Marco Hößl

Working for such an important and challenging cause as sustainability can sometimes become overwhelming, indeed. But the beauty of this field is that it has almost endless possibilities and it can always be room for improvement. There is always room for doing good. I’d encourage exploring your passions, see what other areas are worth discovering within sustainability, what is something you didn’t have the chance to do more, and you wished you did? Ask yourself questions, be curious, and never stop learning.

I think if this is what you’re passionate about, then it’s very hard to lose your enthusiasm. But I can fully understand how such a challenging cause can sometimes become overwhelming and those are the moments when you need to refocus and remind yourself why you are doing this. And to keep moving forward, striving for innovation. New ideas, new concepts, new angles. It’s important to foster a culture where innovation is a fundamental principle that guides your team’s everyday activity.

Recommend internships of any kind, in any field. They're the perfect context where you can understand how the workplace works, whether you like your chosen field or not, and where you can put into practice the knowledge you've gained in college/university. In addition, you get valuable networking opportunities by connecting with industry professionals who share the same values as you, referring here to sustainability. The internship opens doors to future collaborations and the exchange of ideas. So apply young professionals and embrace the challenges!

When you are true to yourself and work passionately on something you believe in, you have more drive, energy, and inspiration to accomplish any task. I am guided by my values in everything I do. It is important to clearly define your values and needs, and then match them with the objectives of the projects you are involved in. I believe that through this harmonization you can achieve both project success and personal satisfaction.

It all starts with clear purpose. For a team to fully engage in a project, especially one focused on sustainability, they need to deeply understand its goals and the positive environmental impact their actions might have. Beyond the office, it's crucial to take the team into the field, where they can see firsthand how even the smallest actions contribute to meaningful change. This approach not only reinforces the project's importance but also helps to boost enthusiasm and commitment to sustainability initiatives.

I can give you a clear example of what we are doing at Kaufland Romania in our commitment to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. In 2023, we were able to decrease our carbon footprint by 3,418 tons by using Euro Pool System (EPS) reusable foldable. This innovative approach not only minimizes waste, but also conserves valuable resources. We are also deeply invested in actions to protect the environment and contribute 5 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals launched by the United Nations (UN), including sustainable production and consumption. We've taken each goal and approach into smaller steps we can make.