- Steer achieves PAS 2060 accreditation across the entire estate through operational improvements and carbon offsetting, as well as an ‘ESG Excellent’ rating in latest independent audit
- Announcement marks major step forward in further improving environmental standards across the UK’s largest network of automotive repair sites
- Steer sets out new, ambitious plan to reach carbon neutrality entirely organically, without the use of carbon offsetting, across all of its sites
30th November 2023 Steer Automotive Group (“Steer”), the UK’s leading automotive repair business, has today announced that it has achieved PAS 2060 accreditation across its entire estate of 98 repair shops.
This international recognition, defined by the British Standards Institution (BSI), confirms that all of Steer’s sites are now officially carbon neutral and signifies Steer’s commitment to quantifying, reducing, and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions across its operations.
As the UK’s largest network of automotive repair sites, this marks a major step for the industry on improving environmental standards.
PAS 2060 encompasses Scope 1 and 2 emissions, as well as Scope 3 emissions contributing more than 1% of the total footprint. Steer has achieved this accreditation through a combination of operational enhancements and carbon offsetting initiatives.
This follows Steer’s first independent ESG performance audit by Sustainable Advantage in October 2023, which provided a rating of 71%, considered to be “ESG Excellent” and the appointment of Peter Randhawa as Director of ESG & Special Projects to provide strategic direction to Steer’s ESG programme in June 2023.
Looking ahead, Steer has set out on a new ambitious plan to achieve net zero and carbon neutrality entirely organically, without relying on carbon offsetting, across all its sites, solidifying its position as an industry leader.
To realise this goal, Steer will build upon the significant improvements already implemented across the business, including:
- Sustainable paint usage: Steer is increasing the use of sustainable paint, a new technology which can provide a 49% reduction in energy used during application and drying.
- Green parts integration: The company is increasingly incorporating green parts for repairs, ensuring the same high quality as new-issue parts.
- Sustainable and renewable energy: Steer is using sustainable energy sources across the business, with all of its 132 electric meters using some form of sustainable energy, and 63% of the meters using 100% renewable sources.
- Sustainable company vehicles: Steer is committed to offering its staff more sustainable company vehicles, such as electric cars, reducing emissions associated with customer transportation. Over 82% of the Steer sites have electric charge points.
Taking its environmental impact seriously, Steer has heavily invested in promoting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, elevating it to a top priority on its board agenda. The appointment of a Director of ESG to the operating board underscores Steer’s dedication to fostering sustainability.
Richard Steer, CEO of Steer Automotive Group, said:
“We have made industry-leading improvements to our processes over the past years to reduce our environmental impact. We are proud that this culminated in a PAS 2060 accreditation.
“This accreditation not only strengthens Steer’s clear commitment to sustainability, but it dovetails with the Group’s continued focus on new technologies and supporting the repair and maintenance of electric vehicles.
“Our journey continues and we believe we have the right processes and plans to continue making operational improvements and take on new sustainable projects, with the aim of being carbon neutral without the use of carbon offsets.”
