Mercedes aims for net-zero carbon footprint by end of 2020

The championship winning Mercedes AMG F1 team says it is on track to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint by the end of the 2020 season.

Mercedes-Benz revealed on Tuesday a sustainable business strategy involving its facility in Brackley and its HPP engine factory in Brixworth.

The plan, driven by innovation, efficiency and new technologies, foreruns by a decade Formula 1's own ambitions of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

"The entire automotive industry is in the middle of a massive change and Daimler very much leads the way in taking responsibility for sustainable mobility", said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

"We represent the three-pointed star on the racetrack, and we want our motorsport platforms to be a case study for the rapid and open-minded implementation of innovations for a more sustainable future.

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"That goes from the hybrid and battery electric technology in our race cars, to our daily business practice at the racetrack and in our production facilities. We want to be at the forefront of this change.

"By this summer, we will be receiving all our energy from renewable sources, which is something that we are very proud of," Wolff added.

"We will be net carbon zero as a team by the end of 2020."

Lewis Hamilton, who takes a keen interest in environmental issues, is a big advocate of sustainability. The six-time world champion sold his private jet last year and has cut down on his travels while also sustaining his plant-based diet.

"Sustainability is very important to me personally; I've become more and more aware of the environmental issues we're facing around the globe and I just want to have a positive impact and try to play my part in it," said the F1 star.

"I've changed to a plant-based diet, I've changed the way I travel and started off-setting my flights, and I've started to drive both plug-in hybrids and all-electric Mercedes vehicles; I've also put sustainability at the heart of other ventures I'm involved in, such as my new clothing collection with Tommy Hilfiger.

"It's great to see that Mercedes is taking responsibility for sustainability and that the entire Mercedes family is making huge efforts to tackle the issue; I hope I can make a meaningful contribution to that transformation as well."

As motorsport potentially follows the automotive industry's massive paradigm shift, Hamilton also alluded to a possible electric future for F1.

"We've gone from a V8, we now use a third less fuel than before," he said.

"The developments that are coming in the future are going to be really, really interesting. If F1 will be 'FE1' at some stage? Probably not in my racing career.

"But beyond, for sure, I think it's got a really bright future."

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