Ford announced it has joined the First Movers Coalition, a global movement to use purchasing power and the supply chain to support early market innovations for clean energy technologies. The Blue Oval currently has the largest production footprint in the United States where it employs more hourly workers than any other auto manufacturer.
Ford has a strong track record of firsts in automotive sustainability, from being the only full-line American automaker to stand with California in support of stronger vehicle emissions standards to being the first automaker to join the Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge and commit to reducing our manufacturing emissions earlier this year. And now as part of the First Movers Coalition, we’re targeting the environmental impact of our supply chain by investing in green steel and aluminum,” said Chris Smith, Chief Government Affairs Officer at Ford. “Together this coalition has the potential to build the future of zero-emissions transportation that is good for people and the planet, and good for business.”
Ford joins push for zero-emissions technologies
The First Movers Coalition now consists of more than 50 companies with a collective value of over $8.5 trillion across five continents. All are working toward the commercialization of zero-emissions technologies. Ford’s contribution is a commitment to purchasing 10% near-zero carbon steel and aluminum by 2030. This is also part of Ford’s goal to become fully carbon neutral by 2050 and reach its science-based interim targets in 2035.
Sue Slaughter, Director of Supply Chain Sustainability at Ford, noted carbon neutrality across the company’s entire operation by 2050 is possible by investing in the right technologies and bringing them to scale by the next decade. “By joining the First Movers Coalition, Ford is signaling to the market that we want to work with our suppliers to achieve commercially viable green steel and aluminum,” added Slaughter. “The intent and significance of our commitment today have the potential to help build the net-zero economy.”
Ford aims to invest more than $50 billion globally from 2022 to 2026 to develop battery-electric vehicles and batteries to power them. These will create new jobs and grow the supply chain while upholding the company’s commitment to sustainability and human rights. The first of these vehicles include the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. More vehicles are expected to arrive by 2024 for both the Ford and Lincoln brands, the latter of which will get its first BEV that year. Today, Ford recycles up to 20 million pounds of aluminum every month at three facilities, Dearborn Stamping, Kentucky Trucking, and Buffalo Stamping plants.
The First Movers Coalition is led by the World Economic Forum and the United States government. It targets aluminum, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel, and trucking sectors, which are responsible for 30% of global emissions. Around 2% of that is created exclusively by the aluminum industry. If not addressed, that is expected to increase to 50%.
Ford recently joined RouteZero, a global consortium aimed at curbing global warming by working toward exclusively selling zero-emissions vehicles by 2040 globally and 2035 in key markets. Europe belongs to the latter category and the Blue Oval is aiming to be carbon neutral there in 2035. It will also include cutting emissions in the supply chain, logistics, and facilities.
