Echoes of Change

Based in Nanterre, France, Clément joined FORVIA nearly two years ago. He brings over twenty years of legal expertise from law firms and major corporations. As Head of Trade Compliance and Customs, he leads a global team across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, ensuring that FORVIA’s import and export activities comply with international trade laws.

“I have team members all over the world,” he explains. “We ensure that FORVIA’s import, and export formalities comply with regulations. Since 2014, the European Union has introduced 15 sanctions packages, each adding layers of complexity to compliance. Our role is to analyze these regulatory frameworks and provide clear guidelines to all subsidiaries globally.”

A key part of his role involves CBAM, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. “Aligning operations with CBAM regulations was quite a challenge,” he explains. His team works closely with purchasing and sustainability teams to classify goods, track carbon content, and prepare for the carbon tax in 2026. “This requires a detailed review of products, close cooperation with our purchasing teams, and engagement with suppliers abroad.”

He sees CBAM as just the beginning. “More goods will fall under this regulation, and we’ll have to manage different frameworks across countries like the UK, Switzerland, and Japan. It’s complex, but working with many departments makes it a fascinating challenge.”
 

Based in Bavans, France, Emmanuel has been with FORVIA for nearly 25 years. A mechanical engineer by training, he studied in France and Germany before beginning his career in emissions engineering. Now FORVIA’s R&D Master Expert in powertrain and emissions, he recently took on an additional role as Group Chemical Substance Leader, focusing on PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) management—synthetic chemicals widely used for their durability.

“In fact, today, I have a double role,” he explains. “I’m still an R&D Master Expert, but I also coordinate FORVIA’s approach to PFAS across different business groups.” His mission is to align efforts, ensure a clear understanding of PFAS use, and drive a structured plan forward. FORVIA had already established a clear strategy to address PFAS before Emmanuel took on this role. “I’m not starting from zero but from a strong commitment within our engineering community.” 

PFAS, widely used synthetic chemicals, pose regulatory and environmental challenges due to their extreme resistance to degradation, accumulation in water and soil, and potential links to health issues such as cancer and hormone disruption. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed broad restrictions on PFAS, impacting thousands of substances across multiple industries.  “We are not just looking at substances we use directly but also those embedded in the products we buy—like components and lubricants. Eliminating PFAS isn’t something we can do alone.”

Emmanuel recognizes the global impact of his work on PFAS. “Several regions are already thinking about restrictions. The changes we make will not be limited to Europe.” While substitutions can be complex, he remains confident. “This challenge requires collaboration, but I think we will succeed.”
 

Based in Lippstadt, Germany, Mary-Anne has been with FORVIA since its formation, initially joining HELLA in 2013. With a European management and business administration background, she helps the purchasing community navigate sustainability regulations and ensures they translate into real change.

“We need to provide enablers to our organization, assisting teams on this sustainability journey,” she explains. Her team breaks down complex regulations—whether related to CO₂, human rights, or material disclosures—into clear, practical steps. “We aim to make it as crisp and clear as possible, so everyone has a strong starting point.”

Although Mary-Anne knows sustainability-driven regulations will help businesses work toward lowering their carbon emissions, she believes lasting progress requires sustainability to be fully embedded in business operations rather than treated as a reporting obligation. “We should embrace sustainability as an essential part of our daily operations, rather than viewing it as just another corporate task.” She plays a vital role in shaping this approach at FORVIA, helping the company meet its ambitious goal of reducing Scope 3 emissions by 45% by 2030. Since supply chains contribute significantly to Scope 3 emissions, Mary-Anne emphasizes the need for deeper collaboration with suppliers and our development teams. In doing so, she supports suppliers in advancing their own sustainability efforts—transforming sustainability goals into measurable progress and driving The Blue Effect forward.

Looking ahead, she envisions sustainability not just as a compliance requirement but as a core business differentiator.  She foresees sustainability becoming a defining factor for business success. “Regulations will keep evolving, but companies that proactively embed sustainability into their decision-making will lead the way. It will make us not only an attractive supplier but also an attractive employer.”” she notes.
 

Lorrène Bayon has been driving sustainability at MATERI'ACT for over a year and a half as Sustainable Materials Sourcing Manager. Her role focuses on identifying and securing plastic recycled raw materials and biomass, to meet strict automotive industry standards.

A key part of Lorrène’s work is minimizing reliance on virgin materials by sourcing recycled polymers, especially polypropylene. “We avoid virgin materials, focusing instead on recycled sources to reduce resource consumption and environmental footprint,” she explains. Collaborating with an eco-system of suppliers located as close as possible to our operations helps reduce transportation emissions and strengthens sustainable practices across the value chain.

Meeting high technical requirements with recycled materials remains challenging. “It’s already difficult sometimes to meet these standards with virgin materials. Achieving them with recycled ones is even more challenging,” she shares. Despite this, Lorrène and her colleagues have begun industrializing materials to meet these specifications, advancing FORVIA’s sustainability goals.

With a background in recycling and material science, the Blue Effect has deepened her commitment to sustainability. “I see my car with new eyes now” she notes, recognizing the potential for end-of-life vehicles in a closed-loop system. She finds daily motivation in the idea that every action matters. “It’s about every small contribution working together to create real change,” she emphasizes.

As General Manager of MATERI'ACT North America, James Mazurek focuses on bringing sustainable materials into mainstream use across both automotive and non-automotive markets. Based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, he leads efforts to create and scale low-emission, high-performing materials.

One of James’s key projects is the MATERI’ACT Dallas joint venture with PCR Recycling established in February 2024 in Dallas, which ensures a steady supply of post-consumer plastics for production. “Feedstock security is critical as demand for sustainable materials grows,” he explains, highlighting the importance of reliable sourcing to meet changing market and regulatory demands. 

For James and his team, their mission extends beyond securing recycled materials to creating products that meet rigorous technical standards. Despite these challenges, Team MATERI'ACT US has started delivering, with James pointing to the work done with Stellantis to replace traditional materials with a hemp bio-composite—an example of how sustainable solutions can compete without compromising performance.

This work has also broadened James’s perspective on sustainability, further aligning with the Blue Effect . “It’s made me more aware of how different regions adapt at different paces,” he reflects, motivating him to close gaps and cultivate meaningful progress through collaboration, education, and innovation.

Clement de Gabory joined MATERI'ACT in November 2022.  As Compounds Product Line and Partnerships Manager, he builds strategic alliances that bring sustainable materials into the automotive industry.

His efforts involve forging partnerships and aligning strategies, building the right product portfolio for reducing emissions, boosting recyclability, and optimizing the value chain for minimal environmental impact. “We focus on reducing emissions and securing the value chain with local sourcing and efficient processing. Sustainability is in every decision we make,” he shares.

One of his proudest accomplishments has been developing the partnership with Veolia, which resulted in MATERI'ACT’s top-selling material, IniCycled-P. Made from post-consumer recycled waste, this material has been successfully homologated at OEMs and integrated into car interiors, demonstrating that sustainability and high performance can coexist. “Recycled materials can match virgin ones in quality. We are making that a reality,” Clement shares. By bringing IniCycled-P to market, he and his team exemplify how innovative collaborations can drive meaningful change.

For Clement, the Blue Effect extends beyond the workplace, shaping how he lives. “Knowing that what we do makes a tangible difference motivates me every day,” he says, reflecting on how his personal and professional commitment to sustainability is deeply intertwined.