Williams rejects "greenwashing" after unveiling sustainability plan

Williams team principal Jost Capito has denied the team is "greenwashing" with its plan to be climate positive by 2030.

Williams announced on Wednesday [October 13] its sustainability objectives that "are aligned with 12 of the 17 United Nations Development Goals [SDGs] as well as industry-specific standards".

The targets are the most ambitious of any team currently racing in F1 with the sport itself aiming to be carbon neutral by the same year.

“When we talk about sustainability strategy, for us it is also important to be, as a business, sustainable because if we spend the money and then go bust with that, it wouldn’t help anybody," Capito told select media.

“So the strategy we have is investing money but there is a return of investment over the long-term.

“Everything we do has to be part of the business with a final objective to be financially sustainable and be sustainable as an overall business.

“So we are not greenwashing. Also, the strategy doesn’t have any buying CO2 credit, so we don’t compensate. We just look at our footprint and we don’t pay money to offset it. It is not part of the strategy.”

Greenwashing is the practice of supplying misleading information about how a company's products deceive consumers into believing the product is environmentally sound.

In order to achieve its targets, Capito confirmed an "independent external audit" will track the team's progress.

“I can’t tell you who is auditing but we have an audit process in place and also the external resources and capacities that help us, they are supporting us in that as well," said Capito.

"So we will have an independent external audit on all that year over year, so we have to track our progress.

“It is not just 2030 we will check if we have achieved it.”

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