David Henche (Ayvens): "Ser sostenible tiene que ser rentable"

March 27, 2026·22 min·2 clips

David Henche argues that being sustainable has to be profitable, not a cost to companies or consumers.

1. Movilidad sobre Ruedas on Capital Radio features an interview with David Enche, Director of Communication and S.G. at Ayvens, discussing the second edition of the Ayvens ESG Sustainability Awards. 2. The awards were held at the Real Fábrica de Tapices in Madrid, a building founded in 1721 as the world's only structure purpose-built as a tapestry factory and the exclusive restoration facility for all French state tapestries. 3. David credits the event's organisation primarily to his team members including Paloma, Eva, and Raquel, and describes the awards as requiring notarial oversight and transparent documentation to maintain credibility. 4. The second edition received 44-45 candidacies, up approximately 40% from the first year, across three ESG categories: environment (E), society (S), and governance (G). 5. David argues that the awards are premised on one core principle: sustainability must be profitable — improving productivity, efficiency, and margins — not a cost transferred to companies, employees, or consumers. 6. In the environment category, Kia won the best electric fleet transition award not for its vehicle range but for the process it uses to transition company employee cars to electric, including charging infrastructure planning. 7. Schneider Electric won the sustainable future fleet category, described by David as an unsurprising but deserved outcome given the company's long commitment to sustainability. 8. Spanish EV startup Lius won the circular economy prize for its pre-series electric car featuring a 3D-printed body, linen-pressed structural components, and a lifecycle design targeting 60% lower manufacturing emissions and 80% lower total emissions versus a standard EV. 9. David first interviewed Lius founder Carlos Espinoza when the company was pre-launch, and expressed anticipation for the series production announcement expected later in 2025. 10. AstraZeneca won a prize for comprehensive road safety training and awareness, which David describes as significant because road accidents — including commuting accidents — are classified as occupational injuries. 11. David links reduced accident rates to direct financial benefits: lower insurance premiums, fewer vehicles in repair, and fewer employees on sick leave, framing safety investment as productivity investment. 12. The best accident-rate indicators award produced an unexpected tie: Henkel and the Catalan Water Agency (Agència Catalana de l'Aigua) had identical sinistration rates to the second decimal place. 13. Both companies reportedly reacted with initial disbelief when contacted about the award, requiring verification calls from Ayvens before accepting the win. 14. The governance category prize went to Than Life Iberia, a company David says was unfairly criticised following a serious accident the previous summer, and whose prize he sees as recognition of sustained professionalism. 15. The jury included sector experts: José María López Martínez (former PERTE director), Isabel del Olmo (IDEA mobility, reviews all mobility policy documents), María Romera (AIRE), Rafael Fernández Chillón (CEA president), and Elena Galante (Observatorio de Movilidad Sostenible director). 16. Ayvens staff do not vote in jury sessions except to break ties, and jury members review condensed case summaries prepared by the organising team to avoid multi-day reading commitments. 17. David notes that the awards serve dual purposes: large, established companies demonstrate long-term sustainability programmes; disruptive startups like Lius use the platform for visibility. 18. The episode has a warm conversational tone with both host and guest speaking as long-standing professional acquaintances, using first names and institutional asides throughout. 19. Sustainability professionals, fleet managers at large Spanish companies, and anyone interested in Spanish automotive innovation will find the award profiles substantive. 20. Listeners expecting general mobility news rather than an awards-ceremony summary may find the episode narrowly focused.

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