SP Member News Roundup – May 2025

SP provides a forum for global automotive manufacturers and their large and small suppliers to work together toward a shared vision of an automotive industry with positive environmental impact.

This monthly series collects recent news and updates through May 2025 highlighting efforts of SP member companies and partners to advance initiatives with positive environmental impact.

• Acculon Energy partners with Circulor and Rockwell Automation to enhance supply chain transparency in Energy Storage, Acculon Energy announced a strategic agreement with Circulor and Rockwell Automation, Inc. to deliver next-generation battery energy storage solutions. This collaboration solidifies Acculon’s commitment to responsible sourcing and sustainability with Circulor’s pioneering traceability and digital battery passport solutions and Rockwell’s manufacturing expertise to accelerate compliance with existing and emerging regulatory standards. Click Here
• BASF and Group14 collaborate on market-ready silicon anode solution that is highly durable at extreme temperatures, BASF and Group14 Technologies announced a market-ready, performance-improving silicon battery solution using commercially available materials: BASF’s Licity® 2698 X F binder, and Group14’s advanced silicon battery material, SCC55®. Click Here
• BASF Coatings expands business with biomass-balanced products, BASF Coatings is consistently pursuing its strategic roadmap for sustainable development and is further expanding its business with biomass-balanced products. Following successful launches in Europe and Asia, the first products for the automotive refinish coatings market will now also be introduced in North America this year. Click Here
• Butterfly Effect: How Ford Employees are Working to Help Save Monarchs, When Josh Ducharme, Environmental Control Engineer at Ford’s Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario toured the University of Western Ontario’s butterfly garden during a conference, he learned some surprising facts about the monarch butterfly. Click Here
• Cyclic Materials and Lime Announce Pioneering Partnership to Recycle Electric Motors from North American Micromobility Fleet, Cyclic Materials and Lime announce a strategic agreement to recycle magnets from retired electric motors powering e-bikes and e-scooters across Canada and the United States. The agreement marks the first at-scale recycling initiative focused on rare earth magnets in North America in the micromobility sector. Click Here
• Glencore publishes 2024 Sustainability Report, Glencore plc published its 2024 Sustainability Report, which is available at glencore.com/publications. This report outlines the approach, governance and 2024 performance for sustainability-related topics identified as being material to the Group, and features case studies on the work undertaken by industrial assets. Click Here
• GM and LG Energy Solution to pioneer LMR battery cell technology, General Motors and LG Energy Solution will commercialize lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs. This builds on a partnership between the two companies to develop prismatic battery cell technology and related chemistries. Click Here
• 360 Energy Recognizes Honda of Canada Mfg. with 2024 Energy Excellence Award, 360 Energy has awarded Honda of Canada Mfg. its 2024 Energy Excellence Award in recognition of the company’s outstanding and enduring commitment to energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and sustainability leadership. This recognition celebrates Honda’s efforts in energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and long-term sustainability. Click Here
• Introducing the M2030 PCF Module, M2030 introduced its new PCF Module — a supplier-centric, facility-level solution to unlock carbon footprint data, drive collaboration, and support suppliers on the path to lower-carbon products. Click Here
• Schneider Electric announces multi-year initiative building an AI-native ecosystem for sustainability and energy management, Schneider Electric announced a multi-year initiative dedicated to building a new kind of integrated ecosystem for sustainability and energy management, backed by a growth model that represents the company’s commitment to forward-thinking software and innovation. Click Here
• To Say Something About That – In Conversation with Kevin Butt, Former Group Manager of TMNA Environmental Sustainability, Over the past 34 years, Kevin Butt has built out a team focused on integrating environmental sustainability into the production, service and operations at Toyota in North America. As Kevin is known to say, “Let me say this about that,” and the Toyota Comms team did just that. The QA is an excerpt from the conversation about Kevin’s time at Toyota, the growth of the Environmental team to develop more complex solutions, and his challenge for Toyota to continue this work as the company plans for the next five years of the Environmental Action Plan. Click Here
• Toyota Mississippi Experience Center Awarded LEED Platinum Certification, Platinum is the new gold standard at Toyota Mississippi after its Experience Center received a LEED Platinum certification. The 15,000-square foot facility opened in June 2022 with an innovative flare for teaching the Toyota Way to guests from around the world. Click Here

SP members may send their environmental sustainability news to info@supplierspartnership.org for consideration in future news roundups. And, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest SP news and updates.