Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is the first motor sport stakeholder in the world to receive the FIA Institute's Environmental Award for the Achievement of Excellence.

The award is part of a broader initiative between the FIA and the FIA Institute aimed at evaluating and reducing the environmental impact of motor sport. It is also the highest level attainable within the FIA Institute Sustainability Programme, which helps motor sport stakeholders to measure, improve and be recognised for their environmental performance.

Underpinning the Sustainability Programme is an environmental accreditation scheme - the Environmental Certification Framework - the first to have been developed specifically for motor sport. It enables National Sporting Authorities, teams, circuits, manufacturers, and event organisers to achieve the highest standards in environmental management.

Organisations that sign up are rated against three levels of environmental performance, so measuring their achievement and providing a benchmark against which to improve.

Shortly after the scheme was announced, in June 2012, McLaren applied for accreditation and underwent a series of stringent assessments set out by FIA Institute environmental experts. The Formula One team achieved the highest level through demonstrating a commitment to continual improvement and impressive environmental awareness throughout the entire organisation.

"McLaren's award is an important step in the recognition by motor sport of the social responsibility our community must acknowledge if our championships are to remain in tune with the key environmental debates we are all a part of," said FIA President, Jean Todt. "The FIA and the FIA Institute are researching the environmental impact of motor sports across all our world championships."

"This is a fantastic achievement for a motor sport organisation," added FIA Institute President, Gerard Saillant, "especially as the assessment is based on the leading environmental standards across all industries. We hope that other motor sport stakeholders will now follow McLaren's lead."

"We're delighted to receive this Award for Excellence from the FIA Institute," said Martin Whitmarsh. "It's great that the sport is encouraging those within it to improve their environmental performance and we are thrilled to be the first to achieve the highest level."

"We pride ourselves on our environmental credentials," added McLaren's Head of Sustainability, Ian MacDonald, "but the FIA Institute assessment really put those to the test. As a result, we have made major changes to further improve the sustainability of the team and the accreditation process has been worthwhile just for that."

The FIA Institute's Environmental Certification Framework has been developed in partnership with leading environmental consultancy Det Norske Veritas (DNV), as well as the Institute's Sustainability Advisory Panel, composed of environmental experts from across motor sport. The accreditation process itself is led by FIA Institute environmental consultant Even Wiger, who has implemented similar schemes such as IS0 14001 and other environmental certification programmes across a range of sectors, including in motor sport in his previous role as Managing Director of Rally Norway.