LUXURY car makers Bentley say they are on course to reduce the company's environmental impact by 75 per cent in the next four years.

The firm has released data for the period 2010 to 2020 which shows a dramatic fall in CO2 emissions at the Pyms Lane plant.

CO2 figures are down 99.5 per cent to 29 kg per vehicle, which is the result of using energy generated through its onsite solar PV system, green gas and electricity supplies in the factory for the first time over a full 12-month cycle.

Other innovative measures include the installation of hydrotreated vegetable oil fuelling facilities.

The amount of water used in vehicle production has fallen by nearly 60 per cent over the same 10-year period by installing water recycling systems, coupled with a reduction in domesticwater use on site as more staff have worked from home during the pandemic.

Bentley says improvements in recycling processes has seen the "very small amount of waste material that cannot be recycled" and is sent to landfill fall by 99.1 per cent compared to 2010, to just 3.57 kg per vehicle last year.

Peter Bosch, Member of the Board for Manufacturing, said it was part of the firm's plans taking it onwards from the 'Beyond100' strategy as it strives to become the world's "most sustainable luxury car brand".

He said: "By focusing on resource efficiency and a circular economy approach, our 2025 target is to reduce our production-related environmental impact by 75 per cent compared to 2010. We're delighted that the latest data shows such positive progress in the areas of energy, water and materials.

"Everyone within Bentley's production operations has a part to play to ensure we meet these targets, so we have begun 2021 by engaging colleagues in the launch of our new 'Wings' manufacturing strategy, which will see us pioneer a shift in onsite sustainability."