F1 has laid down its plans towards attaining sustainability by 2025 and achieving net-zero carbon by 2030 as work on 2026 engine formula begins as well.
F1 continues to surge ahead with its sustainability and net-zero carbon programme as they have now clubbed it under their We Race As One initiative with more details released. They term it as an ambitious idea but will make all efforts to achieve the goal.
The idea is to reduce the carbon footprint with their on-track activities along with off-track work, involving logistics/travel, renewable offices/facilities/factories, single-use plastic erosion and provide facilities to fans to reach grand prix in a much greener way.
Here’s an excerpt from F1 on the plan in points:
- Reducing the carbon footprint of the F1 car and the on-track activities.
- Moving to ultra-efficient logistics and travel.
- Having 100% renewably powered offices, facilities, and factories.
- By 2025 ensuring all of our events are sustainable by using sustainable materials at all events with single-use plastics being eliminated and all waste reused, recycled, or composted.
- Providing incentives and tools to offer every fan a greener way to reach the race and ensure circuits and facilities enhance fan wellbeing and nature as well as providing opportunities for local people, businesses and causes to get more involved in the action during a Formula 1 race weekend.
F1 notes that the carbon footprint of the sport stands at 0.7 percent from the global carbon footprint from other activities, it still wishes to be at the forefront of not only automotive technology but also provide real world benefits in overall scheme of things in life.
F1 believes that as a sport they have the potential – through technologies – to reduce automotive carbon emissions globally. They admit that there is not a single solution to it but a collective one, whether it is the internal combustion engine and or fuel.
Work towards the 2026 engine formula is set to begin with the above goal in mind as a working group of F1 and FIA personnel been set up to investigate the future formula, which is powered by sustainable fuels. This group will include specialists from the OEMs and energy suppliers as well as seek expertise from independent research groups.
To help further to achieve its on-site sustainable goals, F1, FIA and teams will work to significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic bottles and cutlery and food waste in the pit and paddock. On the diversity side, they will provide more details on work being done to include under-represented groups.
F1 also detailed on the work done in a tough 2020 season:
- Been awarded 3* environmental accreditation from the FIA. The highest sustainability accreditation the FIA can award that means Formula 1 is demonstrating best practice and commitment to seek continual improvement through the implementation of an environmental management system.
- Rapidly accelerated a two year plan to deliver remote broadcast operations into just eight weeks in response to COVID-19. By transitioning from a single, circuit-based Broadcast Centre, into a smaller Event Technical Centre (at circuit) and Remote Technical Centre (back in the UK), we have reduced travelling staff by 36% and freight by 34%. This has eliminated c.70 tonnes of freight being taken to every race, making a step-change impact on our logistics emissions over a whole season something we will continue to improve and seek further reductions in our global emissions from freight in the future.
- Signed Power Purchasing Agreements for all its offices that mean we now receive all our energy from 100% renewable sources.
- Signed the United Nations’ Sports for Climate Action Framework that requires all members to undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility; reduce overall climate impact; educate for climate action; promote sustainable and responsible consumption and advocate for climate action through communication. The plans set out by Formula 1 to be net zero carbon by 2030 meet all these requirements.
- Alongside this, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, Formula 1 worked with a consortium of F1 teams to rapidly innovate, design & deliver new ventilator devices to support the care of critically ill patients. In just 4 weeks, rival teams working side-by-side were able to deliver a medical device through to full approval that would normally take 2 years once again showing how Formula 1 innovation and expertise can provide real world solutions to issues.
Here’s detailed We Race As One initiative: https://corp.formula1.com/we-race-as-one/
UPDATE: Following the announcement from F1, Red Bull releases its plans of ‘No Bull’ approach with regards to sustainability and also net-zero carbon. They have set an aggressive target in reducing carbon emissions.
They wish to reduce it by 5000 tonnes in 2021 itself – they admit emissions through flights, freight and manufacturing operations is difficult to reduce straightaway but they are devising plans to better understand how to reduce it responsibly.
Red Bull’s charge towards reducing emissions includes:
- From October 2020, all on-site electricity comes from renewable sources, thanks to a wholesale switch to a Green Energy tariff
- Zero manufacturing waste to landfill policy
- Smart building technology implementation on our campus and older structures are being upgraded
- Waste heat from manufacturing operations is captured and used to heat the factory
- Green travel plan in Milton Keynes to incentivise walkers, cyclists and car-sharers
- Significantly reduced single-use plastics both in our factory and trackside – although progress has been slowed by the Pandemic, with PPE and disposable food packaging becoming unavoidable in the short term, we are committed to fully eliminating them
“We are in full support of F1’s ‘Countdown to Zero’ initiative and we all have a part to play in minimizing our environmental impact,” said Christian Horner. “As a Team we have taken time to analyse our Team before embarking on our straight talking ‘NO BULL’ initiative.
“We aim to be open and disclose our carbon footprint in order to provide a narrative of our journey, including the challenges we face as a business. Our partnership with Gold Standard forms part of an evolving strategy and mindset change which we will embark upon with the same commitment as we do our racing.”
Here’s Pat Symmonds on the ICE steps for 2030
