Maarja Sau
Languages spoken
Estonian (Native), English (Fluent), Finnish (Intermediate/Profesionnal setting)
Personal bio
Maarja has been actively involved in various Zero Waste Estonia projects since 2021. Her deep interest and passion for environmental issues have driven her to continuously expand her expertise across a wide range of sustainability topics.
Holding two Master’s degrees in Sociology, Maarja also works as a leadership consultant, helping organizations and managers enhance their management culture and effectiveness.
In her free time, Maarja is a dedicated triathlete and regularly competes in Ironman events across Europe.
MiZA accreditation type
- Zero Waste Trainer
Zero Waste expertise
- Strategy Development
- Engaging Communities in Zero Waste Initiatives
Project experiences
- March 2023 - December 2025 Maarja is currently involved in a Interreg funded project where a consortium of public and private sector organizations from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are developing an international web platform and digital tool to support the sustainability journey for small and medium-sized companies. The solution - the ESG Tool – is a free-of-charge digital platform designed to help businesses navigate the complexities of sustainability standards and prepare for reporting. The project goes beyond providing a tool; it actively educates both the public and private sectors. It offers tailored educational content to demystify sustainability concepts and practices, enhancing understanding of ESG principles across diverse audiences.
- Tallinn City Government Dates: May - December 2024 Maarja conducted waste sorting training sessions for the citizens of Tallinn, organized by the Tallinn City Government. During these sessions, she addressed common misconceptions and provided a comprehensive understanding of the importance of waste sorting. Key insights from the training included: Many citizens initially did not understand the necessity of waste sorting. However, by explaining environmental and circular economy concepts, Maarja helped them see the bigger picture and gain a systemic view, enhancing their understanding. Participants began to understand Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and their relation to packaging waste streams. Maarja emphasized that involving people is crucial for systemic change. She highlighted that when directives are issued as commands, people are often reluctant to comply without understanding the reasons behind them.
- November 2023 Maarja moderated a policy development workshop "Green transition in vocational education" for a working group with members from various vocational education establishments of Estonia.