Interview with Benedita Machado

Over the past 10 years, you have played an active role in the fields of Environment and, more recently, Sustainability at Controlar. Could you share a bit about this journey and highlight your main contributions during this time?

My journey at Controlar began in 2015 with the aim of supporting the ISO 14001 certification process, an environmental management standard that ensures compliance with certain requirements demanded by clients and stakeholders. Although it is a voluntary standard, in the automotive sector there is immense pressure for manufacturers and the entire supply chain to improve their environmental performance and demonstrate certifications that attest to this commitment. 

More recently, in 2020, with the goal of aligning ourselves with the global effort to combat climate change, we started a decarbonization roadmap and set the target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. On the other hand, Controlar’s exponential growth and transition into a large company require us to comply with new legal obligations, including the public disclosure of our corporate sustainability strategy, consistent with the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) pillars. It has been a very dynamic journey, full of challenges, but one that distinguishes us as a sustainable, innovative company aligned with market expectations.

 

What are the main commitments of the ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) policy that has been recently adopted?

Essentially, Controlar’s ESG policy is committed to promoting a balance between the companies’ economic growth, social integrity, and environmental preservation. Through this policy, the company aims to implement a corporate governance strategy aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the Environmental and Social pillars, with a positive impact on communities and the environment, through inclusive growth and the preservation of natural resources. In the Governance pillar, through responsible, ethical, and transparent management, as well as the fight against corruption.

Controlar also seeks to influence and engage the entire value chain so that these good practices are also adopted. The expression “Profit, People, and Planet” summarizes this sustainable business model, which Controlar is committed to.

How do you see the implementation of ESG policy impacting the culture and operations of the various companies globally?

I believe the company already has a deeply ingrained and mature culture of ethical and conscious growth. Despite the recent “officialization” of the sustainability policy, Controlar has long embraced this management model as a key to success. Currently, positive impacts such as business profitability, employee appreciation, adoption of good environmental practices, and operational efficiency are clearly evident.

For example, in Portugal, Controlar already has a 100% renewable electricity supply, thanks to investments in a photovoltaic solar park covering all company buildings, the installation of storage batteries, and energy contracts with guarantees of origin certification. This results in zero CO2eq emissions in this category, which integrates into Controlar’s Carbon Footprint calculations and translates into savings of natural and financial resources.

 

Could you explain what the CDP is and the role it plays in the Organization’s environmental strategy?

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is a tool used for the public disclosure of an organization’s environmental performance, enabling transparent communication between various stakeholders (clients, suppliers, investors, and society in general).

Based on the disclosure, a rating is assigned from A to F, with A being the highest and F the lowest. This evaluation considers several aspects, such as emission reduction initiatives, low-carbon products, energy management and efficiency, sustainable purchasing, climate risk analysis, carbon footprint, decarbonization targets, and action plans, among others.

Participating in the CDP allows Controlar to publicly communicate its sustainability positioning and the strategy defined to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Additionally, some of our key clients now require CDP disclosure and closely monitor the results, imposing severe penalties if a certain score is not achieved. 

Related to the CDP, in 2023 a commitment was signed with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Such engagement indicates that the targets set by Controlar are strictly aligned with the global effort to limit the planet’s warming to 1.5 °C relative to pre-industrial levels.

In summary, the CDP allows us to not only disclose our commitment and strategy but also be more competitive in the current market and align with our clients, where sustainability is increasingly valued.

 

What motivated the pursue of the Carbon Footprint Seal, and how was the process conducted?

An external verification of the Carbon Footprint calculation by an accredited entity allows us to validate the results and the methodology used. We use the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, an internationally recognized standard that enables performance comparability between companies.

The process involves data collection at each Controlar location. This data refers to direct emissions from sources controlled by the company, such as equipment and vehicles; indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity production and consumption and value chain emissions occurring across the entire business ecosystem.

The Carbon Footprint Seal allows us to disclose results reliably and transparently, strengthening stakeholder credibility and trust in Controlar.

What were the main highlights from the latest CDP report?

For the second consecutive year, we obtained a B rating, surpassing both the industry average and the global average for all registered companies. Among the evaluated aspects contributing to this result, the most notable include our risk and opportunity management processes, defined targets and carbon footprint results for Scope 1 and 2 emissions (related to energy consumption).

It is a great result that reflects our performance and commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and advancing sustainability. There is still a long way to go to achieve carbon neutrality, but this result reinforces that we are on the right path.

 

What are the biggest challenges encountered on the path towards carbon neutrality? Can you highlight some actions?

There are some challenges, namely the high costs of transitioning to low-carbon technologies and processes, requiring significant investments. Another challenge is the legal complexities and the volatility of increasingly stringent regulations. Ultimately, geographic disparities, as we operate in regions with distinct political and operational contexts requiring specific plans for each location.

To mitigate these difficulties, we have developed our Decarbonization Roadmap, outlining short- and medium-term actions, setting intermediate carbon reduction targets, and defining the necessary steps to achieve them.

 

How do you assess and communicate sustainability practices to stakeholders?

This is primarily done through Performance Indicators, including KPIs covering Environmental, Social, and Governance aspects. We also disclose sustainability projects and initiatives, along with their targets and progress. The CDP serves as a key communication channel for environmental performance.

In the near future, the Controlar website will feature a dedicated sustainability page presenting the company’s policy, monitoring indicators, projects, certifications, and recognitions. Additionally, our Sustainability Report, following the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), will be available on this page for all stakeholders.

 

What message would you like to share with clients and the community regarding the company’s commitment to sustainability and ESG matters?

I believe the best message comes from our Administrators’ speech at Controlar’s 30th anniversary celebration:

“If there is one thing we have learned over the past 30 years, it is that a company is not made of machines, products, software, or numbers; it is made of people… We look to the future with enthusiasm and ambition, wanting to continue growing, innovating, and taking the company to new heights while always maintaining our values of sustainability, quality, customer proximity, and passion for engineering. The future starts now.“

 

On a more personal level, you are the mother of two children who have won multiple National Championships and the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, which is a source of great pride, both personally and nationally. In your opinion, what does it take to shape two champions?

Yes, I feel very proud of the path they have taken and, above all, of their successful representation of our country on the world stage. Before answering the question, I must first highlight how, as high-performance athletes, they have shaped me with their inspiring values—both personally and professionally: rigor, discipline, dedication, focus, time management, resilience, strategy, the ability to stay calm under pressure, a positive mindset, and perseverance… I could go on. But above all, I admire their constant drive to do more and better.

To answer the question of what it takes to shape champions: it is, of course, essential to provide them with the necessary resources and means. However, in my opinion, the most important thing is to instil in them the confidence that we fully believe in their potential and that, with persistence and commitment, there are no limits to achieving their dreams and goals.

It is also inspiring to observe how, despite having completely different game strategies within the same sport, both have reached the podium in world championships. This proves that there is no single formula for achieving success toward the same goal.

 

Finally, in your opinion, what makes Controlar Portugal a Great Place to Work®?

Beyond the various benefits offered to employees, I would highlight the close relationship between management and all teams, as well as the human-centered approach that manifests in multiple ways, such as team-building activities, initiatives on special occasions (World Tree Day, Day of Creativity and Innovation, Women’s Day, etc.), and celebrations of key milestones for the company.

In a society that is increasingly dehumanized, where social interactions are often replaced by virtual connections, this commitment to fostering social interaction among everyone has a highly positive impact on the organizational climate. It strengthens the spirit of camaraderie within the company and undoubtedly translates into direct improvements in productivity.