Sustainable Pulse Profile Marilyn Jensen

Chicago native Marilyn Jensen moved to Door County 25 years ago and started a business that ignited her personal environmental movement.

Originally a summer visitor, Jensen decided to make the switch to become a full-time resident and opened a woodworking business.

“The woodworking business gave me a real understanding of sustainability,” she said.

With this first endeavor, Jensen and her husband used recycled wood, aiming to “prevent waste by creating a quality product that cannot be thrown away.”

The couple later moved on to open Sister Bay Trading Company, an interior design store.

She strives to bring charitable work into her business as much as possible. “As a business owner I try very hard to incorporate non-profits. We support one or two throughout the year…to try to give recognition to what they do,” Jensen said.

Jensen is committed to helping the community by getting involved. She is Vice President of the Door County Humane Society and works with The Wellness Center, and previously served on the Sister Bay Village Board, where she was chair of the Recycling Committee.

“Anything involving animals, women, and children have always gotten my attention and have been near and dear to my heart,” she said.

Around the house:  Jensen is mindful of the products her family uses “and, naturally, recycling is very important. We had an indoor Jacuzzi but we stopped doing that because it takes up so much water.”

On the road:  “When we work with a group of staff members we go on client calls together. We try to be mindful of what we’re burning.”

In your business:  “We recycle an awful a lot of product and filter it down to the non-profits. In our business, when we built our new building we were very mindful of the green way of building. We try to partner with companies of like mind.” Sister Bay Trading is a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, a non-profit association committed to promoting sustainable practices in the home furnishings industry.

Pet peeve:  “I hate disposable furniture; furniture that has been marketed and sold and after two or three years ends up in landfills. If you sell a quality product it doesn’t end up in a landfill.”

In the community:  “Everything comes full circle; we try to get our staff involved in non-profits and try to donate to them in various ways throughout the year.”

Advice:  “Be conscious of what you do on a daily basis and be aware of our ecosystem in Door County. It is a very delicate ecosystem and we need to be careful of how we use it. Look for ways to give back to the community. It’s not just about being green, it’s about taking it full circle.“

Advice:  “Be conscious of what you do on a daily basis and be aware of our ecosystem in Door County. It is a very delicate ecosystem and we need to be careful of how we use it. Look for ways to give back to the community. It’s not just about being green, it’s about taking it full circle.“