Envision Racing and Teijin lead the charge on circularity

At Envision Racing, we see motorsport as a platform for sustainable innovation. In partnership with our partner, Teijin, we hosted a Race Against Climate Change® event at Brightlands Chemelot Campus, focusing on circularity, material traceability, and sustainability.

Rethinking circularity in materials and manufacturing

The event brought together industry leaders to discuss transitioning from a linear to a circular economy. Ton de Weijer, General Manager of Environmental Solutions at Teijin, emphasised the need to rethink material lifecycles.

De Weijer outlined three key steps:

Traceability – Understanding materials through transparent supply chains
Smart design – Creating materials with reusability in mind
Recycling innovation – Restoring materials to their original properties

Formula E: Using sustainable motorsport as a testbed for circularity principles

Motorsport has traditionally been wasteful, but Formula E is proving otherwise. As Sylvain Filippi, Envision Racing’s Managing Director and CTO, explained, sustainability is now a priority.

Compared to F1’s 20 tyre sets per car per race and large teams, Formula E operates with just two sets per car per weekend and a significantly smaller crew. The impact is clear: more efficiency, less waste.

In just over a decade, Formula E has evolved from needing two cars per driver to single-car efficiency, 350kW power output, and 0-60 mph acceleration in 1.8 seconds—30% faster than F1. Looking ahead, Gen 4 cars in 2026 will push boundaries with 600kW power and advanced energy regeneration.

This is having a direct impact on the EV market, showcasing how the sport can be used to drive real innovation.

Traceability: unlocking circularity in supply chains

Circularity isn’t just about recycling—it’s about maximising material value. Mesbah Sabur, Founder of Circularise, and Smitha Sundaram, Corporate Sustainability Manager at Teijin, discussed how traceability enhances circular economies.

Many manufacturers lack transparency in their materials, making recycling a challenge. By improving traceability, businesses can reduce waste and reuse valuable materials efficiently.

Also, through legislative practices, circularity principles can be standardised and market leaders can be rewarded for innovative sustainable practices.

A future built on collaboration

The shift to circularity requires innovation and collaboration. Whether through advanced materials, sustainable motorsport, or improved traceability, industries must work together.

We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of sustainable motorsport. With partners like Teijin leading material innovation, the road ahead is promising. Starting 1^st April, Teijin’s team will begin work at the Brightlands Innovation Centre, focusing on renewable energy and recycling advancements.

The message is clear: sustainability is achievable through determination, technology and partnerships.

At Envision Racing, we’re ready to accelerate that future – one race at a time.

If you would like to learn more about our Race Against Climate Change® events, or any of our partners, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at media@envision-racing.co.uk.

Before you go, why not join our efforts by making a climate pledge?

Envision Racing announces 10% reduction in emissions intensity as part of latest Impact Report

Envision Racing has published its annual Impact Report detailing its Scope 1, 2 and 3 (category 6: business travel) emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

The findings reveal an overall reduction in emissions intensity of 18% year-on-year, and a 10% reduction from its baseline year (2018/2019).

The Formula E team, whose stated purpose is to bring awareness to climate issues and drive action to reduce harmful emissions, has accomplished these impressive results through a series of incremental initiatives: including a switch in office location to reduce direct gas consumption, reducing the distance between hotels and race locations for the team, and implementing a green tariff to reduce electricity emissions at its HQ in Silverstone.

Where emission reduction has not been possible, Envision Racing has invested in carbon credits, which have contributed to global challenges like clean development initiatives on public transport in India, afforestation projects in China, biodiversity projects in Indonesia and recycling programmes in Romania.

Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director and CTO of the team, said: “In 2014, we created a team with a clear mission: to accelerate the transition to clean, secure and affordable renewable energy, and the mass adoption of e-mobility.

“This report is a chance for us to share what we have achieved over the last 10 years, reflect on our progress, and set our ambitions for the next decade.”

In addition to the team’s own carbon footprint, Envision Racing uses its platform as a championship-winning Formula E team to educate, advocate and inspire action on climate change more broadly through its Race Against Climate Change programme.

Envision Racing has hosted 16 Race Against Climate Change events over the years, with 48 speakers – including business leaders, policymakers, government officials and leading scientists – coming together to discuss strategies and methods for climate reduction.

Through the team’s pledge programme, where Envision Racing plants a mangrove tree for every pledge made by fans to reduce their emissions, 250,145 fan pledges have been made, resulting in 250,145 trees planted.

This has removed approximately 3.27 million kilograms of CO2 from the environment.

The team also showcased its ‘Recover E’ car – a replica Formula E car made entirely out of electronic waste – at COP28 and the World Economic Forum, promoting initiatives to reduce electronic waste. Envision Racing remains the only sports team to have exhibited at both events.

Jennifer Babington, Operations Director and lead on sustainability within the team, said: “We have always strived to be the most sustainable team in the most sustainable sport, using our platform to promote sustainability initiatives and drive real action.

“While we can always do more, I am so proud to see the year-on-year progress in this report, reflecting the team’s efforts to reduce our own emissions while also engaging in incredible initiatives that drive awareness and action globally.”

To read the full report, click here.

The team’s previous Impact Reports can all be found here.

DR JANE GOODALL AND JOHAN ROCKSTRÖM UNITE WITH CLIMATE GIANTS TO CALL FOR GLOBAL ACTION AHEAD OF COP26

Race Against Climate Change Live will dive into the challenges posed by climate breakdown and the solutions we must prioritise

This week, leading environmental figures and business leaders will unite for one of the most important conversations of the year. Taking place on Wednesday 21st July, Race Against Climate Change Live (RACC Live) will explore the challenges facing our planet and unpack some of the solutions for a cleaner, greener future.

Featuring Dr Jane Goodall DBE, comedian Robert Llewellyn, climate scientist Johan Rockström, National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale, COP26 President Alok Sharma and the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Patricia Espinosa, RACC Live 2021 will bring together some of the most influential figures from business, government, and sustainability.

This free event will include a range of interactive panels which will cover the global transition to electric vehicles, the technologies, and natural solutions to the climate crisis and how businesses and industries can invest in a more sustainable future.

The event is being hosted by leading Formula E team, Envision Racing, who hope these powerful discussions will spark important conversations and inspire communities to embrace and encourage change. With COP26 around the corner, this event couldn’t come at a more important time. As extreme weather events continue to rise and climate breakdown becomes increasingly more visible, accelerating the speed of global change is vital.

Race Against Climate Change Live will feature the following discussions:

Panel 1: The Future Is Electric
During this panel you will hear from Johan Rockström (Professor in Environmental Science), Robert Llewelyn (Actor and Comedian) and Sylvain Filippi (Managing Director & CTO of Envision Racing) as they discuss the electric future and the transition to e-mobility.

Panel 2: Nature Calls: The Solutions To Save Our Planet
Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder – the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace and Ami Vitale (Nikon Ambassador and National Geographic Photographer) will explore and unpack the nature-based solutions to the climate crisis.

Panel 3: No More Business As Usual: The Tech Driving Global Change
In this panel Lord Turner (Chair of The Energy Transitions Commission), Nigel Topping (The UK’s High-Level Climate Action Champion for COP26) and Tiger Tyagarajan (President and CEO of Genpact) explore how technology can help speed up the race to net zero and how businesses can drive genuine, positive change.

Panel 4: Why Brands Of All Industries Need To Invest In A More Sustainable Future
In the final panel Franz Jung (Chairman of the Board for Envision Racing and VP of Envision Group), Ron Gerrard (Chief EHS and Operations Officer at Johnson Matthey) and Ton de Weijer (General Manager Materials Technology Center at Teijin) come together to discuss how they’re investing in a more sustainable future and how businesses can improve their own sustainability.

Hosted by National Geographic Kids’ Gemma Chandler, the panels will be chaired by sports broadcaster David Garrido. The event will also feature an opening address from Alok Sharma, special feature with Patricia Espinosa and an audience Q&A with Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, an environmental activist and President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT).

Watch the event live on Wednesday 21st July here: https://envision-racing.com/event/racc-live-2021/

With time running out to save our natural world, take action by calculating your carbon footprint and pledging to make a change that matters via the Envision Racing sustainability hub here. For every climate pledge taken, Envision Racing will plant a mangrove tree through Earthly to aid reforestation and help create a climate positive world.

Envision Racing and Teijin lead the charge on circularity

Envision Racing announces 10% reduction in emissions intensity as part of latest Impact Report

DR JANE GOODALL AND JOHAN ROCKSTRÖM UNITE WITH CLIMATE GIANTS TO CALL FOR GLOBAL ACTION AHEAD OF COP26

Stay Up To Date