How is Lamborghini Leveraging Sustainable Procurement?

Lamborghini’s latest milestone isn’t measured in horsepower or lap times but in supplier standards and sustainability ratings. 

In its first Sustainability Report, the Italian luxury carmaker lifts the lid on how procurement practices are becoming central to its environmental strategy. 

Behind every hybrid engine and carbon fibre shell is a complex web of suppliers – and Lamborghini is turning up the pressure to ensure every one of them meets the mark.

Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and Chief Executive of Automobili Lamborghini, sets the tone: “With this report, we aim to make visible what is already part of our daily way of working: the idea that innovation, performance and sustainability can coexist and mutually reinforce each other.

“This commitment stems from how we operate and extends to every area of our business.”

Supply chain integration with ethical intent

Lamborghini’s supply network is a blend of Volkswagen Group partners and smaller, local manufacturers. That blend, the report says, allows the company to maintain its hallmark of uniqueness while pursuing a more sustainable model of sourcing.

According to the report: “All the measures and efforts made by the Group to promote the concepts of sustainability in the supply chain, as well as the safeguard and respect of human rights, are the same as those acknowledged and adopted by Automobili Lamborghini, in addition to the activities already implemented by the company at a local level.”

This structure supports a flexible yet high-quality supply base. Lamborghini leans heavily on suppliers within EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), which helps cut transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. It’s not just about carbon, though. The company also works with cooperatives on social inclusion projects, offering contracts that support employment for vulnerable groups.

And when it comes to emissions, Lamborghini is open about the numbers. Procurement influences a huge portion of Scope 3 emissions—the indirect emissions linked to the entire value chain. These have risen as output has increased:

• Scope 3 emissions (tCO₂e)
   
  • 2023 – 745,939
     
  • 2024 – 821,283

“This change is attributable to an increase in the number of cars brought to market,” the report explains.

But the aim is long-term reduction. Lamborghini targets a full spectrum of impact areas, from how materials are sourced to how staff get to work. The company highlights plans for:

• Using lower-impact materials like recycled carbon and aluminium
   
• Introducing reusable containers in logistics (“two ways” packaging)
   
• Improving transport routes and using lower-emission vehicles
   
• Expanding carpool and shuttle services for employees
   
• Electrifying its circulating internal fleet

S-ratings and supplier screening

Lamborghini isn’t leaving sustainability to goodwill – it’s building it into its contracts. Procurement is now shaped by Volkswagen Group guidelines, which Lamborghini has adopted in full. 

Suppliers are evaluated for social, environmental and anti-corruption standards from the outset.

As the report puts it: “Automobili Lamborghini adopts rigorous procurement practices in line with the Volkswagen Group guidelines, thus ensuring that its suppliers adhere to high standards of quality, sustainability and social responsibility.

“In particular, attention to ethical, social and environmental aspects starts right from the supplier selection phase; this stage, regulated according to specific procedures, follows a structured approach that evaluates various criteria to build a resilient and sustainable supply chain.”

One of the key tools here is Lamborghini’s S-rating system. Every supplier is scored on sustainability, and if the rating falls below the required threshold, the contract doesn’t go ahead.

The message is crystal clear: “If a supplier receives a negative S-rating, it will not be possible to proceed with its appointment and, consequently, it will not be awarded contracts.

“This represents a direct incentive for suppliers to improve their sustainability performance.”

This rating system is a powerful lever for change. In a sector where reputation matters and brand value runs high, securing a Lamborghini contract comes with a clear set of expectations. The company is not just buying parts – it’s demanding accountability.

Procurement as a pillar of transition

While the headline figures in Lamborghini’s report focus on energy use and emissions, the underlying shift is in how the company sources, selects and works with partners. Procurement is no longer a background process—it’s a strategic part of its sustainability transition.

And that shift comes alongside broader changes across the business. Lamborghini has completed its hybrid transformation, launched its self-produced energy programme and continues to push reductions in CO₂ through model innovation. But without a supply chain pulling in the same direction, none of it sticks.

"This marks a decisive step towards a more sustainable mobility and represents one of the most significant achievements in the transition path outlined by our vision,” summarises Stephan.