Sustainability
The Unipart Way
2023
I have a position of incredible privilege in Unipart because I work with the widest range of people throughout the Group. In all those interactions I’ve witnessed first hand the conscientiousness our people bring to the workplace and the enormous value they place on sustainability. They are empowered to do so by The Unipart Way.
The Unipart Way is the beating heart of our culture, demonstrated in the way we think, the way we work, and the way we behave. Through our philosophy of meeting the real and perceived needs of our customers better than anyone else, and serving them better than anyone else, has grown the relentless pursuit of identifying and driving out non-value adding activity to make our business more sustainable.
People
Introduction
Planet
Principles
Contents
Unipart’s strategy is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Encouraging discussion
• Improving financial awareness
• Encourage planning and saving
• Wellbeing Champions on site to lead internal awareness programmes, signpost colleagues to help and support, and lead in the wellbeing arena for all colleagues
• CSR/Wellbeing calendar established, which focuses on key awareness days/months, highlighting key issues that our colleagues may experience and need support with throughout their career with Unipart
• We maintain strong connections with local schools and educational facilities
• We offer Apprenticeships and Graduate Schemes
• We actively drive policies and procedures to close the gender pay gap over time
• We support those who are working carers to be able to participate in work and be remunerated fairly for their work
• Water consumption targets and activities
• Provision of clean safe drinking water at our sites in India
• Use of renewables
• Battery technology research
• Encourage use of fuel efficient cars
• Electric car charging points at Unipart sites
• Apprenticeships and Graduate Schemes
• Human Rights and employment of young people
• Health and Safety
• Advanced Institute of Manufacturing and Engineering - Unipart's unique collaboration with Coventry University to equip engineering students with skills and experience for the workplace
• We have introduced a Diversity and Inclusion Steering group to support ongoing work into the area of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
• We celebrate a diverse workforce through multiple CSR activities such as religious festival celebrations and luncheons
• We have policies, which establish our fundamental duties to our people and ensuring we reduce inequality by following our policies
• Hyperbat - a joint venture between Unipart and Williams Advanced Engineering to produce electric vehicle batteries
• Electric car charging points at Unipart sites
• Engaging our customers in responsible behaviours
• Supporting our customers’ CSR programmes
• Reporting on our reduction in gas, electricity, CO2 and water consumption
• E-car charging points at all UK sites.
• Reducing plastic and reporting on waste recycled
• Anti-slavery
• Anti-bribery and corruption
• Anti-racism Policy
• Human Rights Policy
• EDIBs Agenda
• B4 Oxford business network
• Lifeworks
• Salary Finance
• Make UK
• CBI
Group Chief Sustainability Officer
Unipart remains committed to eliminating carbon from its operations and supply chain. In the last 12 months, we’ve made significant progress through further engaging all colleagues in sustainability, developing a transportation plan that aligns to net zero, and continuing to support our customers and suppliers in our ambition. In 2023 we became the first organisation ever to be recognised with a world-class safety, wellbeing and sustainability ‘treble’ by the British Safety Council. Our consistent achievement of a five-star rating and the Globe of Honour for sustainability from the British Safety Council over twelve years, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest environmental standards.
In the past year, Unipart has refined its business strategy to identify climate change risks and opportunities, aligning our operations with a 1.5°C warming planet. We’ve expanded our green product and service offerings, including Eco Insight, to help customers meet their carbon reduction goals. We’ve conducted Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) for manufactured products to identify carbon hotspots and adjusted our processes to start taking steps to review the carbon when the products and services we sell.
The launch of our latest online learning module, Carbon Literacy, and our participation in the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership highlight the importance of colleague education and external stakeholder collaboration in achieving our carbon reduction goals - we can’t do this alone. In 2024, Unipart sponsored the Oxford Climate Awards for the first time, recognising sustainable small businesses in Oxfordshire that are demonstrating exceptional commitment to environmental responsibility, energy efficiency, waste reduction and sustainable practices.
Looking ahead, Unipart will continue to improve data quality, moving from a spend-based approach to a supplier-specific approach, and provide carbon reporting at a more granular level. This will allow us to more accurately understand the key products and suppliers influencing emissions hotspots in our supply chain. Unipart will continue to expand its electric company vehicle fleet and supporting infrastructure, and invest in renewable and low emissions fuels within our transport, to tackle Scope 1 emissions.
Chief Sustainability Officer’s Introduction
Scope 2 Emissions
Indirect emissions from purchased energy
Scope 1 Emissions
Direct emissions from operations
Scope 3 Emissions
All other emissions associated with
activities throughout the value chain
In August 2023, Unipart had its Scope 1 and 2 near-term emissions reduction target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The SBTi also validated Unipart’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 long-term target as aligned with SBTi’s 1.5°C science-based net-zero pathways by 2050 or sooner. Unipart is committed to updating its carbon reduction plans and progress via the SBTi portal annually and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2040.
Planet
Unipart has made significant strides in its sustainability efforts. In just two years, the company has successfully eliminated 53,464 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from its value chain.
To achieve a 90% reduction in emissions across Scopes 1,2 & 3
(tCO2e)
Unipart has reduced:
equivalent in Scope 1 and 2
operations
49,212 tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalent in Scope 3 emissions
Reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Unipart's Commitment
Our Progress
Employee Engagement
Operational Excellence Manager Russell Hayes is among the host of employees recognised last year for delivering outstanding customer service with a Mark in Action award.
Recognising sustainable behaviours
Unipart cannot operate and achieve its strategic goals without engaged employees who feel appreciated and motivated to deliver for customers. In 2022, the annual employee engagement survey found Unipart had three times the amount of 'actively' engaged colleagues than the average company.
People
Last year, Unipart introduced the CARE recognition framework which empowers everyone at Unipart to recognise positive, inclusive, respectful behaviour which delivers excellence for customers, communities, and the environment. These behaviours embody The Unipart Way values.
As a responsible business, Unipart has long strived to bring value to the communities in which it operates. Unipart Executive Chairman John Neill was Business in the Community Board of Trustees director from 1992 to 2022, playing a key role in determining the charity’s mission and purpose while safeguarding its values. Unipart continues to be an active member of the Business in the Community South East Leadership Board, a team of senior executives providing strategic guidance and support to create more sustainable and prosperous communities across the region.
Community
Unipart has maintained ISO 14001 certification for over 15 years, granted by the British Standards Institution. ISO 14001 is an internationally-recognised standard that guides organisations in effectively managing their environmental responsibilities.
Unipart was awarded three more gold medals in The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) awards. Unipart Logistics sites Nuneaton and Honeybourne both achieved a fifth consecutive gold against the RoSPA criteria.
Unipart was awarded a Globe of Honour for sustainability for the 10th consecutive year in 2022. This accomplishment reflects Unipart’s continuous efforts to maintain high standards in environmental sustainability. The company’s success is attributed to the dedication of subject matter experts and the engagement of all employees. The British Safety Council’s Globe of Honour Award is given to organisations who exemplify acknowledgement and management of their environmental impact. To qualify, Unipart needed to pass a safety audit and show excellent environmental management in areas such as energy, waste and pollution. This is a prestigious award that recognises commitment to sustainability.
Accreditation
In 2022, Unipart secured yet more British Safety Council Swords of Honour, taking its tally to more than 60 since 2011, more than any other organisation in its sectors. A Sword of Honour is seen as the pinnacle of world-class health and safety, and can only be achieved by scoring five stars in the British Safety Council audit, a feat Unipart registered in 2022 for the 12th consecutive year.
Unipart achieved an Ecovadis silver award sustainability rating in both 2020 and 2023.
In addition, Unipart Logistics scored over 95% in the British Safety Council Five Star Environmental Sustainability Audit in 2022/23 – its highest ever rating
Dr David McGorman
Unipart Technologies Group Managing Director
Our Growth in the Green Economy strategy ensures Unipart is committed to the ongoing and accelerated identification of new technology.
Unipart has been developing and delivering cleaner, more sustainable service solutions to reduce the environmental impact of our operations and customer supply chains for nearly 50 years.
We operate in a number of sectors responsible for the highest carbon impacts on the environment, which means we bring this experience and capability to support customers to accelerate their focus on lowering energy consumption and reducing environmental impact in industries including; manufacturing, utilities, technology, transport and construction.
Unipart Rail’s Solar Power Control Cabinet (SPCC) offers a green alternative to standard trackside power, supporting carbon reduction and reducing infrastructure costs. It provides a local regenerative power solution for low power assets, utilising solar power harvesting and a methanol power cell backup. The SPCC includes remote condition monitoring to ensure reliable power supply in challenging locations.
Green Products
Unipart’s extensive experience in measuring and reducing carbon emissions, setting science-based net zero targets, and deploying digital technologies positions Unipart to embed sustainable principles for long-term partner success.
Hyperbat, a joint venture between Unipart and WAE Technologies, is an electric vehicle (EV) battery facility focused on supporting low volume, high-performance vehicles and mid volume specialist vehicle applications. Based at the Unipart Manufacturing site in Coventry, Hyperbat aims to contribute to the UK’s position at the forefront of automotive innovation.
delegated authorities
risk management
Leadership Team
Committee