Which car brands have been awarded for their sustainability policies in recent years?

Sustainability has been the magic word in the auto industry in recent years. This is not simply a marketing ploy, by the way. Car manufacturers have to, because governments are setting ever stricter requirements for harmful emissions. For example, from 2035, no new cars with a fuel engine may be sold. Moreover, there is increasing consumer demand for sustainable alternatives. Car brands are aware that they must adapt to be ready for the future.

We are already seeing this in the various racing sports, where new rules are being introduced. In MotoGP, for example, there will be a mandatory switch to 100% renewable fuels from 2027. Formula 1 will also switch to 100% renewable fuels in 2026 and new engine regulations will apply to deal more efficiently with energy consumption. This will also lead to changed sporting relations, which drivers will have to anticipate and bookmakers in the Netherlands will have to adjust their quotations.

In short: car brands cannot escape investing heavily in sustainability. Some brands are a lot further ahead in this than others. In this article we list a few car brands that have been awarded for their sustainability policies in the past two years.

BMW: forerunner in sustainability

BMW is one of the forerunners in sustainability. The German manufacturer is not only committed to making the car more sustainable, but also the entire production process. This is important, because electric cars alone will not get us there. Building an electric car is a lot more polluting than manufacturing a gasoline-powered car. Therefore, efforts are being made to recycle batteries, new battery technologies and production with renewable energy. In addition, BMW wants to be completely climate neutral by 2040. The policy earned the German automaker a large number of awards.

For example, in 2023 it won the Enlighten Award for its lightweight aluminum battery casing and last year it won in the Sustainable Processes category, praising it for its pioneering advances in sustainability. It also won the German Sustainability Award 2024 for its use of sustainable materials. From EcoVadis, an independent ESG rating platform, BMW received the 2025 Platinum Rate. This places it among the 1% best-rated companies in the world in terms of sustainability and human rights.

Volvo

Volvo is known for its safety. Also, the Swedish brand is one of the most active car manufacturers in the field of sustainability. By 2040, Volvo must be completely climate neutral. The fleet is rapidly being electrified, with the result that by 2030 only electric cars will roll off the assembly line. That goal has since been revised downward, as demand for electric cars is not growing as fast as expected. Volvo now aims for 90% of its sales to be “corded cars” by 2030. Five electric models have since appeared.

Of these, the EX30 has already won several awards. For example, Auto Bild proclaimed it the most environmentally friendly car of the year, due to its low CO2 footprint and use of recycled materials. The Volvo FH Aero truck won the Green Truck Award 2025 as the most fuel-efficient long-haul truck in March 2025. The new EX90 is expected to receive multiple awards this year for its safety innovations coupled with sustainability.

NIO: highest listed car company on the Global 100

NIO is a Shanghai-based Chinese company that manufactures electric cars. It supplies not only the Chinese market, but also Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. By the way, NIO is not a big player. It sold over 220,000 cars in 2024, including just under 600 in the Netherlands. The car brand’s motto is “Blue Sky Coming,” which stands for a brighter, positive and more sustainable future.

In January 2025, NIO was ranked 13th in the Global100 ranking. This annual ranking lists the 100 most sustainable companies in the world. Of more than 8,000 companies rated, this makes NIO the highest-ranking car company on this list. It owes this in part to the fact that it exclusively produces all-electric cars. Batteries are not purchased by users, but leased. As a result, batteries are always reused rather than replaced. In addition, NIO also received the Green Desing International Award this year because their ET5 Touring and ET7 are completely sustainably designed. Door panels and instrumentation are made from 100% recycled PET bottles and plastic has been replaced with sustainable rattan.

Mercedes-Benz Group

Mercedes-Benz has been catching up on sustainability in recent years. At the end of 2024, the company presented a new sustainability policy. It aims to be completely carbon-neutral by 2039, owns its own battery plants in Europe and runs all its factories in Europe on 100% green electricity. The number of electric cars will be greatly expanded, with all new vehicles being delivered according to the “Design for Recycling” principle: 85% of the vehicles are recyclable and recycled aluminum and steel and ocean plastic are used.

Mercedes achieved the CDP Climate A score in 2024, rewarding it for its leadership in environmental transparency and action against climate change. In doing so, it contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to a sustainable future. Mercedes-Benz was also a finalist for the German Sustainability Award.