Envision Racing recently officially launched its Race Against Climate Change Advisory Board – a collective of experts from across science, technology, academia, and industry, brought together to accelerate the transition to a net-zero future. The board was created to unite leading voices from different sectors who are already pushing boundaries within their own fields and who, together, can help shape meaningful, cross-industry action on climate.
One of those voices is Dr Axel Leuchter who is leading on sustainability for Teijin in Europe. With a background in chemistry and a career dedicated to quality management and environmental impact, Axel brings a deeply technical and pragmatic perspective to the board, particularly around the challenges and opportunities of circularity in manufacturing and complex industries like chemicals.
In this interview, Axel shares his insights on the future of circular systems in the chemical industry, how Teijin is addressing sustainability at a global scale, and why collaboration across sectors and supply chains – like the one fostered by the Advisory Board – is essential for lasting climate impact.
Firstly, please introduce yourself and give us an overview of your background.
I’m Dr Axel Leuchter, based in Germany, and I manage Teijin’s sustainability strategy in Europe. Together with other passionate people, I cover everything that has to do with the circular economy of our business and reporting on our sustainability initiatives.
My team and I also advise the Teijin Centre of Excellence for Circular Economy at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in the Netherlands. Recently, Envision Racing hosted a very inspiring ‘Race Against Climate Change’ event at the campus, where Ton de Weijer and Smitha Sundaram of the Teijin team were able to present and discuss our ideas.
Before this role, I worked in the carbon fibre branch of Teijin, which works in aerospace and automotive industries, looking at how we can best tackle issues around the quality, environment and safety of our operations.
The environment and sustainability have been central themes throughout my career; I studied chemistry and environmental studies and have worked in quality management for over 15 years.
To me, sustainability is the most important topic of the present and the future – so I’m proud and passionate to work for a company that is focused on pioneering sustainable solutions in a complex and carbon-intensive industry and that has the long-term vision to be a company that supports the society of the future.
What are some of the most pressing issues in sustainability you’re working on at Teijin?
We’re a chemical company so we’ve worked with fossil sources for decades. Because of that fact, we have historically worked in a very linear way and it has been hard to break that pattern of thinking. But now, circularity is a huge focus for the entire company globally.
The reality is that if you want to maintain your position in the industry, you have to close the loop and think about your products in a circular way. That is really difficult in the chemicals industry, it’s a very complex process, but it is essential if you’re to survive in a net zero economy.
There are two big challenges we face: first is considering the sources needed for producing your chemicals – are they bio-based materials or recycled and is there enough of that material available – and the second is recyclability of the product with the end consumer.
In between these two challenges is usually a lengthy, complex supply chain with multiple moving parts and various stakeholders. So not only do you have to think from cradle to grave (and back again), but you have to do this through engaging partners, getting fully transparency and traceability and communicating and cooperating with the full supply chain.
You mention collaboration. Why is the Envision Racing Advisory Board important in driving the climate agenda forward?
Envision Racing is so unique in its advocacy for sustainability and circularity. The team is trying to be net zero and reduce its own emissions as much as possible, but there’s limits to this as a small team.
I think through creating an Advisory Board, hosting events at race locations across the world, bringing together corporations and governments while using the platform of Formula E to be as loud as possible on climate-related issues, the team is making an impact far beyond its limitations.
The Advisory Board combined people from science, education, manufacturing, AI and fashion – arguably, the industries and the institutions that are going to make the biggest impact in the race against climate change – to learn from one another and to discuss a way forward.
It is, of course, important for companies to focus on becoming net zero and introduce circularity within their supply chains, but Envision Racing is in a unique position where it can connect people, connect with local projects in race locations and enable large entities to make a significant shift. That’s really important and an important role of the Advisory Board.
