Our sustainability approach
Driving towards sustainable mobility
Sustainability is at the heart of our mission
It's an integral part of our business strategy and our mission to make our customers’ transition to lower carbon mobility both easy and convenient.
We embrace our responsibility as a force for good, applying our expertise to deliver efficient and innovative solutions and business practices that help create a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive world.
Working in partnership with our customers and suppliers, we strive to achieve positive change and shape a more sustainable future together.
We take a holistic approach to sustainability combining three key aspects: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).
Environment
- Minimising our carbon footprint
- Raising awareness throughout our organisation
- Driving innovation in our products and services
- Reducing, reusing, and recycling waste materials
Social
- Providing a safe, diverse, non-discriminatory work environment
- Supporting the wider community
Governance
- Complying with legislation, regulations, and codes of practice
- Integrating sustainability into business decisions
Environment
As a global organisation, we recognise the impact our activities have on the environment and we have an important role to play in conservational governance.
Our approach is twofold: sustainability is firmly embedded in our own corporate values, internal processes, and personal engagement; we are committed to supporting our customers on their own journey to becoming more efficient, competitive, and sustainable.
Environment
1. Minimising our carbon footprint
We strive to minimise our carbon footprint by efficiently using and reusing resources, continuously reviewing our activities, and setting reasonable goals.
We support the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and are committed to achieving climate-neutrality along the value chain by 2050 as part of the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign.
We use a Corporate Climate Action Tool to understand and analyse our CO2 consumption. Data is regularly reported to track progress against targets and identify additional measures to reduce and offset emissions.
Our buildings are powered by
100%
certified renewable energy
We've installed
184
EV charge points in our car parks
Each year we save around
250K
kWh through efficient lighting
Environment
2. Raising awareness throughout our organisation
We raise awareness for environmental matters throughout our organisation and encourage employees to help drive change.
We foster a culture of strong, positive teamwork and are fortunate to have brilliant people across our organisation who are committed to making a real difference.
Our Sustainability Champions regularly meet with employees from other BMW Group UK companies to share ideas and discuss how we can continue to reduce our carbon footprint and introduce more sustainable practices.
Environmental responsibility is a key focus for internal communications. We issue regular e-newsletters covering sustainability initiatives and are always exploring new and engaging ways to raise awareness and understanding amongst our employees.
Our dedicated ESG Intranet page houses information on our approach to sustainability, as well as progress updates on environmental initiatives and a section where employees can make their own sustainability pledges.
We have
30
employee 'Sustainability Champions'
We offset carbon emissions from
100%
of employee flights/business travel
Environment
3. Driving innovation in our products and services
We drive innovation in our products and services to build sustainable and reliable mobility solutions for our customers
As well as reducing the environmental impact of our business, we are committed to offering mobility solutions that help our customers work towards their own decarbonisation and sustainability goals.
We are firmly focused on increasing the uptake of zero emission vehicles in our fleet. Alternatively fuelled cars currently make up 50% of new registrations and in the last year alone, our pure electric registrations have doubled to 30%.
We offer both CO2 and EV consulting services to help customers achieve measurable reductions in fleet CO2 emissions and identify opportunities for electrification.
Our extensive network of manufacturers allows us to provide a wide range of multi-make hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric cars and vans, so our customers have freedom to choose vehicles best suited to their fleet and sustainability goals.
We work with a dedicated charging partner to help customers develop a charging strategy and find the right balance of workplace, home, and on-the-go charging.
We offer flexible solutions, including vehicle sharing and rental, to provide customers with alternative ways to reduce their emissions and introduce low and zero-emission cars and LCVs to their fleet and drivers.
Our digital salary sacrifice and private lease products help customers work towards greener mobility by making low and zero-emission vehicles more accessible for all their employees, including those who may not have been previously eligible for a company car.
We leverage our expertise to offer customers ongoing support on their road to zero with policy, journey, and vehicle choice reviews, eco-driver training courses, and EV guides and enewsletters for drivers and fleet managers.
Alternatively fuelled cars currently make up
50%
of new registrations
We are reducing CO2 emissions from our vehicles by
-40%
by 2030
Environment
4. Reducing, reusing, and recycling waste materials
We promote the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste materials to conserve resources and keep materials in circulation as long as possible
Our commitment to reducing, reusing, and recycling materials runs throughout our business. From the resources and processes in our offices to the ways we bring our brand to life for employees and customers.
We have a site-wide recycling and reduction programme with a zero waste-to-landfill policy. 95% of the material collected is recycled and the remaining 5% is incinerated at an environmentally approved facility with the energy produced being used to power local homes.
A food waste recycling scheme operates in our employee restaurants and we are continuously exploring new ways to limit food wastage and encourage employees to eat more sustainably.
The zero-plastic all-purpose cleaning product we use in our office is environmentally friendly, chemical-free, and made from re-engineered water. The product is stored in an on-site tank, helping us to reduce our carbon footprint and eliminating the need for carboard packaging and single-use plastic bottles.
Sensor taps have been installed to reduce water wastage and we have replaced all paper hand towels with 100% recycled paper towels.
From bamboo key rings to fleeces and rucksacks made from 100% recycled material, sustainability is a key factor when deciding how we bring our brand to life. We work hard to ensure we do not over-order merchandise and that any items we can no longer use are rehomed rather than disposed of. Any leftover ‘old brand’ Alphabet merchandise was donated to local charity Step by Step which provides accommodation, personal development opportunities and specialist support services to empower young people and prevent homelessness.
We have adopted a digital-first approach to decrease the amount of in-office printing and only stock our printers and copiers with 100% recycled paper.
We have a sitewide policy for
Zero
waste-to-landfill
Our hand towels and printers use
100%
recycled paper
We use refillable bottles and
Zero
waste soap in our facilities
Social
We pay great attention to our social impact and take corporate social responsibility seriously. We know how important it is for our people to be their true, authentic selves at work and we are united against any form of social injustice.
We embrace diverse perspectives as a lever for innovation at every level of our organisation and are committed to supporting and empowering our employees to achieve their full potential by promoting a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Social
5. Providing a safe, diverse, non-discriminatory work environment
We are committed to equal opportunities for all employees and ensure a safe, diverse, and nondiscriminatory work environment
We dedicate time and resource to try to ensure our recruitment and employment practices are free from bias. Our recruitment process is reviewed by an external body and any opportunities for improvement are addressed.
We have been recognised as a Top Employer 11 years in a row. The programme certifies excellence in people practices and our approach to Diversity and Inclusion, sustainability, ethics, and integrity is evaluated as part of the process.
All employees are required to complete Diversity and Equality training and familiarise themselves with our Diversity and Inclusion policy on an annual basis. Each department tracks and reports completion.
We have been awarded Bronze standard in the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (enei) Talent Inclusion Diversity Evaluation.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and are currently working towards Disability Confident Leader status.
We partner with disability charity, Leonard Cheshire, providing placements for recent graduates to help break down the barriers experienced by people living with disability in the workplace.
Diversity and inclusion working groups
Supporting the wider community
Each year our employees have two volunteering days they can use to help registered charities and not for profit organisations during working hours. Employees volunteered 225 hours between 2020 and 2021 with activities ranging from skills sharing to building an animal sanctuary.
-
We collaborate with the Community Matters Partnership Project (CMPP) to help make a difference within the local community and host a Local Business Marketplace on our Intranet support small, local businesses.
- We raise awareness and funds for BMW Group UK charity partners and our employee Charity Champions promote and organise local fundraising activities.
CALM
Our current employee-chosen charity is CALM. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is taking a stand against suicide. Over £400,000 was donated to our previous charity partner, the Alzheimer’s Society.
BEN
We hold an annual fundraising day and provide a lump sum donation to independent automotive industry charity, BEN. We also donate £1 for every car we sell at auction.
We have been named a Top Employer
11 years
in a row
Our employees volunteered
225
hours in 2020/21
Employees raised in excess of
£400K
for charity
Governance
Our customers are at the very heart of our business and our culture is one of clarity, responsibility, and mutual trust and respect.
Good governance is an essential cornerstone and an all-embracing topic that involves each and every area of our business. Transparent reporting, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and a corporate governance policy aimed at the interests of all stakeholders are integral to long-term success.
Governance
6. Complying with legislation, regulations, and codes of practice
We comply with all applicable legislation, regulations, and codes of practice and allow their future direction to guide our ambitions
We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and comply with the FCA’s Senior Managers and Certification Regime. Employees are trained on the FCA’s Conduct Rules and ‘Certified Individuals’, Senior Management, and Board members undertake additional training.
We empower our employees to establish compliant operations with measures in place to help ensure actions are responsible and in accordance with legislation, regulations, and codes of practice.
Our policies are reviewed on a regular basis and we run an extensive ongoing mandatory training programme. Modules include compliance, Specialist Automotive Finance, and anti-money laundering.
We actively engage with regulators both at an industry level through trade associations, such as the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), and at an operational level.
We use a ‘compliance by design’ approach when developing new products and we conduct regular reviews to ensure our products continue to perform effectively.
We have a robust risk framework in place to make sure we’re protecting both our business and our customers from external factors as much as possible.
Our finance team conducts regular reviews of accounting guidance and regulation, drawing on experts for the latest guidance and our compliance team performs monthly horizon scanning, incorporating upcoming regulatory changes into our practices.
We urge employees to report any compliance concerns either through normal business channels or anonymously using the SpeakUp Line.
Governance
7. Integrating sustainability into business decisions
We are integrating sustainability into all our business decisions.
Our strategic commitment to sustainability is included in our Brand Guidelines and clearly communicated throughout our organisation. Employees are encouraged to play their part in embedding a culture of sustainability by integrating it into daily decisions and supporting with regular reporting on sustainability targets.
We operate a Sustainability Policy, outlining and promoting behaviours that generate value for all stakeholders and facilitate the development of sustainable corporate mobility. The policy guides the actions of our organisation and employees.
Members of our finance team are completing the ACCA Certificate in Sustainability for Finance (CertSF) to provide them with skills and knowledge to enable them to confidently lead on sustainability issues and implement best practice.
We are working with our external suppliers to increase sustainability in our supply chain. We have dedicated procurement and supplier management functions with wellestablished procedures in place for performance and quality management, as well as regular competitive tendering with criteria to evaluate sustainability.