Circularity

We want to keep materials in use for longer and value them throughout their life cycle. We will do this by using resources responsibly and embracing circular principles in design, operations and decommissioning and aim to work with partners and our joint ventures to create opportunities.

Increasing circularity across bp

We finalized our internal framework for circularity in 2022, adopting definitions and principles used by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The framework focuses on three principles of circularity: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.

We believe the framework can help clarify circularity principles for our businesses and set out practical actions to help them work to support this aim. 

It will help us make progress to improve the circularity of our operations and products, but we are already in action, delivering on existing aims to reduce plastics and packaging in our customers & products business. We see opportunities to offer our customers more circular solutions and respond to evolving regulatory requirements. We have now begun to extend our focus to other parts of the business, for example in low carbon energy.

Waste streams

We are now using consistent waste metrics across all bp-operated businesses. The businesses are now collecting data for 29 different waste streams using these metrics. We hope this will help us identify new circularity opportunities, find ways to reduce waste, and recover more unavoidable waste.

Our primary focus is on waste reduction, aligning our waste management with circular economy principles and using technology best suited to different waste streams. We prioritize recycling and recovery over disposal, and endeavour to provide useful resources for other industries.

Air emissions

We monitor our air emissions and, where possible, put measures in place to reduce the potential impact of our operational activities on local communities and the environment. In 2022, our total air emissions decreased by 9% compared with 2021.

bpx energy contributed to this decrease by reducing its non-methane hydrocarbon emissions by 4% through various interventions including electrification, compressor optimization and flaring reduction projects.