The challenge
The automotive sector sits at the intersection of high material intensity and long product lifecycles. While significant attention has been placed on vehicle manufacturing and electrification, the retail element of the business – such as car sales, servicing, and repair – also represents a significant opportunity to embed circular economy principles at scale.
With retail sites globally, the OEM recognised that its retail network plays a critical role in material use, waste generation, and water consumption, as well as in shaping customer perceptions of responsible business practices.
Our solution
To better understand this opportunity, we were commissioned to undertake a comprehensive circularity baselining study focused on materials, waste, and water management across its retail operations. Our primary objective was to evaluate existing circular practices, quantify current impacts, and identify opportunities to accelerate circularity across the diverse portfolio of retail sites in its global markets.
This analysis supported the OEM to identify circularity hotspots and inefficiencies, understand regional variation in practices and infrastructure, and embed practical, scalable recommendations applicable across global markets.
The project included a comprehensive data review and analysis of the OEMs parts, packaging, and waste management across its global network and a series of targeted online surveys and site reviews.
We also engaged with key stakeholders across the company’s central business units through interviews to explore opportunities for improving circularity across operations and aligning central units with retail site activities. This collaborative approach ensured that the research was well-rounded and reflective of the company’s global operational diversity.
The outcome
Based on this extensive analysis and our expertise, we identified key interventions to enhance recycling rates, expand parts refurbishment programs, and reduce overall resource use. A tailored action plan, outlining practical steps for the manufacturer to scale up circularity across its retail network, was provided. The plan incorporated strategies for engaging staff and suppliers, setting the foundation for long-term change and aligning with the businesses’ wider sustainability objectives.
Our support positioned the company to meet its sustainability targets and improve its operational efficiency, while leading the automotive sector’s shift toward a circular economy.
This case study also demonstrates more broadly how OEM retail operations can become a cornerstone of automotive circularity. By combining detailed baselining through granular data analysis and on‑site observations with practical recommendations, the project showed that circular economy principles are actionable, measurable, and scalable within retail environments, and can deliver both environmental and operational benefits when embedded consistently across networks.