BMW day! I have been looking forward to this day for months, so although the wakeup was early, I knew it would be worth it. We drove to Munich, which ended up being longer than expected because of the morning traffic. The headquarters and museum were so uniquely designed that it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Later during our tour, the guide explained that the building was a part of an architecture competition, and he wanted the cylinders to look like they were floating.

We checked into the headquarters by showing our passports and getting ID cards. First, we had a lecture by Sarah, who holds a purchasing position at BMW. Once she said that, I knew I would like this lecture because I want to work in sourcing or purchasing, specifically for a sustainable company like BMW. She explained the regulations Europe has in place that BMW needs to follow when picking suppliers. They also have their own standards; the supplier has to meet them, considering labor laws and other standards often overlooked by big companies.

After the lecture, we were meant to go on the tour, but there were too many people in our group, so Ellie and I volunteered to take the second round of the tour. This caused some issues in the timing, so we had to speed through the BMW museum, but I made sure to hit the parts I was most looking forward to, the old cars and Formula 1 cars. What I didn’t expect to be so interested in was the Formula 1 engines that have differed so greatly throughout the years.

Now it was time for the tour! Ellie and I got a longer tour than the other group, which was exciting! When I heard it was going to be 2 hours, I was worried, but every second of it was informational and so interesting. Our tour guide was so educated and explained how everything worked. In the factory, there was a sign showing their circular economy. They reuse metal scraps that would typically be thrown away, condense them into blocks, and reuse them for their cars. In one of my sustainability classes, I learned about circular economies and how they are often uncommon, so I was very impressed to see such a big company being dedicated. Throughout the factory, the guide mentioned many other instances where they cut down on carbon emissions. This is different from many other companies because many just follow the bare minimum of regulations the EU has on environmental topics. The experience made me realize how much more integrated sustainability appears to be within European business culture. In the US, sustainability often feels like a branding tool, while in Germany, it seems embedded into regulations, manufacturing decisions, and strategy. I feel disappointed in how much work America has to do.

After the Factory, we went to Olympiapark, which is where the 1972 Summer Olympics were held. I was interested to see this facility still being used for recreation. I assumed Olympic villages were mostly abandoned after the games ended. Seeing the area still full of people made me realize how intentionally the city designed the space for long-term use instead of just a temporary event. By the end of the day, I was completely exhausted, but BMW ended up exceeding all of my expectations and became one of the highlights of the trip so far.