The Blue Effect & Me

I joined FORVIA in 2014 as a Material Planner at Clean Mobility Bragança, one of our manufacturing plants in northeastern Portugal. In 2017, I moved into the Health, Safety Environment, and Security (HSE&S) Manager role, leading the site’s compliance, operational safety and environmental performance.

I work across strategy and day-to-day operations, building safety and environmental procedures, leading audits, managing compliance and ensuring teams have the training and tools to identify risks and fix problems directly on the floor.

The team and I are continuously working to reduce the plant’s carbon footprint and we’ve made real progress through simple changes like switching to LED lighting, adding energy monitoring systems, and installing smart controls to shut down equipment when it’s not in use. We’ve also installed solar panels and started sourcing green electricity. These actions have collectively reduced our energy use and lowered emissions, without disrupting production.

Organizing environmental initiatives is also part of my role, and one project I’m especially proud of was planting 2,000 trees in Montesinho Natural Park, an effort to support post-fire recovery and strengthen local biodiversity. We partnered with Quercus* and the FORVIA Foundation, and the project gave our teams a literal hands-in-soil day to connect with the lands that sustain us.

I believe real change doesn’t always come from big moves. It’s in the everyday stuff, like turning off machines, asking the right questions and challenging habits. The impact adds up when those small decisions become part of how people work. 

* Quercus is a Portuguese environmental organization

I’ve been with FORVIA HELLA since 2018, starting as a general engineer and growing into my current Senior Test Equipment Engineer role at the Shanghai Electronics plant. I focus on keeping our test systems efficient and reliable while finding more innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact of everything we run.

One of my priorities is lowering the plant’s carbon footprint by cutting energy and compressed air consumption from test equipment. That’s what led me to a recent project involving our ICT Piab pump system**, which was consuming a third of our site’s compressed air, even when idle. We installed an automated electromagnetic valve system to shut off the supply when machines are off or inactive for 30 minutes. It was a small investment of just 20,000 RMB (€2400), but it resulted in 518 tons of CO₂ avoided per year, 909 MWh saved and significant cost reduction. We saw ROI in under four months and scaled the upgrade to 29 pumps across the plant.

These types of results come with challenges, mainly how to drive impact without disrupting operations or requiring heavy investment. I work through that by starting small, involving the team early and scaling only what proves effective. We run weekly meetings, split tasks across focused teams and stay agile as we go.

I focus on continuous improvement. If I see inefficiency, no matter the size, I bring it to the team. We run workshops to share ideas, test small changes, and turn them into real solutions. That process builds momentum. It creates a habit of spotting problems and fixing them early. Even simple actions can drive serious results when people stay engaged and involved.

**industrial vacuum pump system from Piab

I have been with FORVIA for seven years, currently based in Bavans, France. My background is in mechanical engineering, having studied at the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard. Before joining FORVIA, I worked in the gas turbine industry, developing strong project, analytical and simulation skills that now shape my approach as a simulation engineer.

Hydrogen engineering at FORVIA is both a challenge and an opportunity. It’s an emerging field, and we are building everything from the ground up. When I moved to the Hydrogen activity in 2023, I joined FORVIA’s H2 School which provided essential training on safety and regulations specific to hydrogen systems. There are no predefined guidelines—we have to create them. That level of freedom cultivates innovation and problem-solving. My focus is on computational fluid dynamics, ensuring that our hydrogen storage systems are designed to meet strict safety and environmental standards. I use simulations to prevent real-world problems from occurring while enhancing efficiency and reliability.

Sustainability is at the core of my work. For FORVIA, hydrogen is key to decarbonize our industry. To ensure a 100% decarbonized mobility, hydrogen is an essential part, particularly for commercial vehicles with intensive use. Our efforts extend to suppliers and partners, ensuring a more sustainable industry overall.

What excites me most about my contribution to the Blue Effect is the ability to innovate and push forward in a still-evolving field. The impact we make today will help shape the future of hydrogen mobility.

*Julie transitioned to program quality leader in February 

I have been with FORVIA HELLA since 2018 and am based in Lippstadt. I hold a degree in electrical engineering and completed my PhD in this field. Before joining FORVIA HELLA, I spent seven years with another major automotive supplier, working in various roles focused on automotive sensors. Today, I lead a product center within the Lifecycle Solutions Business Group overseeing program management and R&D across several product lines, including work lamps, vehicle body lighting, and electronics.

My role at FORVIA spans the entire product lifecycle, from defining roadmaps to development and ensuring long-term performance. Sustainability is a key focus, shaping material selection and durable design. Given that our primary customers are agricultural, construction, and truck OEMs—industries that demand robust, long-lasting products—this commitment has always been part of our DNA. These customers rely on solutions that minimize waste, conserve resources, and maintain long-term efficiency while meeting regulatory requirements.

To support these needs, we carefully choose materials and explore business models like repair and remanufacturing to enhance resource efficiency. By developing reliable products with extended lifespans, we help reduce waste and resource consumption, aligning with FORVIA’s sustainability goals. Our mission within Lifecycle Solutions is to leverage technological expertise to extend vehicle lifespans and conserve natural resources. By addressing different stages of the lifecycle and contributing to circular economy models, we support both regulatory compliance and our customers’ long-term success.

Extending product lifespans and reducing environmental impact strengthens responsible innovation and sustainability efforts while meeting regulatory requirements, spreading the Blue Effect even further.
 

I joined MATERI’ACT in April 2023 as a Lead Data Scientist. With a PhD in environmental modeling and a background in food security and human health, I was excited to bring my expertise to developing AI solutions that make plastics more sustainable. My work covers bio-based and recycled materials, helping create more innovative, eco-friendly options.

One of my key projects has been collaborating with MATERI’ACT’s R&D Compounding Team to integrate AI tools into their workflows. Our goal is to launch this software to make material development more efficient, reduce waste, and cut emissions through data-driven innovation.

I’ve made it a point to involve myself in work that benefits us all, so working in the FORVIA family speaks volumes to the Group’s dedication to sustainability. I was immediately struck by FORVIA’s commitment to minimizing environmental impact, even down to details like using secondhand office furniture, composting our waste, and using energy efficiency measures in the office. 

Working for a company focused on transforming such a resource-heavy industry keeps me engaged every day. Knowing that my efforts lead to real, measurable progress drives me to keep pushing forward.

I’ve been with FORVIA for nine years, starting as a sales and program manager in Japan, where I focused on seamless product development for our customers. Now, based in Lyon, France, I lead European sales as Global Sales Manager at MATERI’ACT. My role centers on working with clients like Renault, Stellantis, and Volvo to bring sustainable materials into automotive design from the ground up. By embedding eco-friendly options early in development, we aim to cut CO₂ emissions and promote a circular economy in vehicle production.

One of the projects I’m most proud to have worked on is the introduction of NAFILean-R, a bio-composite material used in Renault’s latest EV models, including the Renault 5 E-Tech. Developed by MATERI’ACT in partnership with Veolia and APM* this material blends 20 percent natural hemp fibers with fully recycled polypropylene sourced from post-consumer waste. For the first time, it is being used across an entire structural component, specifically the instrument panel.

This material brings significant benefits by reducing CO₂ emissions by 73 percent and cutting the weight of the part by 20 percent. Even with these sustainability gains, it meets the strict standards for strength, crash safety, and air quality while performing as effectively as traditional materials. This project reflects how careful design and innovative materials can push sustainability forward in automotive manufacturing.

My work at MATERI’ACT directly supports FORVIA’s sustainability goals while helping our customers meet their targets, contributing to a greener future for everyone. This is what the Blue Effect is all about—small actions and individual efforts coming together to drive significant, lasting change. Knowing I’m part of this ripple effect motivates me to push for meaningful progress every day.

* Joint Venture INTERVAL, an agricultural cooperative producing hemp and its co-products such as fibers.