The UK’s Automotive Manufacturing Carbon Footprint Currently Lowest Ever

For the first time since records began, the UK automotive production industry’s carbon footprint production fell in 2021, boasting a fall of 11.2% compared to the previous year. This is according to research from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), as found as part of its latest Sustainability Report.

Fewer CO2 Emitted by Automotive Manufacturing Industry in the UK
This is the 23rd annual Sustainability Report from the SMMT and it shows that the automotive manufacturing industry emitted 81,095 tonnes fewer CO2 compared to the previous year. Average vehicle CO2 emissions also fell by an impressive 11.2%, compared to figures from 2020.

As the average age of cars on UK roads is nine years old, this amount of carbon saving equates to having 225,000 fewer average cars on the road and replacing them with new models. Since 1999, the automotive production industry has reduced CO2 emissions by 1.5 million tonnes – around 70.6% – which is the same as taking close to 900,000 cars off of UK roads.

Though the UK saw a reduction on automatic production last year, there was still an improvement in regards to environmental efficiency. The industry used 6.1% less water for every vehicle produced, and currently 2.6% less waste goes to landfill year-on-year. This means that 96.2% less waste per vehicle goes to landfill now compared to figures from 1999.

The UK’s Automotive Production Industry is Greener than Ever Before
There has been a huge focus on sustainability within the industry, and it’s now greener than ever before. This is due to less energy being used and more sustainable energy being sourced. Currently, low volume manufacturers have driven sustainable production to a point whereby 26.6% fewer CO2 is created per vehicle produced. Additionally, some specialists are managing to manufacture cars without sending any waste to landfill.

The amount of water used per vehicle made also fell by 11.6%, despite overall production increasing by 40.2% after the pandemic. This is something that the supply chain was able to keep up with, and the SMMT’s report highlights that many report signatories sent no waste to landfill in 2021. The supply chain also managed to reduce CO2 emissions per tonne of product by 25.3%.