Nissan Brings Biodiversity to the Factory through Rewilding
More than 50% of the global GDP—amounting to US$58tr—is significantly or moderately reliant on nature.
At Nissan’s Sunderland Plant in the UK, a biodiversity project has transformed the site into a haven for wildlife, now home to species such as water voles, bats, amphibians, badgers, and birds of prey.
The plant’s engineering team initiated this rewilding project to enhance the area's biodiversity.
Andy Barker, Engineering Manager at the Sunderland Plant, highlights that the effort has revitalised a once-desolate marshland, creating a thriving habitat for wildlife.
"We're passionate about sustainability so it is fantastic to be able to create an area for wildlife to thrive," says Andy
"We've carried out the rewilding close to where we built our first wind farm nearly 20 years ago and near our second solar farm, so this part of the plant has been the focus of our sustainability drive.
"It's fantastic to continue that journey and we've been amazed at how quickly and how many of the various animals have taken up residence."
The history of Nissan Sunderland
Nissan Sunderland employs over 6,000 people and spans an area of more than 362,000 square meters.
The plant produced its first commercial Nissan Bluebird in 1986 and now plays a central role in the company’s groundbreaking EV36Zero initiative.
EV36Zero is a £1bn (US$1.23bn) project aimed at establishing the world’s first electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing ecosystem.
The initiative includes the production of three EV models, including the Nissan LEAF, the development of three gigafactories, and has the potential to attract up to £3bn (US$3.7bn) in total investment.
The EV36Zero initiative will introduce a 100% renewable energy microgrid at the facility, targeting a reduction of 55,000 tonnes in Nissan’s annual carbon footprint.
Inside the rewilding project
Nissan’s rewilding project, led by the plant’s engineering team in collaboration with solar farm developer Atrato Partners Ltd., was completed in just over a year.
The effort involved removing invasive plants like giant hogweed and ivy, restoring the habitat, and creating a thriving environment for wildlife.
A viewing hide was constructed to allow visitors to observe the newly biodiverse landscape. Wildlife sightings in the area now include owls, several bat species, and birds such as herring gulls, buzzards, and kestrels, alongside badgers, deer, and great crested newts.
A diverse range of plant life has begun to flourish in the area, including bee orchids, white clover, cowslips, and garden lupins.
"The second solar farm project allowed us to transform the existing marshland by adding a further pond and a maintained new grassland," Andy explains.
"It was about taking a holistic approach that included eco diversity as well as renewable energy."
Part of the Nissan Green Program
The Nissan Green Program 2030 is designed to help the company achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
By 2030, the program targets a 52% reduction in manufacturing CO₂ emissions and a 30% decrease in global lifecycle vehicle CO₂ emissions.
“All goals are integral to our long-term vision, Nissan Ambition 2030,” says Joji Tagawa, Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer at Nissan.
“What we do on the road to 2030 will be critical for the future we help shape: for employees, partners, communities, and customers."
The company will improve water risk management at its manufacturing sites, with the goal of eliminating high-risk sites by 2030.
Air quality is another focus of the Nissan Green Program 2030, which aims to enhance vehicle emissions management, including non-tailpipe emissions, and control VOCs at manufacturing facilities.
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