measures in the on-site company bistro include removal of all single use takeaway coffee cups, adoption of water bottles whose packaging originates from plant-based materials – which results in a 74% reduction in carbon emissions compared with the plastic equivalent – and a transition away from plastic to glass for other drinks.
Sensor lights have also been installed throughout the property, while well-established recycling services are positioned around the headquarters with a focus on separating plastics and paper from general waste.
These enhancements are in addition to a host of structural changes within the headquarters that streamline the working environment and pave the way for the future as part of the BMW ConnectedWorks initiative. Myriad new working spaces feature throughout the building, including collaborative workspaces and meeting pods, while comprehensive upgrades have been applied to existing meeting rooms.
The sustainability elements complement the BMW Group’s global Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle strategy that permeates the business, including vehicle production lines at BMW Group Plants around the globe. All these plants utilise 100% renewable energy, and 99% of the 760,000 tonnes of material waste from the production of approximately 2.5 million vehicles a year is recycled.
BMW Group Australia says it dealer partners have additionally played their own part in contributing to the sustainability strategy.
All dealers have recycling measures in place for general waste, while rooftop solar, water recycling – for both car wash and building facilities – as well as workshop and customer EV charging, are either fully implemented or being steadily rolled out across the network.
BMW Group Australia chief executive Wolfgang Buechel says the measures contributed positively to the company’s push to become a carbon neutral business by 2050.
“We are proud to play our part in the BMW Group’s global push to reduce C02 emissions and the commitment to net zero by 2050 with this local investment in solar power, EV charging and waste-reduction measures at our Melbourne head office,” Buechel says.
“In addition, we are delighted that our valued dealer partners are also very much on board with our strategy and committing resources to renewable energy while also minimising their waste and water usage and providing accessible EV charging solutions for our customers and expanding fleet of electrified vehicles.”
BMW Group Australia, which in 2023 will mark its 44th year of business in Australia, is also combining its forward-thinking approach to the surrounding environment with a focus on fostering up-and-coming talent.
In April last year it launched the future of automotive training, the BMW #NextTech Mentored Apprenticeship Program, in collaboration with NextGen Jobs.
The initiative brings together three industry leaders – BMW Group Australia, NextGen Jobs, Australia’s newest group training organisation, and the Bendigo Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence – to deliver a cutting-edge apprenticeship experience customised to BMW Group vehicles, including electrified products.
The program provides apprentices with dedicated BMW training, one-on-one mentoring and accelerated pathways to complete their Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology within three years with an option to extend into a dual qualification as an automotive electrician and to commence BMW registered technician training.
In addition, BMW Group Australia collaborates on an annual basis with RMIT University for the YourMelbourne initiative. This tasks students with creating their vision of the city of Melbourne in 2030 and factoring in the challenges of climate change, a growing population and the need for future mobility solutions amid a rapidly evolving landscape.
