How does the constant professional concern for environmental protection and sustainability affect your private life? Are there any interactions?
Hauer: My father took me to join the Boy Scouts when I was only one year old. When you experience the closeness to nature so intensely, it becomes second nature. The same goes for social engagement. That’s why it always goes on for me, whether it’s with the Boy Scouts, in the family, or at work. As scouts, we organize waste collection campaigns with groups, among other things, or plant fruit and nut trees. And it continues at work: as a team, we support social events in the establishment and we also want to actively contribute to the greening and recreation zones – I think that is ecologically and socially sustainable. When it comes to sustainability, I manage to combine my private intentions and my work well. It’s just very important to me.
With all your effort, you will not only experience success. What motivates you to attack again every day?
Hauer: Every time I manage to tick off a chapter of the roadmap, when I have taken another step towards sustainability and my colleagues are very busy supporting me, it totally motivates me. Every single step I can contribute counts – and that’s why I’m happy to get back to work every day.
And when is it good?
Hauer: If at some point I can’t be as active anymore, I want to feel like I’ve done my part. This is my motto: I want to leave the world a little better than I found it. And I want to look back and see that I passed on something, that I was able to motivate some people to be more environmentally friendly.
