Why the bioeconomy is emerging as one of the world's most attractive career sectors

As demand grows for renewable materials, fibre-based products and circular economy solutions, the bioeconomy is emerging as one of the world's most exciting sectors for future-focused talent.

Recognition like this doesn't happen by accident. It reflects years of intentional work in how we attract, develop and retain talent across our operations. I am pleased to share that Sappi has once again been honoured across two of Forbes' most prestigious global rankings: the World's Best Employers 2026, as well as the World's Top Companies for Women 2026.

In a fast-paced, technology-driven world, I am often asked whether the bioeconomy, built on renewable resources and sustainable innovation, is an attractive or desirable sector in which to work and build a career. Let's unpack this question a little.

Firstly, we should note that, while coming off a low base, skilled agriculture and the wider bioeconomy were among the few employment areas to report significant annual growth. This appears to have been supported by a robust performance in primary agriculture, driven by exports and growing demand for products derived from renewable natural resources.

In the World's Best Employers 2026 list, Sappi is one of only twelve South African employers to make the global top 900, making this our third consecutive year on the ranking. We are listed in the Construction, Chemicals and Raw Materials sector, one of the most competitive categories globally, with 106 companies recognised worldwide.

In the World's Top Companies for Women 2026, we are one of only seven South African companies to make the list. What I find even more notable is that Sappi is one of just two organisations in the country to have maintained an unbroken three-year track record across 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Having spent much of my career focused on career development and organisational renewal, I don't take this kind of consistency for granted. It takes deliberate, sustained effort across every level of the business.

What makes this achievement particularly meaningful to me is the context in which it is happening. As industries worldwide pursue more sustainable ways of producing materials and goods, the bioeconomy is increasingly recognised as a future-facing growth sector and a key driver of the emerging fibre-based economy.

When we talk about future-facing careers, the conversation often gravitates towards technology and digital industries. But some of the most sophisticated opportunities for skilled professionals are also emerging in sectors such as forestry, manufacturing and the bioeconomy.

Sappi is a business rooted in renewable natural resources, responsibly sourced woodfibre, sustainable manufacturing and the bioeconomy, employing people across forestry, science, engineering, technology and complex industrial operations. Our recognition alongside leading global employers is an important reminder that compelling, innovative careers are being built well beyond the traditional technology sector.

Companies such as Sappi may not generate the same headlines as the latest technology start-up, but that does not make them any less innovative. In many ways, the renewable materials sector is helping shape the future through breakthroughs in sustainability, science and advanced manufacturing, enabling the growth of high-value fibre-based products and solutions.

In fact, one of the things that continues to excite me about Sappi's long-term value proposition is the extraordinary science behind our industry.

What is fascinating is that the fossil-based products we use today ultimately trace their origins back to plant matter that was buried and transformed over millions of years, in essence, ancient trees. Advances in chemistry, biotechnology and process engineering are now enabling us to unlock those same building blocks directly from renewable, responsibly sourced woodfibre, creating renewable materials used in everything from textiles and packaging to biomaterials, speciality chemicals and next-generation fibre-based products.

Every component of the tree can be converted into valuable, renewable products. This demonstrates how responsibly sourced woodfibre can be transformed into innovative materials and products that support a circular, low-carbon economy. This is a powerful example of the circular economy in action, where renewable resources are used efficiently to create sustainable products and reduce reliance on fossil-based alternatives. That is the kind of innovation, and the kind of workplace, that I believe people want to be a part of.

For us, the overarching takeaway is Sappi's sustained global resilience. These rankings are built on more than 300,000 independent employee evaluations spanning dozens of countries. Earning a place for three consecutive years, in a sector this large and competitive, speaks to the scale and durability of our employer brand and to the continued trust our people place in us.

That's something I believe we should all be proud of.

Early in my career, as well as later through a change management programme at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, I came to understand that organisational resilience cannot be built overnight. It is the product of consistent investment in people, deliberate coaching and a willingness to renew how we work as the world around us continues to shift.

That kind of thinking has stayed with me throughout my time in HR, and it is exactly the lens I bring to how we think about talent at Sappi today.

The employment data also points to a real opportunity, not just for businesses operating in this space, but for people seeking careers in the bioeconomy, fibre-based economy, forestry, sustainable manufacturing and renewable materials industries.

As someone who has spent years thinking about where talent pipelines are heading, this is a space I am genuinely excited about because it combines innovation, sustainability and long-term economic opportunity.

If the question is whether agriculture or the bioeconomy offers desirable career opportunities, then my answer is an unequivocal yes, and the reasons why say a great deal about where Sappi is headed.

Sappi continues to demonstrate its ability to attract and retain global talent, and I firmly believe that skilled agriculture and the wider bioeconomy represent genuine opportunities for many people, especially young women entering the workforce today.

If there are two things these rankings confirm for me, the first is that when you invest in people consistently and authentically, recognition follows.

The second is that developments in the bioeconomy, renewable materials and circular economy show that we mustn't be one-dimensional when it comes to our definition of what a "future-facing" job might be. Some of the most exciting opportunities for the next generation of talent will come from industries built on sustainability, innovation, renewable resources and the growing fibre-based economy.