SP Q2 2025 Membership Meeting Held at MBUSI in Alabama

The Q2 2025 Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP) Membership Meeting was held on April 25 at Mercedes-Benz US International in Vance, Alabama, in collaboration with the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA). The sold out event, titled Driving Sustainability in the Southeast, convened 150 representatives from across the automotive value chain.

April 24 – Pre-Meeting Battery Recycling Tour and Reception

Prior to the membership meeting, members of SP’s Responsible Battery Work Group and other invited attendees had an opportunity to tour Li-Cycle’s EV battery recycling spoke operation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Two groups of companies participated in tours of the site. Following the tours, participants gathered for a networking reception in downtown Tuscaloosa.

April 25 – Membership Meeting

SP’s Chair Fred Gersdorff (General Motors), SP’s Executive Director Kellen Mahoney, and AAMA’s President Ron Davis welcomed attendees to the event. The meeting featured presentations on different automotive sustainability programs and opportunities, including:

  • Mercedes Sustainability Goals & Environmental Practices – Sarahanne Davidson (Mercedes) presented information on Mercedes sustainability goals and examples of projects implemented at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. in Alabama.
  • Renewable Energy in the Automotive Supply Chain – Mary Kate Francis (Trio) presented updates on the Transform: Auto program and supplier renewable energy sourcing cohorts in progress and planned to be offered over the coming quarter.
  • Renewable Energy Shines at Toyota Alabama – Carmine Farnan (Toyota Tsusho America) presented on a solar renewable energy project Toyota Tsusho implemented in partnership with Toyota Motor Alabama.
  • Honda Alabama Environmental Sustainability Programs – Leigh Rainwater (Honda Alabama) shared information on Honda’s sustainability goals and a range of environmental improvement projects and practices implemented at Honda’s Alabama assembly plant.
  • Toyota’s approach to supplier recognition for sustainability activities – Matt Marshall (Toyota Motor North America) shared information on Toyota’s supply chain sustainability guidelines for suppliers in North America and process for recognizing supplier successes.
  • Automotive Plastics Circular Economy Initiatives – Mohamed Bouguettaya (BASF) shared information on BASF’s circularity initiatives and a door handle project with Mercedes involving mass balance chemically recycled input materials.
  • Steel Decarbonization Pathways & Progress — David Miracle (Nucor) presented information on Nucor’s carbon reduction goals and measurement methods, and examples of projects and investments Nucor is making to further reduce embodied carbon in its products.
  • The Path to a Nature Positive Future — Duncan Pitchford (Hydro Aluminum Metals USA) shared case examples of partnering with others to support responsible sourcing and production of aluminum used within automotive.
  • Automotive Energy Efficiency — Erick Hanson (Trane) spoke to the drivers and business case for energy conservation and energy efficiency and shared a case study on industrial energy efficiency projects.
  • Federal Natural Resource Regulations — Cindy House-Pearson (TTL) presented information on federal natural resource regulations, expected changes from the current administration, and potential impacts for manufacturers to consider.

The next quarterly in-person SP event will be SP’s annual Innovation Summit on July 29-30 in Detroit, Michigan.

Additional information on the membership meeting discussions, presentations and next steps is available to current SP member companies. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about SP and opportunities to participate as a member.

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