March 2024 – Unipart will play a significant role in the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, a collaboration between universities, NHS trusts, councils, large businesses, further education, and community organisations.
Led by Oxford City Council, the partnership has recently been awarded £265,000 from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to develop an industrial net zero roadmap.
The funding will be used to develop an in-depth plan, expanding on the initial Zero Carbon Oxford roadmap commissioned in 2021, and will outline how Unipart and other relative industry organisations can decarbonise in line with Oxford’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions across the city as a whole by 2040 – ten years ahead of the legal deadline set by the Government.
As a large employer in Oxford, Unipart will play a key role in this project alongside partners such as BMW MINI, Oxfordshire Greentech and Oxfordshire County Council, to shape the future of decarbonisation in the city of Oxford.
In addition to the partnership’s ambition of achieving a net zero city by 2040, Unipart has its own 2040 net-zero target and 2030 near-term target of reaching an at least 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, which have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
The project will give Unipart employees who live and work in the Oxfordshire area a chance to further engage with Unipart’s sustainability targets to create a sustainable future. Unipart House, the headquarters of the Group, and the Cowley Distribution Centre are both based in the city.
Andy Pyne, Chief Sustainability Officer, Unipart Group, said: “As Chief Sustainability Officer at Unipart, I am excited to announce the involvement of Unipart in the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership’s Industrial Roadmap and Action Plan (I-RMAP) project. This initiative perfectly aligns with Unipart’s commitment to collaborative decarbonisation.
“Engaging in key work packages, including emissions baseline development and stakeholder engagement, we actively contribute to achieving Oxford’s 2040 net-zero target. Our commitment extends beyond participation, with tangible outcomes anticipated within five years, including improved air quality and the preservation of economic contributions within OxCluster.”
The project is now underway and will run until December 2024. More information can be found by contacting contactus@unipart.com or ZCOP@oxford.gov.uk.