MLADÁ BOLESLAV, Czech Republic—The seats of ŠKODA’s new ENYAQ iV electric vehicle will be upholstered with fabric that combines wool with polyester made from recycled plastic bottles.

MUNICH—The BMW Group is sourcing aluminum produced using solar electricity.

STUTTGART, Germany—Mercedes-Benz is using plastic made from used tires and agricultural waste to make components for new vehicles.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Viet Nam—The LEGO Group will plant 50,000 trees in Vietnam over the next three years in an effort to offset the environmental impact of its new factory in Binh Duong province. Construction of the factory is set to begin in November.

Electrification isn’t the only paradigm shift transforming the automotive manufacturing landscape today. Sustainability is also forcing companies to rethink traditional production models. A new initiative involving some of the auto industry’s biggest players will affect the global supply chain.

According to expert materials scientist and author Julia Goldstein, here are five tips for accomplishing more sustainable, less wasteful manufacturing operations and products. 

DETROIT—General Motors is pledging to only produce electric cars by 2035 and become carbon neutral by 2040.

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) have formed a strategic partnership that focuses on sustainability in manufacturing.

When it comes to jewelry, copper is definitely less valuable than gold or silver. In the world of assembly, however, copper is much more in demand. Its uses range from electrical conductors in wire, to solar-cell foundations, to sheet metal products for commercial and residential applications.