4 Minutes with…Marcelle Peuckert, Business Development Director, Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)

Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) is a global, multi-stakeholder independent organisation that drives the development of a new world bioeconomy through sustainability solutions, certification, and collaborative partnerships.

It provides tools and solutions that mitigate business risk www.rsb.org
Working on positioning RSB as the sustainability partner and certification of choice for global brands and companies working in the bio economy.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

Expanding the uptake of RSB’s Advisory Services which provides solutions to clients wanting to make important business decisions around sourcing of feedstocks, sustainability assessments, preparation of pilot projects and investment decisions, amongst others.

Launching the first brand campaigns with partners and brands towards consumers on sustainable aviation biofuel and fast moving consumer products.

A personal goal is to walk the Portuguese Coastal Camino in September.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?   

Scaling up of sustainable feedstocks and processing facilities.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change? 

To change the mindset that including and implementing sustainability is not an option, but a must. And that there are credible solutions, like RSB, which can help do that.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?   

The innovation and the opportunity to be at the forefront of new developments.

Where are you from?

Born in Uitenhage, South Africa and raised in Africa. Now living in Bonn, Germany since beginning 2007.

What was your subject focus (e.g. major) in university (undergraduate and/or graduate, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway?

Marketing, Industrial Psychology, Post Graduate Cross-sectorr partnerships at Cambridge University, United Kingdom.

Who do you consider your mentors – could be personal, business, or just people you have read about and admire. What have you learned from them?  

Richard Branson – never discard your ideas!

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?   

Resilience is a wonderful personality attribute to have!

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry?   

Running

Yoga

What books or articles (excluding The Digest) are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?   

Being You, Changing the World – DR Dain Heer

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?  

Italy anytime. And of course, Cape Town