Ask me anything series 3.0 Part A – Krishna Manda

Q: How do you think the #ItsInOurHands initiative can help to increase sustainability in the world?

Krishna: We are responsible citizens, but we are also consumers that require our needs to be met. So, we are consuming a lot of things, knowingly or unknowingly, and creating a lot of impact on the world. Nowadays, information on this impact is available to some extent, however, we don’t always know whether we can rely on this information and if it is credible. We need content that is based on facts, with people actually putting themselves in the shoes of the consumers and revealing what they would do in that situation. It’s not like giving advice – more like sharing how would I live my life.

I see a great opportunity with the #IIOH initiative, because it is empowering, it raises awareness, and it also provides fact-based insights and communication. I hope the initiative will help people make their lifestyles much more environmentally and socially friendly.

Q: Why is sustainability so important to Lenzing?  

Krishna: This goes back a few years, at least four or five decades for Lenzing. In the late 1900s, there was a huge change in European regulations regarding viscose producing companies in Europe. And during this implementation time, Lenzing chose a path of making cellulosic fibers which are sustainable. It requires a huge investment to clean up your emissions and reduce wastewater emissions. Now, it is well known that if you want to survive and thrive in the future, you need to have sustainability as the central core of your work. However, 30 years or so ago, Lenzing invested in closed-loop fiber manufacturing. That means you can close the loops for water and chemicals so that you have less environmental impact and can produce eco-friendly fibers.

Right now, the world is in such a way that it becomes a business imperative, that without sustainability you wouldn’t succeed in the long run. Sustainability actually ensures long-term resilience and survival as a company. So, it's a business imperative. It brings innovation to the company, it builds customer intimacy and long-term customer relationships, and it also creates more value for your shareholders. Not only is sustainability a core value for Lenzing, but also these value creation opportunities come from sustainability, and therefore, it is very important for Lenzing.

Q: What are some challenges involved in encouraging the next generation to become more sustainable?

Krishna: This is a very important question for me, as I have a daughter who is six years old and I also have nieces and nephews as well as friends’ children who are very central in my life. What I have observed from this next generation, Gen Z, is that they're looking for convenience and novelty, even more than my generation. They are impatient more often as they have grown up with the instant world of internet and e-commerce etc. They are also more open minded – interested in new things and looking for different ways of doing things. This is a positive thing, because the next generation are open to collaborative consumption, like renting, and not buying something if they don't want or don't need it. However, they are not the ones who are making decisions today in the boardrooms of companies, or maybe not old enough to elect the legislators in their countries. As a millennial, I would consider myself to have a role to empower them to make better choices. I believe that most of them are very aware about what kind of future they would like to have, and they know that their future is at stake. I trust them, and I believe in them.

The next generation are very motivated and action oriented. They're not waiting for somebody to tell them what they need to do. They want to take the initiative and solve problems. I do have really huge hopes for the next generation, and I think they are going to make a huge difference.

Q: What are some key steps you personally take to care for our planet in your daily life?

Krishna: I look at the concept of ecological footprint, for example, how much do we consume when we are watching a movie, or having dinner, and how much impact does this action have on the planet, as you need to grow the food and produce the electricity. Right now, we’d need 1.7 planets to sustain the current consumption levels of the Western world. And many people in the Global South don’t consume enough, while other people consume too much.

I look at my actions very carefully and think about how I can reduce my impact. I’m a vegetarian, but I also like eggs and cheese; however, I won’t eat these every day of the week. I also make sure not to waste any food and I won't actually take portions that I cannot consume. When I looked for new housing, I looked for houses with better insulation so that I can consume less electricity and heat. But also, the services that I consume for my house like electricity should be green electricity, if possible, also biogas for heating needs. For transport, I try to walk or bike if the weather permits it. If not, I try to take public transport when possible, and I recently shifted to an electric car.

When purchasing goods, I always ask myself a few questions: “Do I really need it?” “Do I need to buy it, or can I get it secondhand?” “Is this product sustainably made?” “And can it last longer?”

For our daughter, we prefer to find secondhand goods because she grows so quickly. In all of these actions I consider my consumption in a way that I impact society and our planet less.