“The land we live on is not inherited from our parents, but borrowed from our children.” This is the closest Spanish translation of an old and well-known proverb of the Masai tribe, inhabitants since ancient times in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania who have always shown great respect for their natural environment and for the preservation of our planet.
The wisdom contained in this message, apparently and at the same time very deep, served as inspiration for a research project called Masai, developed by the University of Granada and led by Professor Fernando Moreno, whose goal is to create new forms of “green asphalt”. By using recycled materials, such as car tires that are usually thrown away when they are no longer useful, this group has been able to create stronger asphalt for roads, which, in addition to providing more grip than traditional, is much more sustainable.
The same commitments, goals and values that guide the work of Moreno and his collaborators also inspire the team made up of Banco Santander, Ferrari and FOM (Formula One Management). All of them, together, have been working intensively, for some time, to find ways to reduce CO2 emissions, both in Formula 1 and in the automotive sector as a whole, with a very clear goal: to achieve a sustainable model with ambition. NetZero (a term used to refer to the state where an economic activity no longer generates a net impact of emissions for the planet).
Traditionally, Formula 1 has been associated with carbon dioxide emissions. However, in recent times, this sport has shown that it can also face the challenge of sustainability, without giving up even a small part of its spectator capacity. In fact, the director of the Masai project is convinced that “F1 could be an ideal scenario in which to test these materials, reintroduce recycled tires and evaluate them under the highest demands standard.”
Santander, Ferrari and FOM are working to reduce CO2 emissions, both in Formula 1 and in the automotive sector as a whole, with the aim of achieving a sustainable model with the ambition of NetZero
Santander, Ferrari and FOM, a sustainable alliance
As any good motoring fan already knows, Formula 1 has always been an effective arena for innovation and development in the automotive industry, in aspects from vehicle aerodynamics to safer and more precise design of brake. Today, in close collaboration with FOM, the owner of F1, and Ferrari, Banco Santander is reinforcing its firm commitment to the fight against climate change, and this new project of what its managers call “green asphalt ” serves as an inspiration and example of how to promote change towards a more ecological model.
As Moreno explained, the inspiration for the development of these new materials comes from the observation of other similar elements from nature itself, which not only offer “high quality mechanical properties and performance, but also characterized by having a significant reduction in the environment where they are used”.
For every kilometer of conventional road, thousands of tons of materials from depleting natural resources are usually required. On the other hand, in the composition of the so-called “Masai materials”, “around 50% are raw materials of sustainable origin”, affirms this prestigious engineer of Roads, Canals and Ports. As Ross Brawn, F1 Managing Director explained, a large number of tires are often used during a race weekend. Now, after use, they are returned to the factory, where they are recycled, using the “zero emissions” method. There, everything possible is obtained from them to help improve the sustainability of the entire activity.
For Moreno, the findings of his group’s research show that “the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy model that promotes recycling, reusing waste and reducing the pressure on the environment of planet is something possible”. In this sense, pointed out Juan Manuel Cendoya, Vice President of Santander Spain and General Director of Communications, Corporate Marketing and Studies, whose entity is one of the largest financiers in the world of cars, “that is why it is important that we find solutions so that cars can work together in the fight against climate change and we can reach zero emissions by 2050”.
Commitment to the environment
Since this bank chose to return to Formula 1, in December 2021, as a sponsor of Scuderia Ferrari, it is in charge of offering a wide range of solutions to achieve the desired carbon neutrality in the automotive field. At the same time, it became the first bank in the world to finance renewable energies and its investment banking business, for many years, had specialized teams to advise large clients on their transition to a fully green economy .
After becoming one of the 280 companies in the world that is part of List A of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Santander continues to advance in the fight against climate change, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, to reach zero emissions by 2050. In addition, it set intermediate goals, for 2030, such as a 29% reduction in absolute emissions financed from the energy sector, and reaffirmed its commitment to allocate 220,000 million euros, between 2019 and 2030, so that all this is possible.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
