Linnea: Hi Amelie! Thanks for joining us at Bakeological. To kick off, please tell us what originally got you interested in sustainability.
Amelie: My interest in sustainability stems from an early age growing up in Sweden on an agricultural farm. I spent lots of time outdoors where I developed a close connection with nature. I later got interested in environmental issues on a global level. I realised that the health of the natural environment was seriously at stake across the globe and that responses to address this were needed at all levels and across sectors. I decided to focus on sustainability in businesses as I felt they had to change from within, often working in partnerships with NGOs and charities.
Linnea: You’ve been working at the Eden Project for nearly 10 years. What do you think makes Eden Project so special?
Amelie: Lots of factors make Eden very special. The people who make up Eden are incredibly knowledgeable and they have a real can-do attitude. Eden offers a really nice approach and tone that resonates with me; less of a guilt-trip and less pointing fingers than other organisations. It’s more about showing what can be done and to get people engaged by taking small steps to changing things for the better.Eden was already way ahead of the general discussion to connect people with the natural world. The vision of creating the Eden Project was such a compelling idea. By realising the vision of the Eden Project, Tim Smit and his gang back then proved the pessimists wrong and showed what can be done if people work together.
Linnea: You and I both have kids. What do you think our kids will do better when it comes to the environment compared to previous generations?
Amelie: I love that question. One of my hopes is that our children will grow up and think this past generation has been so wasteful; you don’t need to consume like crazy to lead a happy life. They will consume less and be more tuned into a service based sharing economy. I’m certain they will be coming up with lots of sustainable materials and using them wisely. My daughter is already an anti-plastic rebel and she will look at you funnily if you offer her a plastic straw! Looking back at the past 60-70 years of plastic production; it is just staggering to see the amount of plastic that is being churned out in our natural environment. I think our kids will look back and think: What were they doing?!
Linnea: I’m trying to establish my family’s carbon footprint. Do you think carbon footprint is an important measure for people like you and I and do you know yours?
Amelie: No, I don’t know mine at the moment. I suspect my carbon footprint will be higher now than a few years ago when I last calculated it… with a growing family living in a rural environment where we need two cars. Sadly, there is no way we can rely on public transport to run our life in Cornwall. Having extended family in other countries and the airline travel that involves is probably the biggest bugbear of mine. We try to live more consciously in other aspects of our life. The relevance of carbon footprint as a measurement will vary from person to person. Personally I respond better to imagery than numbers so my carbon footprint won’t say much to me. For example, a really cool energy meter flashing different colour coded messages would appeal more to me than a set of numbers. But I’m sure it can make a real difference to others. Carbon footprint provides an important benchmark to track businesses and nations. For households and individuals, we need to be very inclusive and think of ways to get people engaged and offer a broader set of tools for different people’s preferences and abilities.
Linnea: I know you’re a keen baker. What’s your favourite bake and why?
Amelie: My favourite bake will have to be the Swedish "vetekrans" (or cinnamon bun baked as a sweet bread) propped full of cardamom and cinnamon; all those flavours that bring back lots of childhood memories. It just tends to come out really beautifully and is appreciated by everyone.
Linnea: Please share your top tips for a greener home.
Amelie:
Think ‘Lagom’ - a great Swedish little word meaning not too much, not too little, just about right. Good approach when it comes to addressing over-consumption.
Switch off and turn down….a woollen jumper will keep you snug. But check your home for heat-losses, think insulation!
Think long-term. A home with selected few long-lasting pieces, second-hand furniture for example. What can you pass on to your children?
Choose natural materials instead of plastics and chemicals (for example cloths, bags, bottles, containers, toys, clothes, cleaning products, etc.). I am experimenting with citrus essential oil mixed with water and using that for cleaning the house.
Close the loop. Recycle (hopefully you’ll be able to get cash for your empty plastic, glass and metal cans and bottles before long!) and compost your food waste if you have a garden.
Try to buy as much local and seasonal produce as possible and support the local farm shop and the local business community in general. We have a great butcher in the village who sells meat from animals that graze nearby. We try not to eat too much meat but when we do, we get it from him.
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