Motorsport UK is committed to making the sport more sustainable. The Motorsport UK Sustainability Strategy sets out a bold ambition to achieve substantial change within the sport which can contribute actively to global sustainability. 

We sit down with Bath Motor Club’s Sustainability Environmental Coordinator and Champion, Andy Cross, to talk about the work they’re doing to promote sustainability. This comes a year after Bath Motor Club became the first to achieve Motorsport UK’s Sustainability Accreditation. 

When approached by Bath Motor Club’s Chairman David Whittock last year, Andy was asked about ways that they could improve their club’s environmental impact. After having worked in the automotive sector for many years of his career as an environmental auditor, it was an opportunity for Andy to take the knowledge he had accumulated and apply it to his hobby. Coincidentally, this was around the same time as the launch of Motorsport UK’s Environmental Accreditation… and so Bath Motor Club’s sustainability journey began!

Over the past 16 months, Bath Motor Club have started the Bath Environmental Sustainability System, more commonly known as BESS. Designed to keep on top of the club’s Environmental Management System (EMS), BESS makes sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to environmental sustainability and the ways in which they can help as a motor club. 

Having been the first club to be awarded the Environmental Accreditation, we asked Andy how it had helped them become better as a club. He explains that “it’s working!” as their members are becoming more aware of the impact they have and the ways that we can improve. 

Not only does Bath MC make their members aware of the impact they have on the environment, but they also make sure the committee participates in information sessions about environmental law and reviews regular updates about their environmental plans at their meetings. “Education is large part of sustainability”, Andy explains, and part of the education process includes having all information readily available on the website. Making sure everyone is aware of the environmental laws in place, knowing which regulations in the Blue Book correlate to sustainability, and the little ways in which members can all improve is a big step forward. By teaching and learning about the actions they can take, the club can use their EMS better and make sure BESS is in full force. 

There are a number of other actions that Bath Motor Club take to reduce their impact on the environment. Andy explains that this goes from making sure all their routes on rallies are considerate and don’t add to noise pollution, to making sure as much of the paperwork is as paperless and online as possible. Another example is the club reusing as much of the equipment needed for their events as possible. The arrows, stakes and signage used during rallies to mark the way are used over and over again as well as trying to use rope instead of tape where possible. The aim is to reduce and minimise waste production, especially when it comes to items that are made with single-use plastics.  

As part of their wider plan to promote better sustainability within the sport, one of the ways Bath Motor Club compensate for their actions is carbon offsetting. Following an event, Bath Motor Club collects vehicle mileage which feeds into their Carbon Offsetting process. Part of this process involves engaging with a local company to organise a trip where their members plant trees together to fully offset the club’s carbon footprint. Andy explains that “this has been especially successful, as our members feel like they are directly seeing the ways they can impact and help the environment, as well as being a nice day out.”  

If you want to learn more about the Sustainability Accreditation, please contact the Club & Community Development Team at club.development@motorsportuk.org.