Living green with Maria Wendt: Eco-Friendly Habits at Home and Work

Maria Wendt, Market Communication Manager, has been with Mitsubishi Electric for 11 years. She joined the team when the Scandinavian Branch was taking its first steps and started as an administrator and did everything from handling orders and invoices to making adverts and arranged events. The office grew, and her role grew with it. An interesting fact about Maria is that she leads a very sustainable and ecological life, as we saw in the recent case study 'From food waste to soil in 24 hours'.

A: Can you tell us about one of the most interesting projects you have been involved in?

M: Let me share a recent project that exemplifies the cooperation between our central Digital Marketing Team and local offices and at the same time demonstrates how we collaborate with our customers and end-users to create sustainable solutions. The project I want to tell you about is the creation of a customer case video in Sweden with our client, Solserv, which manufactures compost machines utilizing our automation products. These compost machines are remarkable - they can process any organic material, from 5 kg to 100 tons, and transform it into nutritious soil within just 24 hours. In the video, we visit the end user, Radisson Blu Hotel, to learn from their words why they invested in this solution. The hotel chose this system not only out of environmental responsibility but also to save on food waste disposal costs. The soil produced by the machine is given to their partner who grows food for the hotel's restaurant. This creates a circular solution, turning food waste into soil that is used to grow new food.

A: I am impressed by the composter project. If it is implemented in every country, it could be a real breakthrough for ecology.

M: I know, it's impressive how much of a difference it can make and it's not that expensive. Any major company could invest in this and still save money by not dealing with waste.

A: How did you first get started with an eco-friendly lifestyle? What inspired you to adopt more environmentally friendly habits in your daily life?

M: From a young age, I was convinced that I would become a veterinarian. However, I later realized that my passion lay not in medical care for animals but in working with them in their natural habitats. My love for nature and animals was my first motivator for living eco-friendlier. Food became another significant motivator for me. I've always taken pleasure in cooking and preparing meals from scratch. There's a distinct satisfaction in knowing exactly where my vegetables come from and that they haven't been exposed to harmful pesticides. I want the animals that becomes the meat that I eat to have been ethically raised, free from limited in-door spaces and unnecessary medications like antibiotics. When my first child was born, an even stronger motivation was born in me. I began analyzing the ingredients in everyday products and realized I didn't want to use anything on my child's skin that included incomprehensible ingredients. This led me to start making my own skin creams using beeswax and calendula oil from my garden. Today, my family and I live with our hens, ducks, dog, and pigs in a house from 1840. We renovate the house with care for the old structure and use materials that are sustainable and suits the house. We grow all the vegetables we eat for about six months of the year and we hunt or raise the meat that we eat. Sure, we enjoy eating at restaurants and having Saturday candy too, but it's all about balance. We try to make sustainable choices when we can, while also understanding the challenges of modern life. It's important to find a middle ground somewhere here and feel good about all the positive choices that we make, without feeling pressured to be hardcore all the time.

A: Is there something simple you can change in your lifestyle to be more less waste?

M: Using reusable bags is quite easy. I don't understand why more people don't do it. Using waxy from beeswax to storage your food and avoid food wrap is also very simple. They work all the time and can just be washed and reused. Also they can last for six months to a year, depending on how often you use them. What is also interesting is that, beeswax is antibacterial, so it naturally keeps bacteria’s away. It's a very easy adoption. As a human, we tend to adapt quickly to things we do regularly. So, we just do it. It's not difficult at all.

A: Have you faced any challenges in striving for a more eco-friendly lifestyle? How did you overcome them?

M: Striving for a more eco-friendly lifestyle has its challenges. One big hurdle has been the time and effort needed to adopt sustainable practices. Whether it's learning about eco-friendly products, starting a garden, or making household items from scratch, there's a lot to learn. I started small, like cutting down on single-use plastics, and gradually added more sustainable habits. Breaking big goals into smaller steps made it easier to manage. Working closely with nature has its challenges too - weather can be unpredictable, bugs can harm crops, and animals can get sick. Despite these challenges, the journey to a greener lifestyle is rewarding! The benefits to our health, well-being, and knowing we're doing good to ourselves, nature and future generations make it all worthwhile.

A: What eco-friendly practices do you bring to your work at Mitsubishi Electric?

M: I am part of our Environmental and Sustainability group in Sweden, led by our Environmental and Sustainability Director. My role is to handle marketing communication about our company's environmental and sustainability efforts. In this group, we discuss and prioritize actions we can take both as a company and as individuals to drive positive change. This includes small initiatives, like giving our staff eco-friendly Christmas gifts (this year, we got beeswax cloths to replace plastic wrap) and selecting sustainable giveaways. We also tackle larger issues, such as improving the transportation of our products and ensuring we have the necessary certifications to secure new business. Recently, we also implemented compost machines from Solserv in our Stockholm and Lund offices to reduce or food waste.

A: What eco-friendly actions is Mitsubishi Electric already undertaking that you consider the most significant?

M: Local offices are taking actions on improving things like waste reduction, reduce printed papers, responsible company car policy’s and involving the staff in various social works. Globally I know that Mitsubishi Electric has an Environmental Sustainability Vision 2050 which mean that in 2050 we will net zero, i.e. climate neutral. This declaration goes hand in hand with the meaning of our slogan “Automating the World” which meaning is that we are “not only helping a world of industries, but also a world of societies to apply automation for the greater benefit.” This is wonderful words, but I think that there is a lot more that we can and must do to be competitive in the coming years. I would love to see our company name on this kind of lists soon: World's Most Sustainable Companies 2024 | TIME

A: In your opinion, what additional actions could Mitsubishi Electric implement to become a more eco-friendly company?

M: This is a challenging question, as I am not fully aware of all the current global initiatives within the company. However, from my perspective, a significant step forward could be the establishment of an Environmental Working Group within our marketing team. This dedicated group, operating at the European level, would focus on amplifying our sustainability efforts and making them more visible to our customers. The Environmental Working Group would be composed of highly motivated individuals committed to developing and implementing eco-friendly practices across all regions. Responsibilities could include:

1. Identifying and promoting sustainable practices within our marketing strategies.

2. Collaborating with various departments to ensure a cohesive approach to sustainability.

3. Collecting and sharing customer stories that demonstrate how our products contribute to more sustainable production processes – Water Industry is great example!

4. Highlighting our environmental initiatives through targeted marketing campaigns to enhance our brand's eco-friendly image.

5. By working actively with this topic, we can not only improve our environmental impact but also strengthen our market position as a company that cares about sustainability.

A: What are your future plans regarding further ecofriendly actions, both personally and professionally?

M: Personally, I will continue to prepare more of the food I use myself. I also want to improve my habits by buying fewer items, focusing on high-quality, fixable goods rather than cheap, disposable ones. I believe we cannot sustain a culture of "use and throw away" and want to prioritize durability and repairability. Professionally, I plan to use our work in sustainability for communication and marketing purposes, ensuring that we genuinely stand behind what we preach without resorting to greenwashing. This involves transparently sharing our environmental efforts and achievements and promoting our eco-friendly initiatives to attract like-minded partners, customers and new colleagues. I would also like to work more with highlighting the initiatives that we are doing internally. One idea that we have talked about in Sweden for example is to have one day where the staff will have a “garbage picking day” where we together have a walk-in parks and woods and pick up plastics etc. to keep our common areas clean. We can bring our families to also show our kids that we have a common responsibility to care and teach them to not throw away waste in nature when they grow up.

A: What advice would you give to people who are just starting their journey with an eco-friendly lifestyle?

M: My advice for those starting their eco-friendly lifestyle journey is to begin with small, impactful changes. What is important for you? Start with that. Choose quality over quantity by buying fewer, well-made items that can be repaired rather than replaced. Choose local, in-season, food ingredients. Embrace this journey with enthusiasm and understand the profound value it brings. Every small step you take contributes to a healthier planet. Enjoy the journey, celebrate your progress, and know that your efforts are making a significant difference for the future. Many small streams make a big river.

A: Are there any inspiring stories or individuals that have influenced your approach to ecology?

M: There are many individuals on platforms like Instagram whose approach to ecology deeply influences me. They share a mindset of living harmoniously with nature, cherishing seasonal changes and natural diversity. What I find compelling is their embrace of simplicity and quality, and I get a lot of tips on new recipes and how to grow different vegetables in the best way. Their stories inspire me to make mindful choices that contribute to a healthier planet and a more fulfilling existence.

A: What do you think is the most important aspect in striving for a more sustainable lifestyle?

M: In striving for a more sustainable lifestyle, I believe the most important aspect is finding joy in the journey. Personally, I find immense satisfaction in what I do because I want my children to grow up experiencing the joy of food, understanding the responsibility of raising animals, and learning essential skills like hunting, fishing, and cultivating food from nature or their own efforts. Did you know that hens don't lay eggs in the winter? This happens because their egg production is closely tied to daylight hours. In winter, the shorter days tell the hens' bodies to slow down or stop laying eggs as part of their natural cycle. This helps them save energy during the colder months when food might be harder to find, ensuring they survive in the wild. So, to have eggs for Christmas Eve, I need to save them from September. Last year, we enjoyed our last saved egg on New Year's Eve. Imagine how happy I was on January 20th when one of our hens started laying eggs again. This simple act enriches my life in unexpected ways, reminding me of the joy found in embracing simplicity and sustainability

Aleksandra Trendak

Digital Marketing Assistant