If job titles are any indicator of how perceptions and intentions around sustainability are shifting, then Volvo’s appointment of a Head of Circular Economy in June 2021 feels potentially significant, even if it is late in the day; as Owen Griffiths, the holder of the new role, acknowledged, “there’s not much time left”.
It’s an important step, though. “From our perspective, it’s about leading,” Griffiths said, pointing out that the Swedish carmaker has long been recognised for its positioning on auto safety (eg Lifepaint,the E.V.A. Initiative) and “we’re now talking about the biggest safety challenge of...