LATEST FIGURES CONFIRM SIGNIFICANT BOOST TO SUSTAINABILITY AT BENTLEY’S ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY CREWE HQ
- Latest environmental data confirms British marque is on course to become the world’s most sustainable luxury car maker
- Positive advances against Bentley’s plans to reduce production-related environmental impact by 75 per cent over a 15 year period to 2025
- Significant fall in CO2 emissions and water usage compared to 2010 baseline reflects key principles of reduction and reuse
- Waste reduction rates also improve as Manufacturing colleagues focus on circular economy approach to drive paradigm shift in sustainability
(Crewe, 19 March 2021) Bentley today revealed the latest environmental and sustainability data for the company’s production operations in Crewe, taking the brand closer to its ambitious bid to become the world’s most sustainable luxury car manufacturer. Compared to its 2010 baseline, the British luxury brand reported significant improvements in all areas, and is on track to deliver an ambitious 75 per cent reduction in production-related environmental impact by 2025.
Data for the period 2010-2020 shows a dramatic fall in CO2 emissions at the Pyms Lane plant, down a remarkable 99.5 per cent to just 29 kg per vehicle, which are offset. This drop in CO2 emissions is predominantly the result of Bentley utilising energy generated through its onsite solar PV system, alongside green gas and electricity supplies in the factory for the first time over a full 12-month cycle.
A range of other innovative measures taken at the home of the world’s most sought-after luxury car brand have also added to the impact. These include the installation of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuelling facilities – an ultra-low emissions alternative to conventional fuels for in house logistics.
The amount of water used in vehicle production has fallen by 55.9 per cent over the same 10-year period, from 21.1 cubic metres per vehicle, to 9.31 cubic metres per vehicle. This saving of nearly 12 cubic metres per vehicle equates to around 150 bathtubs full of water – and has been achieved by installing water recycling systems, coupled with a reduction in ‘domestic’ water use on site as more colleagues worked from home.
Meanwhile, thanks to improvements in recycling processes, which reflect a circular economy approach, the very small amount of waste material that cannot be recycled and is sent to landfill fell by 99.1 per cent compared to 2010, to just 3.57 kg/vehicle last year.
Peter Bosch, Member of the Board for Manufacturing, explains:
“Creating Bentley’s climate positive ‘dream factory’ sits at the heart of our Beyond100 strategy to become the world’s most sustainable luxury car brand, and reflects the “go to zero” ethos of the entire Volkswagen Group, which is now in its tenth year of measuring production related environmental impact.
“By focusing on resource efficiency and a circular economy approach, our 2025 target is to reduce our production-related environmental impact by 75 per cent compared to 2010 – so we’re delighted that the latest data shows such positive progress in the areas of energy, water and materials.
“Everyone within Bentley’s production operations has a part to play to ensure we meet these targets, so we have begun 2021 by engaging colleagues in the launch of our new ‘Wings’ manufacturing strategy, which will see us pioneer a paradigm shift in onsite sustainability”.
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Notes to editors
Bentley Motors is the most sought-after luxury car brand in the world. The company’s headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, R&D, engineering and production of the company’s three model lines, Continental, Flying Spur and Bentayga. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury car brands such as Bentley. It is also an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley employs around 4,000 people at Crewe.