#SustyTalk is all about keeping edie’s loyal readers connected to sustainable business leaders across the world, whilst reminding us all that sustainability and climate action must go on, through the current Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.

Following on from Interface’s regional sustainability manager (UKIME & Nordics), Jon Khoo’s discussion in the first episode of this series, edie’s content editor Matt Mace sits down for a virtual face-to-face with General Motors’ chief sustainability officer Dane Parker, who dials in from the US.

Specifically, Parker explains how GM has temporarily pivoted its manufacturing process to create protective equipment for frontline workers combatting Covid-19 and how the coronavirus could help shift the public perception towards the electric vehicle (EV) revolution.

“There are some concerns that people will return to the buying habits of old and that low fuel prices and low oil prices will spur on the growth of internal combustion engines,” Parker said. “I believe this will help people want to drive EVs in the future, especially in countries with air pollution problems…we still need to have affordable EVs across products people want, and that is our challenge.”

Dane, who took up GM’s newly created CSO position in January this year, goes on to explain how now is a great time to take stock of the environmental benefits being reported as a result of global lockdowns and begin to look at how businesses can reframe work to make those outcomes “then new normal” once the lockdowns are lifted.

View more coronavirus-related content here

Want to be featured on a future episode of #SustyTalk? Email newsdesk@fav-house.com.  

edie staff

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