Meet Milliken – Samantha Maich

Our Meet Milliken series highlights our associates who guide us to success and embody our values: integrity, excellence, innovation, sustainability, and people.

At Milliken, sustainability is one of our core values, and it's essential to have passionate individuals like Samantha Maich, a Senior Sustainability Analyst, driving our initiatives forward. Samantha's journey reflects her unwavering commitment to science and creating a sustainable future.

From Research to Sustainability

Samantha started at Milliken in 2018, working in the labs for the chemical division. With a degree in Microbiology, she initially thought she would stay in the labs forever. However, her career path took a turn when she moved to the regulatory team and later shifted her focus to sustainability within our Chemical Division. Today, she serves as a Senior Sustainability Analyst for the corporate sustainability enabler team, engaging in third-party sustainability reporting and leading assessments like EcoVadis, which Milliken earned a gold rating for in 2024. Samantha's role involves collaborating with various teams across Milliken, and she enjoys the variety of conversations about sustainability, finding it fascinating to see how different businesses approach the topic. "Interacting with different teams and seeing their unique perspectives on sustainability is one of the highlights of my job," she says.

Defining Sustainability

If you ask ten people what sustainability means, you'll get ten different answers. For Samantha, it's about doing the right thing within global regulations. It's a data-informed approach to business decisions, enhancing innovation and profitability. Milliken's approach to sustainability focuses on continuous improvement and identifying opportunities, supporting a culture of accountability through training, transparency, and policies.

Life Outside of Work

Outside of work, Samantha is an avid writer, baker, and enjoys gardening. As a published children's book author, she is currently channeling her passion for sustainability into a new children's book, aiming to empower young minds to approach sustainability challenges with unique perspectives.

Commitment to Integrity

At Milliken, the commitment to integrity is a core value, fostering continuous improvement and a culture of accountability. Samantha highlights the importance of doing the right thing and creating a supportive and transparent environment. Safety is a key aspect of our ethical culture, ensuring that everyone leaves work the same way they entered. "At the end of the day, safety is not just a lab thing. Safety is not just a manufacturing thing. Safety is everyone's responsibility, and we all play a part in the Milliken ecosystem," she says.

Samantha is also inspired by the diversity and logistics of Milliken's manufacturing processes. When asked about a sustainable innovation she mentioned the non-PFAS materials used in Milliken's turnout gear for firefighting, showcasing our ability to innovate while keeping people safe. This dedication to innovation is part of Milliken's broader strategy to stay ahead of global trends, adapting to changing regulations, and continuous preparing for the future.

Inspiring Excellence

Samantha's journey at Milliken showcases her passion for sustainability and science. Her creativity shines through her passion for writing, reflecting her talents and dedication. Samantha's commitment to both professional excellence and personal creativity makes her an inspiring figure at Milliken, embodying our values and vision.

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