Driving forward with social and environmental sustainability

It is no surprise then, that the 2.9-mile track was featured in the top three of the recently published Sustainable Circuits Index, alongside Silverstone (host of the British Grand Prix) and Italy’s Mugello Circuit.

Circuits de Catalunya, the operator of the track, has focused on incorporating sustainability for a number of years, and aims to make improvements in line with its Sustainable Development policy, Statement of Purposes and Values, and Sustainability Policy. These ambitions not only relate to operations at the track, but the wider area of Barcelona and Catalonia.

It has committed to becoming a strategic hub for the industrial and economic development of Catalonia, while also acting as an international benchmark for a new sustainable economy. Further objectives include educating guests and fans around sustainability, embracing opportunities around the sustainable organisation of events and fighting climate change.

While the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix may be its most high-profile event – for now – the circuit also hosts other motorsport series including the FIM CEV Repsol International Championship, the GT World Challenge, the Euroformula Open, the Formula Regional Europe, the F4 Spanish Championship, the European Le Mans Series and the International GT Open. It also hosts the 24 Hours of Catalonia Motorcycling, the 24 Hours of Barcelona-Trofeo Fermí Vélez, the 24 Hours Biocircuit and the CER (Spanish Entrance Championship).

At a grassroots level, the track hosts local competitions such as the Catalan Car Racing and Motorcycling Championships.

That’s one busy circuit!

Social sustainability goals are centred around treating employees and suppliers with dignity and without discrimination, offering equal opportunities to those with disabilities, committing to good governance in management, and requiring strategic stakeholders to comply with the principles of sustainable development.

In 2022, management identified key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and prioritised affordable and clean energy; industry, innovation and infrastructure; and responsible consumption and production.

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya also highlighted that it wanted to contribute to zero hunger; good health and wellbeing; quality education; gender equality; decent work and economic growth; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; life on land; and partnerships for the goals.

Rolling back the clock to 2008, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya became the first track to obtain ISO 14001 certification, committing to continuously improving the environmental management of its operations.

Since then, the track has gone on to achieve three-star FIA Environmental Accreditation – which it renewed earlier this year – and is Biosphere Certified.

“Sustainability has always been a priority to the Circuit, however the biggest leap forward regarding sustainability came in 2008, when we became the first racetrack certified with the ISO14001, adhering to its standard and solidifying our commitment not only to regulatory compliance but also to ongoing environmental improvement,” a spokesperson for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya tells Global Sustainable Sport.

While the facilities at the track don’t always generate surplus food, major events such as the F1 Grand Prix can cause a surge in unused food items. Since 2017, surplus food has been donated to the El Xiprer de Granollers Foundation, a local soup kitchen. Between 2017 and 2023, 11,000kg of food was collected and donated to El Xiprer.

To promote health and wellbeing for its employees and guests, ‘Bicircuit’ sessions were set up in 2008 where those that wish to do so can practice road cycling safely on the track. In 2019 – the year before the COVID-19 pandemic struck and a reference point for the circuit – some 2,648 people took part in these rides.

In 2009, the circuit installed the first charger for electric vehicles within its facilities. Over the last 15 years, this number has increased to 13 chargers, two of which are TESLA.

Through the sustainable forest management actions carried out in the Bosque Educativo del Cráter (Educational Forest of the Crater), the track compensates for part of its unavoidable environmental impact.

In a bid to improve inclusivity, the circuit has begun the process of establishing an Equality/Gender Plan. In December 2021, the operator set up the Equality Committee, made up of four people with representatives from different areas of the company. In February 2022, interviews were conducted to establish areas for improvement. The plan will help to guarantee equal treatment and opportunities for all genders, and establish goals and strategies to achieve this.

The call for equality is also outward-looking, with the circuit having hosted and supported campaigns calling for more media attention for women’s sport. For example, in 2020, the circuit supported the campaign ‘#Youaremissingout, if you don’t watch women’s sport, you’re missing half the show’.

Clean energy

With a commitment to both energy self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability, the track installed a total of 1,239 solar panels covering 2,710 square-metres earlier this year. This photovoltaic installation will generate an energy volume of 0.88 GWh annually.

This builds on the work undertaken in 2022, which saw lighting switched to LEDs, and solar panels installed on the roofs of the services buildings and offices as well as the Moreneta car park.

Preceding the introduction of solar panels, electricity consumed at the circuit came from 100% certified renewable sources. All energy not produced by the panels will continue to come from these sources.

“Both self-sufficiency and the reduction of the CO2 footprint derived from our activity are our more significant long-term goals regarding sustainability,” says the spokesperson.

When major events require additional support, generators are rented – although the circuit searches for partners through tenders that mean businesses have to comply with sustainable criteria around efficiency and pollution.

The circuit also prioritises contractors that have achieved environmental certification – for example, if they are certified with ISO 14001. Posters and communications are used to raise awareness among guests around conscious and responsible consumption. Data is collected on the consumption of water, waste, energy, paper and more to make more informed decisions for future events.

In a bid to reduce single-use plastic, reusable cups are utilised by all bars at the circuit; management has installed water fountains in offices, the control tower and press room; from 2022, plastic water bottles were replaced with bioplastic; and biodegradable product have been used in all bars and restaurants from 2018.

The collaborative approach to being sustainable has begun to pay off for Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Since 2008, when the EMS (Environmental Management System) of the ISO 14001 standard was implemented and through a collaboration agreement with non-profit ECOEMBES for the selective collection of packaging and cardboard, a total of 686,656kg of packaging and cardboard have been recovered.

This has resulted in avoiding emissions of up to 370,050kg of CO2, as well as reducing energy consumption by 1,393.9 MWh; equivalent to the annual consumption of almost 430 three-person households. Additionally, some 6,923.3 cubic metres of water have been saved thanks to the collection and recycling of packaging and cardboard.

In 2021 – which saw a number of races and events take place behind closed doors –  a total of 27,380kg was collected (18,320kg of cardboard and 9,060kg of light packaging). This was compared to pre-pandemic 2019, which amounted to 53,100kg.

Images: Jesper Giortz-Behrens on Unsplash, Wikimedia Commons