Manfred Stanek in conversation with Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler and climate activist Kaluki Paul Mutuku
Growth is the maxim par excellence in our economy. But can economic growth and sustainability be combined? How can we counteract the climate crisis? What role do green technologies and the establishment of a circular economy play in our future? These questions, among others, were the focus of yesterday’s panel discussion at the European Forum Alpbach in Tyrol. At 1,350m above sea level at the Bischofer Käsalm, Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler, climate activist Kaluki Paul Mutuku and Manfred Stanek, CEO Greiner Packaging exchanged views on sustainable growth, our economic system, green innovations and social justice in a small setting. After the discussion, we asked Manfred Stanek for a background interview.
It is clear that we can’t continue like this forever. Climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution – those are some of the biggest challenges of today that we all need to tackle. When looking at crises in the past, we had to learn that the theory of a self-regulating market is a myth. Also, we must stop framing the world from our European point of view and try to think about the situation from the perspective of countries all around the world.
We still don’t have a final answer on how we can grow as a company and reduce our CO2 emissions in absolute numbers at the same time – but we are definitely working in the right direction: We are reducing the amount of plastic that we process while we enhance the value of our products. We are creating reuse models which offer the same convenience to our customers and reuse the products. With recycling we work towards a closed loop.
The circular economy is one of the biggest levers to reduce CO2-emissions and save resources of our planet. So circular economy means that we do not use a product and throw it away – but that we use it, recycle it and use it again in an infinite circle.
We as Greiner share things that work well in our industry with companies from other industries. That way we can exchange ideas and learn from each other. Nevertheless, also the civil society and the government have an important role to play.
Each consumer has to educate themself about making the right purchasing decisions with the target in mind to use as little resources as possible.