Stepping Towards Sustainability: Kamila’s Journey with Sodexo

Talent profile series

Workplace Experience Life at Sodexo
Published on Oct. 14, 2024

In the agile and fast-paced environment of corporate sustainability, few roles are as dynamic and impactful as Kamila Kik's position as Regional Sustainability and Environmental Manager for Sodexo's Health and Care segment. With a background that blends health and safety expertise with a passion for environmental stewardship, Kamila is leading on initiatives that are not only reshaping Sodexo's approach to sustainability but also making tangible differences in communities across the UK.

At the forefront of Kamila's recent accomplishments is her work with WearerTech, a project that epitomises the intersection of employee well-being, environmental responsibility and social impact. This innovative programme tackles a seemingly mundane aspect of healthcare operations – safety shoes – and transforms it into a multifaceted sustainability success story.

WearerTech: Walking the Talk on Sustainability

"Health and safety and people's well-being is paramount at Sodexo, especially in hospitals," Kamila explains. Recognising that the majority of staff in healthcare settings are required to wear safety shoes, she identified a significant opportunity for improvement. Previously, worn-out safety shoes would simply end up in landfills, contributing to waste and environmental degradation.

Enter WearerTech. This comprehensive programme not only provides high-quality safety shoes with an impressive 92% acceptance rate among staff but also introduces a circular economy model for footwear in the healthcare sector. Kamila's initiative has established a nationwide recycling scheme at Sodexo’s Health and Care sites that offers two innovative routes for used shoes:

1. Recycling: Shoes that are beyond repair are shredded, with materials separated and repurposed into new products such as insulation, flooring materials and playground mats.

2. Donation: Shoes that are still wearable are donated to ShoeAid, a charity that supports homeless individuals, adding a powerful social impact dimension to the project.

The programme's success lies in its holistic approach. As Kamila notes, "The main goal as we started was firstly people's well-being because our people spend basically hours on their feet every single day."

By prioritizing comfort and safety, the initiative has the potential to reduce workplace incidents and associated costs. Simultaneously, it addresses environmental concerns by diverting shoes from landfills and creates positive social change through donations.

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Nurturing talent and encouraging professional growth

Kamila's path to her current role is indicative of Sodexo's commitment to nurturing talent and encouraging professional growth. Joining the company initially as a Health and Safety Manager, Kamila brought with her a unique blend of expertise. While completing her master's degree in International Disaster Management at the University of Manchester, she was already deeply immersed in sustainability concepts.

"I came from a sustainability background into health and safety," Kamila reflects. This diverse skill set allowed her to integrate sustainability initiatives into her health and safety role, collaborating with NHS Trust sustainability teams and developing innovative projects.

Sodexo's supportive environment played a crucial role in Kamila's rapid advancement. "The most important bit here is that they didn't stop me," she emphasises. Sodexo encouraged her to pursue sustainability projects alongside her primary responsibilities, recognising her passion and potential in this area.

Perhaps most significantly, Kamila highlights the invaluable mentorship and knowledge-sharing she has received from senior leaders like Claire Atkins Morris and Simon Mussett.

"Being able to attend the same meetings as they do and hearing them speak... it's great," she says. This exposure to high-level strategic thinking and industry expertise has accelerated her professional development and expanded her impact within the organisation.

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Long-term thinking in sustainability initiatives.

As Sodexo and the wider business world grapple with the urgent need to achieve net-zero emissions, Kamila's role continues to evolve and grow in importance. She sees her future focused on driving meaningful change, engaging with new technologies and promoting long-term thinking in sustainability initiatives.

"We need to start thinking long term," Kamila asserts, highlighting the need to look beyond immediate profitability to see the broader benefits of sustainability investments. Her ability to balance ambitious goals with a pragmatic understanding of operational realities positions her as a key player in Sodexo's journey towards a more sustainable future.

Kamila's story is one of passion, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to making a difference. From her origins in Poland to her current role shaping sustainability strategy for a major multinational corporation, she personifies the power of combining diverse experiences with a clear sense of purpose.

Kamila’s work with WearerTech and other sustainability initiatives not only contributes to Sodexo's environmental goals but also improves the lives of employees and communities – one step at a time.

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