Environment Manager at Givaudan, Hannie de Wit draws on her knowledge and energy to transform the company from within. Her ambition: to contribute to greater justice through her work.
Of dual French-Mexican nationality, Hannie de Wit grew up in Mexico but studied within the French school system. Once she had her science baccalaureate in hand, she chose in 2014 to move to Switzerland and EPFL to continue her studies.
There she developed a passion for mixtures and reagents, spent an Erasmus year in Barcelona, carried out her Master's thesis in London, and finally earned her chemical engineering degree in 2020.
She is seeking to break free from that adage well known among chemists, the “3 Ps”: “The more it pollutes, the more it pays” (in French, plus ça pollue, plus ça paie). To that end, she is firmly determined to put her knowledge at the service of a better world.
During her first two years in industry, she failed to convince her management to tackle environmental issues. She therefore decided to go back to studying and took the CAS Sustainable Development Horizon 2030 at the University of Geneva, where she immersed herself in the life cycle assessment of perfumery ingredients.
She greatly enjoyed this period, during which she met other people going through a phase of questioning. She joined Givaudan in 2023, one of the leading players in the fragrance and flavour market, where her professional and personal interests flourish.
“Justice is an important value to me. From a very young age, I have been taken aback by social contrasts.”
“The fact that environmental law is not respected, and that nature is seen solely as a resource, also disconcerts me a great deal. I am very aware that we are the generation that will bear the consequences of past and present choices, but just as aware of the privileges I personally enjoy.”
Finding a way to give nature a voice is close to her heart, and her struggle is geared towards corporate responsibility.
“They are an essential cog. Decisions and changes take time there, but it is moving in the right direction. Customers are pushing for the environmental impact of our products to improve, and that helps us justify the changes internally.”
At Givaudan, Hannie de Wit develops, among other things, new industrial standards. To do so, she relies on methodologies specific to the chemical industry, because the carbon footprint is too general.
“There's no point charging into a wall, but finding the right door is something you learn.”
Her passion leads her to devote much of her energy to work, but she knows she has to learn to protect herself better.
“You have to be able to get back to work even when, at times, the urge to give up can be strong. Environmental issues are gaining credibility internally, although at present, working towards a more sustainable world remains a battle.”
On a personal level, sport is a key element and allows her to maintain a balance. Her husband also helps her enormously by listening, and watching the plants on her balcony grow brings her a great deal of satisfaction.
Learning to cultivate our gardens: perhaps that is what Hannie de Wit is trying to pass on.