UK automotive manufacturing carbon footprint falls to lowest ever level

This is its lowest level since records began, according to new research from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The society’s sustainability report noted that UK automotive production and supply chain emitted 81,095 fewer tonnes of CO₂ in 2021 compared with the previous year, while average vehicle CO₂ emissions were 11.2% less than their 2020 equivalents.

Despite reduced production because of the global semiconductor shortage, the industry was still able to improve its environmental efficiency, with a 6.1% reduction in water used per vehicle produced, and a 2.6% reduction in waste going to landfill year on year, the SMMT said. As well as this, some 96.2% less waste per vehicle goes to landfill than it did in 2000. As well as this, since 2015 the industry has ensured 95% of a vehicle by weight goes through a takeback network to be re-used, recycled or recovered.

Since 1999, the industry has cut CO₂ emissions by 1.5 million tonnes or 70.6% – equivalent to taking almost 900,000 cars off the road.
Specialist and low volume manufacturers were able to make vehicles emitting 26.6% less CO₂ per vehicle produced and sending no waste to landfill at all. Water use per vehicle also fell by 11.6%, while overall production increased by 40.2%. In the supply chain, these manufacturers sent zero waste to landfill and had a 25.3% reduction in CO₂ emissions per tonne of product shipped.

The SMMT report suggests that UK automotive-related manufacturing turnover recovered by 5% in 2021 to £67.1 billion, while automotive-related gross value added (GVA) is estimated at £14.1 billion.

“With the automotive sector still trying to recover from the pandemic while simultaneously transitioning to zero emission vehicles, the improvements made in the sustainability of production this past year is a remarkable achievement,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive. “The automotive sector is central to the UK’s carbon reduction ambitions and, with government support to improve UK competitiveness, we can ensure that transition continues to create well-paid, clean-tech jobs while generating economic prosperity and growth in all regions of the UK.”

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