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McLaren goes carbon-neutral

ESPNF1 Staff
December 5, 2011 « 'Next year will be different' - Webber | Button defends Hamilton's season »
McLaren says that measures taken at the McLaren Technology Centre were central to achieving carbon-neutral status © McLaren
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McLaren has announced that it has become the first ever carbon-neutral Formula One team.

After achieving the Carbon Trust Standard last year, the team said that 'a series of efficiency-driven measures' at its McLaren Technology Centre headquarters had allowed it to save more than 1500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Having recently been ranked 92nd out of more than 2000 British businesses the team is the highest-placed automotive manufacturer for carbon reduction.

In order to become fully carbon-neutral the team is funding two carbon-offsetting schemes - both hydro-electric projects in India and Brazil - and team principal Martin Whitmarsh said that he is proud of the achievement.

"I'm both delighted and proud that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has become the world's first carbon-neutral Formula 1 team," Whitmarsh said. "It's a considerable achievement: the result of a lot of hard work by a number of extremely dedicated individuals within our organisation, and a testament to our philosophy of continuous improvement within the workplace.

"Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was also the first Formula 1 team to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard for our efforts in improving carbon efficiency. Today's announcement is the strongest possible proof that we've gone farther than any other Formula 1 team in becoming more environmentally sympathetic and efficient - an achievement that's of great importance not only to our entire organisation but also to all our partners too."

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