Ask me anything series 5.0 Part A – Monique Buch
In the last of our interview series, we sat down with our Vice President Global Nonwovens Business at Lenzing – Monique Buch. Monique spearheads the growth of Lenzing’s nonwovens business, while developing sustainable, innovative and pioneering fiber solutions. She places a strong emphasis on encouraging accountability and taking action to change the world, as she shared with us in her interview.
Q: Why is the #ItsInOurHands initiative so important, to you and to the VEOCEL™ brand?
Monique: The #ItsinOurHands initiative means to me ‘taking accountability’, moving beyond ‘talking about’ into ‘taking action’. As individuals, we often feel too insignificant to be able to change the world, yet ultimately all the decisions we make impact the world around us, whether it be kindness to the people around us or separating our waste and recycling it instead of tossing it onto the streets. It is also in the choices we make, what products we choose to buy and not to buy. No manufacturer will keep producing products which we don’t buy as consumers. Therefore, I think ‘It’s in our hands’ initiative is a very strong statement that holds a lot of truth and power.
Q: How do VEOCEL™ branded fibers support the #ItsInOurHands initiative?
Monique: Lenzing produces sustainable fibers, that is our commitment, and we really live up to that. Of course, there are continuous ways to improve our processes and our products and so we are constantly striving to do better. Our aim is to offer consumers the possibility to make intentional eco-friendly choices, as well as provide our value chain partners the opportunity to clearly position this messaging too. Many of the partners we work with have sustainability principles incorporated in their processes and products. This way, we allow consumers and brand partners the chance to make a difference to the planet.
Q: How do you demonstrate care for the planet in your role as Vice President Global Nonwovens Business at Lenzing AG?
Monique: First of all, I believe that we are humans first and foremost. Who we are is what we bring to work, and to me, sustainability is critical. We need to take care of the environment and enjoy its beauty and ensure that with all the decisions we make and actions we take, biodiversity remains intact.
In my position specifically, I focus on Sustainability as part of the decisions the company takes. Last year, we began developing our strategy for Nonwovens, and Sustainability is a big chapter in it. We are asking questions such as: “How do we get from Linear to Circular”, “What does that mean specifically for Nonwovens?”, “What can we do to contribute to less micro plastics?” and “Can we develop together a better packaging alternative?”.
Q: What are some key steps you personally take to care for our planet in your daily life?
Monique: We built a home in The Netherlands and designed a garden based on indigenous flora. With my son, we looked at what would grow on the soil and what plants would be required to support the bees and the butterflies. Both of them need very special plants in addition to flowers, which they collect nectar from to lay their eggs or feed their little ones. We also decided not to put in a lawn but a flower field that can grow higher, allowing other animals to find a home in. It is a fun project but also a slow one as we have to put the plants in the right season for them. In times where ‘instant gratification’ has become somewhat the norm, it requires a lot of patience.
We also decided to eat less meat, and when we do buy meat, we buy biological meat from animals that have not been living within the bio-industry. This is an example of how I choose to buy certain products and others not, whether it is meat or cleaning and beauty products. I used to buy cotton Femcare, and my team has helped educate me to stop! We all have to constantly learn and adapt to make the best choice available.
This initiative is presented by
