COP26 Voices

Vikki Callaghan, Market Development Manager, UK & Ireland

My journey to sustainability
From a young age I always wanted to study chemistry. I don’t even remember what triggered it, so when I got a chemistry set for Christmas when I was 7 I was hooked! My first job was actually a summer job I got straight after leaving school by applying to every chemical company in the phone book (those were the days!). I was hired as a lab assistant and loved it so I stayed beyond the summer and they supported my degree through part time learning, Whilst working as a lab chemist in polymerisation and application chemistry, I found myself fascinated by the then forward-thinking concept of using water based technology to replace solvent based VOC’s for coating technology. When I changed roles and moved into sales and market development I was excited by the prospect of working with others to encourage the use of new technologies to overcome challenges in performance whilst maintaining environmentally friendly solutions. And that’s where I find myself today.

I love those conversations with innovators, brand-owners and customers where we work together to find the best technology for a particular packaging challenge, whether that be low VOC, renewable, recyclable or content protection. I can help them make sustainable choices and that makes me proud to work in a field where you can have influence and make a difference.

Colleagues sometimes ask me what they can do right now to help climate protection. As packaging is my thing, my answer is always “dispose responsibly!” If in doubt still put it in the recycle bin, much is sorted by hand in the UK, if we don’t put it in the bin it doesn’t have a chance! Waste less, particularly food waste, it’s the third biggest polluter!