"All components and materials will be manufactured to fit exactly using processes such as 3D printing," BMW said in a news release. "Any surplus material will be systematically fed back into the materials cycle."
BMW also would eliminate unneeded paint, resulting in a new look for some exterior parts.
"The bumper area ... is manufactured from recycled plastic with a sophisticated marbled surface," BMW said.
Beyond the recyclable plastics, steel and aluminum, the i Vision Circular will have a solid-state battery that is 100 percent recyclable.
"It will achieve much higher energy density with significantly reduced use of the most valuable resources," BMW said in a statement.
BMW is looking ahead to a compact model for the year 2040 with the i Vision Circular concept.
"I can promise ... that, on a sustainability level, the [upcoming BMW] Neue Klasse is being developed with the same mindset applied for the BMW i Vision Circular," Zipse said.
BMW design chief Adrian van Hooydonk said the concept shows the automaker's ideas for combining sustainability with a new "circular design" approach that has a minimal footprint.
The concept has been designed to reduce complexity in the number of components, material groups and surface finishes.
It has no kidney frame grille and dispenses completely with exterior paintwork, leather and chrome, for instance, van Hooydonk said.
The concept is about the size of the automaker's i3 full-electric hatchback. Its design mixes SUV and minivan elements.
