Bentley’s ‘Dream Factory’ records environmental impact reduction amid increased production

MANILA: Bentley Motors' "Dream Factory" in Crewe, England is on track to become the world's most sustainable luxury car manufacturer, according to figures released yesterday, April 21.  The latest available data recorded at the company's headquarters reveal an outstanding overall reduction in environmental impact per vehicle when comparing 2021 statistics to 2020 figures even though Bentley raised production output by 38.3% in the same period. This totals to a 76.7% decrease in car emissions since 2010.

The publication of this new data comes on the heels of a series of continuing improvements at the factory since 2010, as Bentley focuses on the main pillars of reduction and reuse.

The volume of water consumed at the factory was reduced by 26.6% in 2021, owing to significant investments in water capture and recycling systems. A drop in onsite "domestic" water usage, driven by a higher percentage of employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to some of this decline. However, a second water capture tank has just been erected on the roof of the new Excellence Center for Vehicle Finish, with the capacity to supply an additional 1,800 liters of rainwater every day. The new tank will also be connected to the paint shop's reverse osmosis water system and will supply the new factory finishing area's toilet facilities directly.

CO2 emissions at the Pyms Lane facility, where all Bentley models are made, have also decreased by 70.2%, according to the new figures. Bentley's usage of green gas and biofuels in onsite logistic vehicles is mainly responsible for the drop. Thanks to the utilization of electricity provided by the company's significant onsite solar PV system, the numbers improved on previous CO2 reductions at the facility. Bentley announced in January that the system, which presently has around 31,500 panels, will be expanded.

Due to a continued emphasis on efficiency, the use of green gas, and the benefit of a more efficient boiler system, energy consumption per vehicle reduced by 17.2%.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are commonly present in adhesives, were also reduced by 17.5%. Bentley plans to invest in new onsite solutions over the next 12 months to further reduce this amount.

“The focus of our Beyond100 strategy is to ensure Bentley is a world leader in the delivery of sustainable luxury mobility. These latest encouraging figures show that the continuous focus of our manufacturing strategy on reducing waste, water and energy use are paying dividends by delivering impactful year on year change,” Bentley Motors Board for Manufacturing Member Peter Bosch stated. “Our site is already carbon neutral and the ethos behind our Dream Factory concept is to go-to-zero in terms of environmental impact. We are planning more solar panels and investment in VOCs mitigation will take place in 2022, to make Crewe the most sustainable site that it can possibly be. Longer term, the £2.5-billion investment we announced in January 2022 will help us further transform our facilities, combining our unique fusion of craftsmanship, customer interaction and colleague experience to build the platform for our first Bentley BEV.”

Photos from Bentley Motors

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