Mercedes F1 Team Achieves FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation
The Mercedes F1 Team is excited to confirm that we have achieved the coveted Three-Star Environmental Accreditation by the FIA, following an audit and evaluation of our headquarters and practices in October.
We join Formula One, Formula E and a small number of other motorsport teams and eventsin achieving the criteria required for the highest level of certification in the FIA’s flagship Environmental Accreditation Programme, which aims to help motorsport stakeholders to measure and enhance their environmental performance.
The commitment to environmental sustainability is shared by both the FIA, through its #PurposeDriven movement, and the Mercedes F1 Team.
In March 2020, Mercedes-Benz announced a sustainable business strategy for motorsport activities and ambitious steps towards carbon neutrality.
We set the target of achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by the end of 2020 and cutting CO2 emissions by 50% by 2022, compared to the team’s 2018 baseline.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team is on course to achieve the projected reduction for 2020 through the transition to renewably sourced energy and gold-standard carbon offsetting.
Robust plans are also in place for 2021 and beyond, including significant reductions in air freight, water gallon dispensers and reusable bottles trackside, low-impact hotel stays and use of hybrid vehicles for travelling staff, improved commuting footprints and the complete removal of single-use plastics in catering both at the factory and trackside – something we had to postpone in 2020 due to COVID-19.
The team is also continuing to play a part in the worldwide transition to hybrid and electric cars, through our collaboration with Mercedes-Benz road car divisions in areas as diverse as thermal efficiency, electric and electronic systems and simulation and data correlation.
Engineers from F1, Formula E and the road-car world are benefitting from the regular exchange of skills, knowledge and innovation, with motorsport serving as an important proving ground for innovative and cutting-edge technology.
Using our skills and knowledge to have a positive impact outside motorsport is an important pillar of our sustainability programme and the UCL Ventura project, a collaboration between Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), the University College London (UCL) and UCL's teaching hospital UCLH, is a strong example of this.
Normally the site for engine and powertrain development, HPP was repurposed to manufacture and deliver 10,000 CPAP breathing aids in four weeks in March.
Meanwhile team members in Brackley worked across numerous projects during the first UK lockdown, including contributing people and expertise to the Ventilator Challenge UK consortium as part of F1’s Project Pitlane.
Toto Wolff, CEO of the Mercedes F1 Team, said: “I am delighted that our team has achieved Three-Star Environmental Accreditation with the FIA. This milestone is the result of many months of hard work and commitment to develop and implement a best-practice programme to deliver our contribution to the environmental sustainability commitments of both Mercedes and Formula One.
“To achieve this, we have concentrated on embedding sustainable practice into our normal business operations, using innovative solutions drawn from our technical expertise to actively reduce our impact on the environment.
“It’s been an incredibly difficult but ultimately successful year for our team and I am so proud of the commitment that every single member has shown to not only achieving success on track but to ensuring we are making a difference to the world around us.
“We will continue our work in 2021 and onward until we reach our goal of an absolute unavoidable minimum of CO2 emissions.
“Our parent company is leading the way for sustainable mobility in the automotive industry, and with the FIA and Formula One both committed to positive change within motorsport, we all stand together in our commitment to a more sustainable future.”