Automotive and environmental sustainability
For many years sustainability has been at the heart of automotive manufacturing. Principles of continuous improvement have driven efficiency gains across vehicle production lines, resulting in significant improvements across a wide range of metrics including those across the environmental space.
Key Sustainability Data
Sustainability summary since 1999
-55%
Total Scope 1 & 2 energy down
-91%
Lost time incidents down
-53%
VOC emissions down
-33%
Scope 1 & 2 energy per vehicle down
-42%
Water per vehicle down
-54%
CO2 per vehicle down
-99%
Manufacturing waste to landfill down
-78%
Exhaust emission NO2 down
-89%
Exhaust emission particulates down
SMMT Automotive Sustainability Report
The industry’s commitment and progress is covered by the annual SMMT Sustainability Report, published every year since 2000. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the industry’s sustainability performance, across environmental, social and business terms.
Sustainability advice and guidance
There is increasing focus from all parts of the automotive value chain to improve environmental sustainability performance. Key drivers for this include:
- A desire to be part of the climate change solution
- A need to comply with regulations
- Pressure from investors and financial services
- Pressure from customers
The environmental sustainability landscape is complex and can be challenging to keep up with, with associated programmes and regulations rapidly evolving. It can provide opportunities through sustainability related competitiveness gains.
To support the UK automotive industry and its supply chains navigate these challenges and opportunities, SMMT has compiled a broad selection of tools, summaries and insights to help companies of all sizes on their journey.
Whilst not an exhaustive list, this resource library should prove a useful starting point. For companies looking to get more involved with defining the direction of travel, influencing policy, or to network with peers in this area, please get in touch with SMMT.
Resource Library
Sources to help automotive companies navigate sustainability regulations
Case Studies
Case studies to demonstrate automotive companies navigating sustainability regulations
SMMT sustainability support
Various resources, services and benefits are available through SMMT’s membership offering to help you on your sustainability journey.
- Insights – Annual Sustainability Report, providing key automotive data. You can be a part of it too.
- Help shape regulation – SMMT works on behalf of its members to influence government and regulators across the UK, Europe and internationally. Membership provides opportunities to have your voice heard.
- Dedicated teams of experts – SMMT has teams available to support members across a range of sustainability issue areas including policy, regulations and supply chains. Members can tap into these teams for support.
- Be part of a network – Through a year-round programme of events and member meetings you can be a part of the network and community of automotive companies and industry leaders discussing sustainability issues and driving the agenda forward.
- Climate Change Agreements – eligible companies can benefit from significant discounts to the Climate Change Levy (CCL) by joining the SMMT’s Climate Change Agreement (CCA).
- Energy purchasing – Through a partnership with Envantage, SMMT members can benefit from a wider choice of energy providers through direct access to the whole markets alongside expert support to help keep costs down
apply to join
SMMT’s comprehensive membership base covers every aspect of the automotive industry, from vehicles to components, trailers to aftermarket; and from large global corporations to small and medium enterprises. The scope of interest of our members also varies dramatically, ranging from direct, partial or indirect involvement in the manufacturing of vehicles and components, to design engineering and distribution, and a variety of other services aligned to the industry.
Get in touch to find out how to join SMMT.
If you are already a part of an organisation that has an SMMT membership, click here to register your account.
Find out how your company can become a member of SMMT.
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