Marelli: a key component in decarbonising the automotive sector

Client Challenge

Marelli is a global manufacturer of automotive components, many of which are energy-consuming such as front and rear lights, instrument panels, cooling systems and fuel system components. They are progressing towards their two main climate change commitments – reducing their greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes by 42% by 2030, and to net zero by 2045.

As part of their sustainability journey, to meet CDP disclosure requirements and establish a Science Based Targets baseline, they needed to measure and report the significant emissions associated with the usage of their products, known as scope 3 category 11.

With the complexities of a global automotive manufacturing customer base and a wide mix of vehicle brands and types using their products, Marelli needed a robust, effective and transparent methodology not only to produce data for accurate reporting but also to highlight hotspots for decarbonisation actions.

 

Our Approach

Ricardo’s experts combined their deep understanding of automotive cycle modelling with their corporate scope 3 and Science Based Targets expertise. 

Key elements of the approach included:

  • Modelling vehicle use cycles and lifetime mileage to calculate realistic fuel and energy consumption for each component in each type of customer vehicle.
  • Reflecting global variability, considering vehicle sales, driving habits and local variability in grid emissions intensity.
  • Highlighting energy-intensive components such as lighting and cooling systems. 

We developed a bespoke Power BI model that enables Marelli to interrogate data at both corporate and business unit levels.

The methodology and systems used are repeatable and scalable to allow Marelli to accurately track their progress on component energy efficiency and emissions reduction by comparing to this baseline.

 

Client Benefits

The project revealed that energy-consuming components hold a material share of emissions for Marelli, meaning that they must play an important part of reaching Marelli’s decarbonisation strategy.

Our robust and transparent methodology and data assurance means Marelli has a clear understanding of the emissions from the use phase of their products.

Marelli now have:

  • The data required for CDP and Science Based Targets disclosures as well as for use in their ongoing corporate reporting and stakeholder communications.
  • A replicable methodology aligned to international standards to enable them to regularly measure and accurately track their progress.
  • Clear visibility of emissions hotspots across product lines.
  • Robust evidence to inform strategic product development and decarbonisation planning.

These insights allow Marelli to focus decarbonisation efforts where they matter most and will support them to optimise and accelerate their decarbonisation journey.

 

"Ricardo’s transparent approach and bespoke tools have given us confidence in our component emissions data, which feeds into a clear roadmap for reducing our carbon impact across our product range."
Denise Lana, Head of Sustainability, Marelli

 

Find out more about our net zero and scope 3 support

Client

Marelli

Key Services

Scope 3 Inventories

Start date

08/2025

Location

UK

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