Mike’s Easter Message

Live from Kingsnorth.

Happy Friday Friends.

It doesn’t seem that long ago since the Christmas decorations were going back up in the loft and boom, quicker than you can say Springwatch (BBC nature programme for my non-UK subscribers) we’re one quarter in to 2025 and Easter is upon us.

There’s something about Easter that always makes me smile. Maybe it’s the lighter evenings, maybe it’s cos you can get away with eating chocolate for breakfast without judgement, or maybe it’s just the promise of a bit of optimism after what always feels like a long, grey start to the year. Either way, it feels like a good time to pause, take stock and have a think about where we’re heading

And as Easter approaches, I find myself not just reflecting on what this time of year truly represents, not just in a traditional sense, but in the context of the work we do here at Syntech and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for our sector.

Easter, at its heart, is about renewal, hope, and fresh starts. It’s a time when nature reminds us that even after the coldest, darkest seasons, life finds a way to return, and with it comes a chance to reset our intentions.

In my job, looking after we do to protect and restore the environment, advance sustainability and to support innovative and positive social impact as part of our legacy means that this season gets me excited on a personal and professional level. The work we do to advance low-carbon, circular economy solutions isn’t just about technology or policy frameworks, it’s also very much about people, places, and possibilities.

Easter offers us a timely pause to think about how we’re shaping a future that’s not only greener but fairer, more inclusive, and rooted in genuine community partnerships.

Over the last year, the pace of conversation around climate action, social responsibility and sustainable business has only accelerated. From COP29 commitments to the increasingly vocal demands of communities and customers alike, it’s clearer than ever that the world expects, and needs organisations like Syntech to lead with integrity, collaboration and imagination.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is seeing how small, thoughtful changes can snowball into meaningful impact. In the last year, we have accelerated the rollout of our enhanced community engagement programme, ensuring that the voices of local communities, schools, universities and social enterprises are actively shaping how we operate. From supporting skills training in green industries to sponsoring environmental education projects, we’re determined to ensure the benefits of the bioeconomy are shared locally, not just globally.

I also believe Easter is a moment to recognise the social side of sustainability. Environmental impact doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it affects communities, families, and livelihoods.

That’s why we’ve been deepening our work around social value delivery, whether through apprenticeships, wellbeing initiatives for our staff, or projects supporting groups in our local area. The way we do business should leave a positive footprint, in every sense of the word.

As we head into the long weekend, I encourage everyone, whether you work in sustainability or not, to take a moment to reflect on the kind of future you want to help create. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the climate and social challenges we face, but Easter reminds us that acts of kindness, responsibility and innovation can spark wider change.

So here’s my Easter message: be kind to the planet, be kind to each other, and for the love of all things holy, if you’re buying chocolate eggs, check they’re Fairtrade. It’s what Jesus would have wanted. (other Gods are also available)

On behalf of all of us at Syntech Biofuel, I wish you a peaceful, hopeful and restorative Easter. May it be a time for new ideas, renewed connections and recommitment to the work that matters most, building a cleaner, fairer world for everyone.