“Sustainability is a process, not an end goal.”
Today is Entrepreneurs’ Day 2022. We are proud that Sandra has been chosen to share her entrepreneurial story and to inspire other entrepreneurs. At Encon, we are committed to building a sustainable future, not only by setting a good example, but also by motivating other businesses. We hope her story will inspire you.
Read more about this interview below.
Entrepreneur’s Day | Sandra
Future-focused entrepreneurship is sustainable entrepreneurship. Sustainability offers a solution to today’s business challenges, with a positive impact on both society and the environment. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. It is a constant search for the right balance between the economy, ecology and social well-being. The measures that create the greatest impact differ for every company. And that is precisely the expertise of Encon, an independent consultancy that supports companies in their transition towards greater sustainability. We spoke to Sandra Deraeve, co-founder of Encon and HR manager.
Encon helps companies grow by integrating sustainability into their business operations. The company was founded in 2002 by Sandra, her husband Robin Bruninx and two other co-founders. They had no entrepreneurial experience, but plenty of ambition.
“We started out with energy solutions about 20 years ago,” says Sandra. “Energy prices were still affordable back then and few people were losing sleep over the climate. But my husband had a passion for energy and saw the potential for industrial companies to save on energy. Even though climate awareness was still low back then, everyone was keen to reduce their energy costs. They could invest those savings in projects to increase their energy independence. Something everyone wants today is something we’ve been doing for 20 years.”