McLaren’s third annual Sustainability Report reveals progress

McLaren Racing encompasses all of its motorsports teams – most notably in Formula 1, but also in Formula E, IndyCar, Extreme E and even e-sports. Hot on the back of a first win for British driver Lando Norris in Formula 1, McLaren has also been making strides off the track around sustainability.

While the organisation saw its indirect emissions rise last year compared to 2022 due to joining Formula E and adding a third car in IndyCar, it has continued to make progress.

To begin, McLaren believed that to set the standard in sustainability, the organisation needed to be credible. This saw McLaren invest in resources to improve how it tracks, stores and measures sustainability data. This included having its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint assured by the Carbon Trust for the second year in a row.

Additionally, McLaren became the first motorsport team to have its net-zero targets approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The organisation also held influence in the construction of regulations within Formula 1, working with governing body the FIA, to allow sustainability investments to fall outside the cost cap.

McLaren has worked hard to optimise its own operations, but joining Formula E and introducing a third car with Arrow McLaren in IndyCar has indeed resulted in its indirect emissions rising compared to 2022.

While this has led to an overall increase in emissions, McLaren has seen reductions elsewhere. For example, facilities and fuel usage has fallen by 25% compared to 2019, while the organisation utilises renewable electricity at all of its sites. A HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) biofuel tank was recently installed at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking in the UK, reducing emissions of outbound journeys by up to 90% compared to regular road diesel.

Where possible, McLaren has transported cars and equipment via sea rather than air, which in 2023 saved 97% of emissions per kilo and avoided a total of 1,215 tCO2e since 2021. For the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last year, McLaren utilised a combination of rail, biofuel-filled trucks and electric trucks.

The efforts made by McLaren have resulted in a 16% reduction in emissions per race in 2023 compared to 2022.

Elsewhere, McLaren launched the Climate Contribution Programme, which allows the organisation to help other projects around all areas of sustainability. Since its launch in 2023, McLaren has worked with organisations such as carbon dioxide removal project UNDO; Mombak, which focused on reforesting the Amazon; and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which is looking to scale solutions that restore and enhance the resilience of coral reefs and ocean habitats.

Circular F1 Car project

McLaren has also been working on its Circular F1 Car project, which includes the team tracing the journey of materials used – from being utilised in the garage all the way through to disposal. Data can help the team identify more opportunities for recycling, waste reduction and other circular economy practices.

Last year saw McLaren reduce its hazardous recycled waste by 80% thanks to upgrades made to machinery, and decreasing the use of coolant and cutting oil. Soluble oil and water is used to clean and maintain machines, while electronics waste is now refurbished, redeployed or reused.

McLaren further hailed a victory from last year in the form of recycled carbon fibre; this was used on the MCL60 at the US Grand Prix. The team has continued to research possibilities and tested capabilities in other areas for recycled materials.

Not only is ecology at the forefront of McLaren’s sustainability commitments, but also diversity, equity and inclusion. By 2030, the organisation has targeted 40% of its team to be made up of people from underrepresented groups including women, ethnic minorities, those with disabilities, neurodivergence, the LGBTQ+ community and people from low socio-economic backgrounds.

McLaren has taken major strides in this area – in 2023, 45% of new starters and 29% of its overall team came from underrepresented backgrounds. Some 20% of McLaren’s team, and 31% of its early careers’ group are now female.

Projects include the 60 Scholars programme as well as the Returnship initiative, which helps women return to careers in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). McLaren now has 70 STEM ambassadors, a 71% increase from 2022.

Image: Lukas Raich/Arturo Hurtado