CARBON SOURCING
- INDUSTRY
- Automotive
- SERVICES USED
- Advisory
- Market intelligence
- Carbon sourcing
Background
Autotrader, the UK's leading tech businesses, has developed its sustainability strategy, a key component of which is setting a Science Based Targets initiative ('SBTi') Net Zero commitment by 2040. As part of its net-zero goals, the company wanted to reassess its approach to carbon neutrality, which it had maintained since 2020, and how it would purchase high-quality carbon credits within its overall climate strategy. Autotrader approached Abatable to help it plan a more strategic, impactful approach to carbon credit procurement that would better align with its long-term net-zero goals while delivering genuine climate benefits.
Goal
Autotrader sought to move from a traditional carbon neutrality model to a more strategic climate contribution approach. Its objectives were threefold:
- First, to develop a climate strategy that would evolve over time to support its 2040 net-zero target, focussing on carbon reduction initiatives rather than simply offsetting current emissions.
- Second, to explore how carbon removals can be combined with environmental projects in their local communities where the business operates.
- Third, to build meaningful relationships with high-quality project developers, particularly focusing on innovative UK-based technology removal projects that aligned with the company’s values and impact agenda.
A key goal for Autotrader was to start building a pipeline of good-quality, high-permanence carbon removals for its future net-zero needs.
Solution
Abatable proposed a three-phase climate contribution approach tailored towards helping Autotrader work towards its objectives.
Phase 1 (2024-2030): Strategic climate contributions
Rather than offsetting emissions volume-for-volume, Autotrader would set a climate budget to fund high-impact projects. The approach focused on supporting promising project developers to build lasting relationships for future opportunities.
Phase 2 (2030-2040): Building net-zero inventory
Strategically support projects that could secure an SBTi-aligned pipeline of high-permanence carbon removal credits after 2040, including potential land restoration investments and early-stage removal project development.
Phase 3 (Post-2040): Maintaining net-zero status
Focus would transition to monitoring existing investments and maintaining a pipeline of high-permanence removal credits annually.
Abatable then sourced, evaluated and delivered three high-impact carbon removal projects for Autotrader to support as part of its climate contribution strategy.
Partnering with Abatable
Abatable’s role encompassed strategic advisory, market intelligence, and project sourcing as part of Abatable’s plan, source and evaluate solutions offering.
For strategy development, Abatable provided detailed guidance on budget allocation and project selection criteria.
For project sourcing, Abatable leveraged its market expertise to source and evaluate nine UK technology-based removal developers against Autotrader’s criteria. Through detailed due diligence and developer engagement, the team shortlisted the most suitable projects while ensuring alignment with Autotrader’s innovation focus and geographical preferences.
Abatable also provided guidance on communication approaches for the disclosure of Autotrader’s evolved approach.
Impact
The partnership delivered immediate strategic clarity and long-term positioning for Autotrader’s climate ambitions. By pivoting from volume-based offsetting to budget-based climate contributions, Autotrader gained independence from carbon market volatility while maintaining flexibility to support the most impactful projects.
Autotrader’s focus on UK-based nature and technology removal projects positioned them at the forefront of carbon removal innovation, supporting cutting-edge solutions like enhanced rock weathering and carbon capture technologies that could scale significantly in the coming decades.
Results
Abatable successfully delivered a comprehensive carbon credit strategy that supported Autotrader’s change in approach from reactive offsetting to investing in carbon reduction initiatives. The final project portfolio included three shortlisted technology-based removal approaches:
- UNDO’s enhanced rock weathering process, where crushed silicate rock is spread onto agricultural land to capture CO2 through chemical processes. Initially, UNDO will spread 1,839 tonnes of mineral-rich basalt rock on agricultural land in the UK under the partnership with Autotrader, which will permanently remove approximately 340 tonnes of CO2.
- Carbon capture via Accelerated Carbonation Technology (ACT) from O.C.O Technology, one of very few commercially operating carbon mineralisation companies in the world.
- A reforestation project from Highland Carbon to replant 100,000 trees near Loch Ness, allowing a mature forest with native species to develop and remain for generations to come.
The strategy equipped Autotrader with a clear roadmap through 2040 and beyond, established meaningful partnerships with innovative project developers. Most importantly, it positioned Autotrader to communicate its climate efforts with confidence, moving beyond simple carbon neutrality claims to demonstrate genuine climate contribution in the automotive and technology sectors.