Two Sides Insight – Interview With Sarah Lesting, Leipa

Biography and Introduction

Ian Bates, Marketing and Partnership Director for Two Sides interviewed Sarah Lesting, Head of Sustainability Solutions Consulting at Leipa Group and Managing Director for Leipa UK, in the latest Insight interview.

“I’d like to introduce you to our guest, Sarah Lesting, Head of Sustainability Solutions Consulting, Leipa Group and Managing Director, Leipa UK.

Starting at LEIPA aged just 19, her job was supposed to be a year to kick-start her CV, but similar to a lot of people in this industry, you don’t just fall into it, you also stay in it! She is bi-lingual in German and English working at what was then, a very German centric company, she took advantage of the Mill training and excellent relationships forged with different disciplines including technical and production. Spreading her wings in her career with Smurfit Kappa Recycling gave her first insight into waste as a resource and experience in closed-loop operations.

She then returned to LEIPA and growing into a position for GmbH, as well as their UK business, means she now communicates with brands and users of Leipa’s materials worldwide. Acting as a LEIPA brand ambassador and a huge supporter of the paper and packaging industry as a whole, Sarah enjoys getting involved in promoting what is an ever-changing, but therefore ever-exciting industry!“

Questions Asked:

1. Leipa is one of the leading paper mill groups in Europe with its headquarters based in Germany employing over 1,700 people specialising in the manufacture of over 1.5 million tonnes of waste paper fibre into magazine papers and a wide range of specialist packaging materials. Sarah, what do you think makes Leipa stand out and makes it such a successful company?
2. Often we’re challenged as to why many paper products are not made from 100% recycled materials. Can you explain why this is not possible?
3. How important is sustainability in today’s hierarchy of decision-making given the economic turmoil and pressure on organisations to reduce their carbon footprint?
4. Why do you think only about 15% of people (consumers) believe forests are growing in Europe and that the rest either don’t know or perceive they’re shrinking in area and what can we do to change these misconceptions?