Sustainability Engineer

Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems (Europe) Ltd employ in excess of 30,000 people across Europe and North Africa.

Automotive engineering is our industry, and we are proud of the diverse team of world‑class engineers and support staff who work at the highest level to provide products and services to our customers. Our people are our greatest asset and respect for human resources is a fundamental principle of the Sumitomo Business Spirit.

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. is a recognized global technology leader with over 280,000 employees working at around 415 subsidiaries and affiliates in over 40 countries worldwide.

Type of contract:
Permanent

Any UK or EU site

To lead and coordinate the implementation of the EU packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR) across all business units and legal entities. The role will act as the central point of contract for packaging compliance, ensuring that all packaging placed on the EU market meets regulatory requirements relating to recyclability, reuse, substance restrictions, reporting obligations, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and waste management.

The role holder will drive cross functional collaboration, develop implementation roadmaps, monitor compliance risks and ensure timely submission of all regulatory reporting requirements. Tasks will include but not be limited to:

• Develop and maintain the company wide PPWR implementation strategy
• Establish programme governance, milestones and project plans
• Coordinative activities across sustainability, engineering, purchasing, logistics, finance, legal and business units
• Track regulatory developments and assess impacts on company operations
• Provide regular status reports and compliance updates to senior management
• Lead PPWR steering committee meetings and cross functional working groups

• Develop and maintain the company’s PPWR compliance roadmap through 2030
• Coordinate packaging recyclability assessments
• Monitor progress against recyclability and recycled content targets
• Support packaging reduction initiatives
• Ensure alignment with corporate sustainability objectives and ESG reporting requirements
• Drive programmes to improve packaging circularity and resource efficiency

• Coordinate packaging redesign projects to meet PPWR requirements
• Ensure packaging designs achieve recyclability performance criteria
• Support packaging weight reduction initiatives
• Identify and eliminate non-compliant packaging formats
• Coordinate implementation of reuse and refill requirements where applicable
• Establish engineering review processes for packaging compliance approval

• Develop supplier engagement and compliance programmes
• Collect, review and maintain packaging Declarations of Conformity (DoCs)
• Ensure availability of technical documentation supporting PPWR compliance
• Coordinate supplier audits and compliance assessments
• Monitor supplier performance against PPWR requirements
• Establish documentation management system to maintain compliance records

• Coordinate compliance verification programmes for regulated substances
• Ensure packaging meets chemical restrictions including heavy metals, PFAS and other restricted substances
• Work with quality assurance teams to establish audit procedures
• Coordinate testing and verification activities where required
• Support implementation of compliant waste segregation and packaging disposal processes
• Maintain evidence required for regulatory inspections and audits