Bohdan Krasavtsev heads the Sustainable Development Office at Bukovel resort. Now in its second year, the Office is leading environmental, social and corporate reforms across the resort, working to integrate ESG principles into the company's day-to-day operations. As we launch our new interview series “Jobs at Bukovel”, Bohdan joins as our very first guest.
— Hello, Bohdan! You're always coming up with new initiatives, both across the resort and within the Office. Where do you find the inspiration for all these ideas?
— Hi, Nastia! Wow, that's quite a question!
I'm fortunate to have colleagues in our Office who share our vision and support most of our initiatives. Having that sense of team spirit makes a real difference. It reminds you that the effort you put in is worthwhile.
And there's something genuinely rewarding about doing work that you know makes a difference. It creates a positive atmosphere, makes you enjoy coming to work and gives you the motivation to share that enthusiasm with others.
— I understand you previously worked in journalism. At first glance, journalism and sustainable development seem like very different fields. How did you make that transition, and which skills from your journalism career do you find most useful today?
— Journalism taught me not just how to gather information, but how to analyse and work with it.
I've always been drawn to subjects that matter to society, particularly culture, education and the environment. As I worked on stories about climate change and air pollution, my interest in sustainability continued to grow.
Journalism gave me a solid foundation, connected me with like-minded people and helped me realise how naturally the two fields complement each other. Both journalism and sustainable development are about informing people and bringing them together.
Eventually, I began writing children's books and founded Ekonatsiia, an NGO dedicated to environmental education. But journalism was where that entire journey began.
— How would you explain sustainable development in SIMPLE TERMS?
— Sustainable development brings together three essential elements: the economy, the environment and society. The aim is to help a company grow while creating a lasting positive impact.
It's a long-term process, and openness is an important part of it. Organisations need to communicate what they're doing, share information about new initiatives and innovations, and remain transparent about their progress.
More broadly, sustainable development means meeting the needs of people today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
It's about balancing economic development, social wellbeing and environmental protection, so we can enjoy a good quality of life without consuming more of the planet's resources than it can sustain.
— What's the biggest misconception about sustainable development that you encounter? And how do you respond when people are critical or sceptical about environmental changes?
— Probably the most common misconception is that sustainability isn't necessary because we've managed perfectly well without it in the past. People are often sceptical about change simply because they don't have enough information. That's something we need to recognise and address.
I think the best approach is to respond calmly, listen to people's concerns, analyse them and explain things through practical examples. Very often, it's the simplest, most familiar actions that help people understand that sustainable living doesn't have to be difficult. It's something everyone can take part in.
— What makes you feel that your work really matters? And what do you enjoy most about working at Bukovel?
— The people are a huge source of inspiration for me. It's wonderful to work with colleagues who support new ideas and are willing to help turn them into reality. There's a fantastic team at Bukovel. I've met so many interesting, genuinely lovely people here – people I enjoy talking to and spending time with outside work, whether we're having fun or sharing meaningful conversations.
I'm proud to be part of Bukovel. You can see that people enjoy what they do and take real pride in their work. The company provides good working conditions, and there's a genuinely warm, friendly atmosphere across the resort. It also means a lot to be part of Eastern Europe's largest resort, built here in Ukraine by Ukrainians.
— What advice would you give to an employee who wants to become more eco-friendly but doesn't know where to begin?
— The moment someone starts thinking about living more sustainably, they've already taken the first step!
There's no need to make dramatic changes overnight. You can start with simple, everyday habits:
- gradually cut down on plastic and single-use plastic bags;
- skip plastic lids and straws when ordering drinks at cafés;
- bring your own reusable cup for hot drinks;
- choose a natural loofah instead of a conventional bath sponge;
- take used batteries to designated collection points (at Bukovel, you'll find a battery collection box in the Tourist Centre);
- learn how to sort plastic waste properly at home.
— And one final question: if you look ten years into the future, what would the ideal outcome of your work at Bukovel look like?
— I'm confident that Bukovel will have made tremendous progress in environmental sustainability.
I also expect the number of jobs to grow, because people will always be essential to what we do.
In fact, I believe tourism is one of the industries least likely to see people replaced by AI in the future.
Human connection is at the heart of hospitality. Genuine emotions, warm smiles, cultural exchange and personal attention are what make an experience truly special – and those are things technology cannot easily replace.
Interview by Anastasiia Muryn