RETURNING TO TOP SPOT: MUGELLO CIRCUIT REVEALED AS WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE MOTORSPORT CIRCUIT
Today, the third annual edition of the Sustainable Circuits Index™ (SCI™) reveals the extent to which the leading global motorsports circuits are pulling ahead of the pack when it comes to sustainability best practice and disclosures.
Part of the Sustainable Motorsport Index™ family of indices, the SCI™ uses publicly disclosed data to assess and rank the sustainability performance of 97 global circuits against seven key dimensions of sustainability: certifications, accreditations, awards, environmental performance, social performance, economic impact, and sustainability approach and engagement. Data collection for this third edition took place between October through December 2022.
The leader of this year’s SCI™ is Mugello Circuit, which returns to the top spot having been displaced last year by Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Mugello’s continued focus on improving sustainability measures both at an operational and strategic level, as well as enhancements in its public disclosures, has ensured it continues to dominate the ranking.
Over the last year, the circuit has remained focused on its consistent commitment to sustainability and has cemented its position at the front of the pack with initiatives such as the protection of c. 120 hectares of green space that absorb approximately 3,600 tonnes of CO2e each year, the installation of over 4,000m 2 of eco-active and antibacterial ceramic slabs to break down common air pollutants and deliver the equivalent NOx reduction of more than 1,200 large trees, and a range of public-facing campaigns to use its significant platform to influence positive impact.
In second place, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has implemented several significant improvements in the past year to maintain its leading place in the ranking. These include the launch of its Strategic Plan, aimed at making the venue more environmentally and economically sustainable, the certification of its CSR management system in line with the UNSDGs, and using profits from on-site waste reduction initiatives to maintain the circuit’s green spaces.
This year, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli has entered the top three for the first time, climbing from fifth position in last year’s ranking. The circuit has made impressive strides in obtaining relevant industry certifications, including the Three-Star FIA environmental accreditation and ISO 20121 accreditation, and has prioritised fan campaigns such as the ‘Misano Green Circuit’ initiative to encourage attendees to minimise their own environmental impact via sustainable mobility options.
Elsewhere in the ranking, Silverstone Circuit receives particular commendation for its focus on sustainability in 2022, improving its absolute SCI™ score by a staggering 29 points and earning its place as ‘Most Improved Circuit’ in this year’s Index thanks to achievements such as the installation of over 2,700 solar panel modules to provide for over 13% of the site’s annual power requirements, its partnership with local charities to redistribute surplus food year round, its engagement with schools and local communities, and its joint fan engagement initiative with Sky Zero at the 2022 British Grand Prix.
All the most improved circuits, Silverstone Circuit (+29 points), Mugello Circuit (+18), and Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya (+13) are ranked in the top five around the world for sustainability, demonstrating that those at the front of the pack are consistently pushing themselves to accelerate progress and lead by example.
Significant movement continues to occur across the ranking as circuits jostle for position with improvements across a wide sweep of sustainability measures, ranging from on-site renewable energy generation through to technologically advanced fan engagement and gamification of waste and recycling initiatives.
The SCI™, with its motto “if you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it,” seeks to encourage sports stakeholders around the world to learn from best practice on display at the leading venues, and to act as a clarion call to those who are yet to treat sustainability with the seriousness it so urgently requires.
Professor Paolo Taticchi, UCL School of Management (Academic Advisor on SCI™):
“It is fantastic to see so many circuits making great strides towards sustainability in this edition of the Sustainable Circuits IndexTM, though of course this means the gap between the leaders and stragglers continues to widen. I hope to see those at the back of the pack take inspiration from the best practice shared in the Index to learn and implement their own policies and initiatives for the good of the entire motorsport industry.”
Dr. Cristiana Pace, Founder and CEO, Enovation Consulting:
“Sustainability in sport is at a crucial inflection point; progress is being made rapidly and the circuits that position themselves as future-facing innovators are setting the agenda, driving change, and harvesting the rewards. Conversely, the laggards have to play catch-up in the face of increasingly loud calls from championships, teams, and fanbases to explain their lack of engagement.
“There is so much to celebrate in this year’s Index, and circuits just starting out on their journey towards a sustainable future should take the opportunity to explore the range of ways they can enhance their ESG credentials and support global efforts towards decarbonization.”
For more information: www.sustainablemotorsportindex.com
Part of the Sustainable Motorsport Index™ family of indices, the SCI™ uses publicly disclosed data to assess and rank the sustainability performance of 97 global circuits against seven key dimensions of sustainability: certifications, accreditations, awards, environmental performance, social performance, economic impact, and sustainability approach and engagement. Data collection for this third edition took place between October through December 2022.
The leader of this year’s SCI™ is Mugello Circuit, which returns to the top spot having been displaced last year by Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Mugello’s continued focus on improving sustainability measures both at an operational and strategic level, as well as enhancements in its public disclosures, has ensured it continues to dominate the ranking.
Over the last year, the circuit has remained focused on its consistent commitment to sustainability and has cemented its position at the front of the pack with initiatives such as the protection of c. 120 hectares of green space that absorb approximately 3,600 tonnes of CO2e each year, the installation of over 4,000m 2 of eco-active and antibacterial ceramic slabs to break down common air pollutants and deliver the equivalent NOx reduction of more than 1,200 large trees, and a range of public-facing campaigns to use its significant platform to influence positive impact.
In second place, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has implemented several significant improvements in the past year to maintain its leading place in the ranking. These include the launch of its Strategic Plan, aimed at making the venue more environmentally and economically sustainable, the certification of its CSR management system in line with the UNSDGs, and using profits from on-site waste reduction initiatives to maintain the circuit’s green spaces.
This year, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli has entered the top three for the first time, climbing from fifth position in last year’s ranking. The circuit has made impressive strides in obtaining relevant industry certifications, including the Three-Star FIA environmental accreditation and ISO 20121 accreditation, and has prioritised fan campaigns such as the ‘Misano Green Circuit’ initiative to encourage attendees to minimise their own environmental impact via sustainable mobility options.
Elsewhere in the ranking, Silverstone Circuit receives particular commendation for its focus on sustainability in 2022, improving its absolute SCI™ score by a staggering 29 points and earning its place as ‘Most Improved Circuit’ in this year’s Index thanks to achievements such as the installation of over 2,700 solar panel modules to provide for over 13% of the site’s annual power requirements, its partnership with local charities to redistribute surplus food year round, its engagement with schools and local communities, and its joint fan engagement initiative with Sky Zero at the 2022 British Grand Prix.
All the most improved circuits, Silverstone Circuit (+29 points), Mugello Circuit (+18), and Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya (+13) are ranked in the top five around the world for sustainability, demonstrating that those at the front of the pack are consistently pushing themselves to accelerate progress and lead by example.
Significant movement continues to occur across the ranking as circuits jostle for position with improvements across a wide sweep of sustainability measures, ranging from on-site renewable energy generation through to technologically advanced fan engagement and gamification of waste and recycling initiatives.
The SCI™, with its motto “if you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it,” seeks to encourage sports stakeholders around the world to learn from best practice on display at the leading venues, and to act as a clarion call to those who are yet to treat sustainability with the seriousness it so urgently requires.
Professor Paolo Taticchi, UCL School of Management (Academic Advisor on SCI™):
“It is fantastic to see so many circuits making great strides towards sustainability in this edition of the Sustainable Circuits IndexTM, though of course this means the gap between the leaders and stragglers continues to widen. I hope to see those at the back of the pack take inspiration from the best practice shared in the Index to learn and implement their own policies and initiatives for the good of the entire motorsport industry.”
Dr. Cristiana Pace, Founder and CEO, Enovation Consulting:
“Sustainability in sport is at a crucial inflection point; progress is being made rapidly and the circuits that position themselves as future-facing innovators are setting the agenda, driving change, and harvesting the rewards. Conversely, the laggards have to play catch-up in the face of increasingly loud calls from championships, teams, and fanbases to explain their lack of engagement.
“There is so much to celebrate in this year’s Index, and circuits just starting out on their journey towards a sustainable future should take the opportunity to explore the range of ways they can enhance their ESG credentials and support global efforts towards decarbonization.”
For more information: www.sustainablemotorsportindex.com
