Shaping Sustainable Change

Kristina, you joined SIMONA in October 2022. Now you are Head of Sustainability. What does the new role mean to you?

To me, the new role is not just a step forward for my career but something genuinely close to my heart. Sustainability has been important to me for a long time, not just at work but in my private life too. The fact that SIMONA has invited me to take responsibility for the field of sustainability makes me very happy and really spurs me on. It’s not just about optimizing processes and reporting figures, it means working with a group of dedicated colleagues to manifest a conviction that can actually shape our future. I am keenly aware of that responsibility, and I look forward to bringing about real changes with a strong team.

What are your current priorities in terms of SIMONA’s sustainability strategy?

At the moment, the focus is very much on three core aspects: carbon reduction, the circular economy, and reporting. In production and right down the supply chain, we are working hard to chart our emissions accurately and to cut them in line with targets. At the same time, we are promoting the idea of a circular economy with the aim of establishing a take-back system, creating closed-loop cycles, and reconfiguring returned materials into high-quality products. That’s because real sustainability means looking after resources and keeping the same materials in the loop. Needless to say, the law requires us to report with transparency – but even this represents a real opportunity to measure our progress and build trust, within the company and beyond.

How does your team collaborate across international boundaries? What defines you as a unit?

Sustainability is a global issue, and that’s precisely why it’s so important to have people in all regions who can bring our strategy to life at local level. Our core international team, made up of Sia Yu, Autumn Werner, and Helen Lee, plays the main part in this. We exchange ideas all the time and learn from one another. If we are to coordinate and realize our global goals effectively, this kind of close partnership is essential.
Having said that, all of those colleagues in support roles are just as important – they help out collecting data for reports, actively driving transformations, reshaping processes, and coming up with very specific ideas on ways to incorporate sustainability into our everyday working routines. That breadth of involvement is the strength of our team. After all, genuine change only comes about by working together.

In your view, what are the greatest challenges as regards sustainability, both internal and external?

Sustainability is an incredibly complex area, which is why it can often be difficult to grasp. The full impact of many of the changes we are introducing today will only be felt years from now. I’m not just talking about the environmental aspects but also the economic and societal developments that will only be positively influenced over the long term. The urgent need to make changes is intensifying, and as it does so, the whole issue of sustainability continues to develop at pace.
One of the biggest challenges is definitely the regulatory framework, which is becoming more expansive and forcing companies to maintain a high degree of flexibility and specialist expertise. Internally too, we are looking at a far-reaching transition that will transform not just our processes but also, and most importantly, the way we think. There needs to be a shared understanding of why sustainability matters so much, and how each of us can play a part as individuals.
For this reason, effective communication is imperative – we have to make sure sustainability is understandable, relatable, and motivational. True change can only happen if everyone is invested in it.

What are you looking forward to most in your new position?

More than anything, I’m looking forward to bringing change to SIMONA in partnership with all of our staff members. Sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint, so literally every step counts. On a personal level, I want to help ensure that we don’t just meet targets but that we also create a culture in which sustainability is always part of the conversation. I have no doubt that with the right attitude and belief our strong team can achieve a great deal. That’s what I look ahead to every day.