Sport utility vehicles produced at BMW‘s largest plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, will soon have the CO2 emissions associated with their production cut significantly, thanks to a new deal the automaker has signed to source “green” aluminum from Canada.

The automaker announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rio Tinto, to source aluminum from its hydropowered operations in Canada. The material, when produced in this fashion, emits around 70 percent less CO2, than when it is produced in the traditional manner.

“By using innovative materials, we can reduce our vehicles’ carbon footprint—even before handing them over to customers,” said Joachim Post, BMW’s head of purchasing and suppliers. “In addition to hydroelectric power and a high percentage of secondary material, we also want to lead the automotive industry by ramping up our use of aluminum with no direct CO2 emissions from the smelting process.”

Read: Mercedes To Introduce 70% Greener Aluminum Into Its Vehicles Next Year

BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs

In addition to powering its operations with green, hydroelectric power, Rio Tinto uses ELYSIS technology to manufacture aluminum. This process uses carbon-free anodes to eliminate CO2 emissions related to smelting, meaning that it generates only oxygen. The technique was only successfully used at the industrial level for the first time in 2021.

Aluminum is favored by automakers because of its low weight and high strength. A vital part of BMW’s intelligent composite construction process, the aluminum used in a mid-size electric vehicle, accounts for about a quarter of all CO2 emissions associated with its production, underlining the importance of making the process greener.

All of the aluminum supplied by Rio Tinto’s Canadian plants will go to BMW’s Spartanburg factory, in South Carolina. As the automaker’s largest plant, it produces a wide variety of SUV models and is America’s largest vehicle exporter. No precise timeline for when the green aluminum will find its way into vehicles has been specified by the automaker.

BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs
BMW To Cut Aluminum Emissions By 70 Percent In American-Made SUVs