MINI PROJECT

REPORT ON
SUSTAINABLE
GREEN PRACTICES
OF TESLA MOTORS
CES-3

SUBMITTED BY:
Aakriti Suri
0191MBA002
 INTRODUCTION
There are some characteristics that distinguish the world's most
sustainable businesses, named in "Green Giants" in E. Freya Williams'
book, from others. So-called Green Giants live longer, have better
governance than their rivals, are greener, hire more women, generate
healthier revenue, have happier investors, and so on. One of the nine
Green Giants is Tesla, the developer of the world's first commercially
viable all-electric vehicle.
This article examines the success storey of Tesla by exploring and
addressing differentiating features of the company, identifying Elon
Musk, the company's CEO and chief product architect, as a "market
leader," and examining how Tesla disrupted the market through
innovation and what the company's "social purpose" is. In the case of
Tesla, the article briefly discusses how sustainability is ingrained in the
company's ideology across the entire spectrum of excellent thought,
progressive creativity, tenacious engagement, and exponential
development.
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, has been paving the way for
sustainable innovation in the automotive industry, renewable energy
production, and other fields. From the requisite upgrade of electric cars
to crazy and innovative new concepts for transportation and energy
storage, some of Musk's proposals seem to be breaking new ground.
These concepts have aided in increasing public awareness of
sustainability, and Telsa's future plans seem to have the potential to
revolutionize the electric vehicle industry. 
 SUSTAINABLE GREEN PRACTICES
ADOPTED BY TESLA

After the launch of the first Tesla electric vehicle (EV), customers have
been searching for reliable details about how EVs compare to traditional
internal combustion engines in terms of overall carbon footprint. We
already know that Elon Musk's Tesla cars emit fewer emissions at the
tailpipe, but what about the batteries? The fact is that straightforward
comparisons are difficult to make since there are too many variables to
consider. However, as more knowledge about batteries and production
becomes available, it is critical to weigh all of the factors when making a
decision about car ownership that is both viable and cost-effective.

Tesla’s Message
Any of Tesla's claims have been nothing more than hype over the years.
In the cleverly designed statements of sustainable business practices,
there's also a touch of green-washing. Tesla remains the undisputed
pioneer in terms of creativity, development, and style when it comes to
energy-efficient vehicles. So, how environmentally friendly is Tesla, and
is buying one really a conscious choice?

Manufacturing Impact
It takes a lot of money to operate a factory. The carbon footprint of the
actual product, however, varies according to estimates. Although the
parts are different, it's widely assumed that Tesla vehicle production is
comparable to or less energy-intensive than traditional vehicle
manufacturing.
Musk has boasted about the performance of Tesla plants from the start,
citing the use of high-tech robots for precision, LED lighting to save
electricity, and reliance on local renewable energy. While there have
been reports highlighting the company's waste at the Fremont factory,
the company claims to have received a zero-waste certification there.
When new plants are constructed from the ground up, they are planned
to operate on renewable energy. Furthermore, the company's water
conservation activities are visible in its sales, service, and delivery
facilities. In certain places, it has also built waterless car washes.
Although the company's mission is to be a leader in environmentally
friendly practices, it is still focused on success rather than perfection.
Tesla's recycling techniques, on the other hand, are environmentally
friendly as compared to conventional industrial practices.

Materials sourcing
The key environmental impact of Tesla EV production comes from the
materials used for the batteries. Tesla's reported goals of sourcing raw
materials from manufacturers who ensure environmentally sustainable
and ethical practices have been in direct contrast to rumors of a shady
supply chain. Over the years, there have been allegations of
mistreatment of indigenous peoples in the vicinity of a lithium mine in
Argentina, a dirty source of graphite from China, and cobalt extracted in
harsh conditions.
Tesla replied that supply chains are complicated and that the company is
working to clean them up. “Determining the origin [of these materials]
reliably is a challenging task,” the company said, “but the due diligence
practices expected of our suppliers add clarity to help us and our
suppliers adhere to the responsible sourcing principles of our Code.” To
learn more about these priorities, read the Tesla Supplier Code of
Conduct and the Human Rights and Conflict Minerals Policy.

Lifespan
Electric vehicles do not use the same parts as a combustion engine, and
EV components last longer in general. With this in mind, one-to-one
comparisons should be avoided. The frequency at which ICE vehicles
must be replaced would increase, doubling the effect of material
procurement, processing, and scrap waste. In other words, a longer-
lasting product generates less waste.

Charging stations
One of the most common criticisms of electric vehicles is that they
require electricity to charge. Most of the power comes from the local
power grid, which is made up of a number of sources, including the
fossil fuels that electric cars are designed to replace. Although Musk has
stated that Tesla charging stations are operated entirely by renewable
energy, this assertion from a company spokesperson is more likely to be
accurate. “We strive for carbon neutrality, and where the market allows,
we source renewable energy through wholesale power purchase, despite
the fact that it is slightly more costly.
When it comes to public energy, and what the customer uses once they
get their car home, Tesla has a small amount of power. Each Tesla
owner must decide whether to invest in solar panels or subscribe to
renewable energy through their utility provider.
It's worth noting that the mix of energy sources differs greatly across the
world. For example, wind accounts for about 40% of Iowa's energy
output, while coal accounts for nearly all of West Virginia's energy. As a
result, even an electric vehicle can be petroleum-intensive in places
where fossil fuels are heavily used.
Though Tesla may not be able to rely entirely on renewable energy, the
company does own a solar power company. This results in a carbon
offset, which is beneficial. However, it should not be taken into account
when determining the total carbon footprint of Tesla vehicles.

Battery disposal
Another hot subject is battery disposal, which raises questions about
huge, potentially hazardous waste. However, the most recent generation
of batteries, especially Tesla batteries that aim to fully remove cobalt,
are highly recyclable. Not only can 90 percent of the battery be recycled,
but it can also be used for energy storage for another 20 years or so after
its useful life in a Tesla. Furthermore, batteries may be refurbished by
replacing faulty cells or removing healthy cells for reuse in another
battery.

Tesla’s appeal and Innovation

The bottom line is that Tesla's creativity and commitment to sustainable
practices have pushed EV development forward by leaps and bounds.
The sleek, attractive designs that excite customers and continue to
develop a customer base willing to own an electric vehicle are perhaps
even stronger. It has been and continues to be a guiding force for
industry improvement as well as a catalyst for individuals to want to
drive towards the future of electric vehicles. Both are good for the
climate.
 CONCLUSION

Tesla published its first-ever environmental impact report recently. The

report emphasizes the company's positive progress toward sustainability.
Tesla examines the commodity and operational implications of its
electric vehicles first. The organization then goes over its supply chain
and responsible material sourcing.

Product impact
Tesla has sold over 550,000 electric vehicles, according to its product
effect. That means Tesla vehicles have logged nearly 10 billion miles in
total. Tesla estimates that its vehicles have produced only 282,000
metric tonnes of CO2 over these miles. In context, this is an incredible
number. Traditional automakers, such as Ford, have publicly reported
that their vehicles have emitted millions of metric tonnes of CO2.
Tesla is revolutionizing the automotive industry. With more and more
electric cars on the road, automotive emissions tend to be a thing of the
past. If Tesla is leading the charge to switch from gasoline to electricity,
other automakers must also consider how to make their own production
lines more environmentally friendly.
It will be fascinating to see what Tesla does in the future to further its
sustainability efforts.