What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals and why are they important?
Unipart Logistics sustainable development plan is based on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the priorities of combating climate change, protecting the environment and providing opportunities for our colleagues
How Unipart are embracing the UN Sustainable Development Goals
All energy provision to our operations run on 100% renewable across a mix of renewable purchase tariffs and solar PV
Energy consumption was down 16% YOY in 2022 reducing our scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 25%. Achieved across a variety of energy saving initiatives, building and operational efficiency changes
Maintaining a recycling rate of 96% across all operations, supported by reusing over 1,500 tonnes of consumables throughout 2022
312 tonnes of single use plastic removed from our supply chain, including:
Over 400,000 plastic cups, 37,500 plastic bottles and 10,000 single use cutlery from our canteens and vending operations. We provided all colleagues with reusable plastic water bottles
12 tonnes of shrink wrap was removed from one of our premium Automotive customers by introducing a returnable Velcro strap to attach products to pallets
Over 120 tonnes of single use plastic from our Sky contract which included the introduction of reusable engineers returns bags eliminating over 47 tonnes of plastic bags in this one item. Using best practice learning from the Sky contract we have introduced plastic free initiatives across our operations including loadhog lids and paper tape
Water consumption has reduced by 3% since 2019 by installing water saving solutions such as sensor and push taps and low flush toilets
The link between The Unipart Way and corporate responsibility is clear. UL develops long term constructive relationships with key stakeholders in order to share values and work together for mutual advantage.
In removing waste from every aspect of the supply chain, UL conserves scarce environmental resources.
Environmental Achievements
Working with the UN Sustainable Development Goals Unipart Logistics (UL) is committed to reducing its environmental impact and improving the sustainability of all operations, we are passionate about making a lasting difference to the communities in which we operate.
Environment Goals & Objectives for the future
Awards
In December 2022 Unipart Logistics was awarded a prestigious Globe of Honour award for the 10th consecutive year for outstanding environmental management.
The British Safety Council said; "Unipart's environmental standards are world leading in many areas. Top management sets the organisation's mission, vision and values, providing excellent commitment and engagement towards environmental sustainability improvements"
Our environmental management systems have been certified by ISO 14001:2015 for over 18 years.
Climate Change is the defining issue of our time. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly.
At Unipart Logistics we've been monitoring and measuring our own carbon emissions for some years and have started to take action to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions across our global warehouse network.
Our pledge to reach net zero by
2040
Our Race to Zero Pledge and Carbon Reduction Plan
We've reviewed our carbon footprint across all 3 scopes of emissions and have aligned our reduction commitments against climate science. This has accelerated our commitment to net zero by 10 years, moving it to 2040 across our entire value chain and for our operational emissions (scope 1 and 2) we'll be achieving net zero by 2030.
across our entire value chain
Race to Zero pledge
Science based targets - aligned to climate science and the 1.5 degree pathway
Operational emissions - Operational emissions - 90% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (against a 2021 baseline)
Entire value chain - 90% reduction in scope 3 emissions by 2040 (against a 2021 baseline)
Suppliers - 75% of our suppliers to have science based targets by 2028
Warehouse of the Future - Warehouse of the future - increase the use of digital technologies to reduce our energy consumption and continue to install / upgrade energy efficiency into our buildings and new builds to an Excellent BREEAM standard
Transition our transport fleet to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fuel and continue to expand our hybrid and fully electric fleet
Educating and enabling all of our colleagues to get involved and make a difference at work and at home
Continue to use 100% renewable energy via purchased and onsite generated sources
Waste & Recycling
Reduce waste produced -
Unipart Logistics is committed to achieving 3% waste reduction year on year through increased reuse of packaging products and reducing packaging. One of our premium Automotive customers has embraced this way of working and has installed a cushion pack machine which allows them to shred waste cardboard and turn it in to void fill material to protect the outgoing products. This idea enabled the contract to not only eliminate single use plastic bubble wrap but also reduce the volume of waste on site. This is been shared as best practice and our Waterstones site in Burton is now trialling this method to reduce waste, plastic and cost on site.
Recycle 97% of our waste -
Using the principles of the waste hierarchy we have reduced and reused as much of our waste where possible. Through colleagues education and engagement campaigns we ensure that all waste on our sites is segregated into the correct waste streams to ensure that they can be recycled. In 2022 we recycled 96% (11,000 tonnes) of all waste produced. We also practice the waste proximity principal where we send our waste as local as possible to its generation for recycling.
Zero waste sent to landfill -
We have achieved zero waste to landfill across all sites since 2016. In 2022 we recycled 96% of our waste the remaining 4% fuelling Energy to Waste Plant which generates electricity to power local district heating in Coventry City Council.
Planting native trees to absorb the carbon we cannot cut currently this will not only act as a carbon sink but also increase local biodiversity and wildlife helping to protect life on land
Reduction in Single Use Plastic
Unipart Logistics Launched Project Coast in May 2018 where we committed to eliminating single use plastics that UL generates and that we pass down our supply chain. We continue to work with our clients and suppliers to eliminate single use plastic throughout our whole supply chain and challenge our suppliers for more innovative and sustainable packaging solutions which reduce impact on the environment throughout the whole lifecycle.
