SUSTAINX: Leaders in Sustainability

The most radical thing a smartphone company can do is stop pushing upgrades. Monique Lempers , Chief Impact Officer at Fairphone, joins Sven Steinert to explore what it takes to build a responsible electronics business in an industry driven by short lifecycles and constant replacement. Monique explains how Fairphone treats longevity as a core KPI, designing smartphones to last through modular hard...

How does a lighthouse hydrogen project turn a chicken-and-egg dilemma into a bankable business case? In this episode, host Sven Steinert speaks with Dr. Ralph Kleinschmidt , Global Head of Technology and Innovation at thyssenkrupp Uhde, and Susanne Thöle , Director Hydrogen at Uniper. Together, they zoom in on one such project: an ammonia cracker that turns imported ammonia into hydrogen for Europ...

The future of sustainability lies in treating it as a service that creates value for customers, business, and the wider ecosystem. In this episode, host Sven Steinert speaks with Arne Kloke , Head of Sustainability and Service Management at SCHOTT Pharma. Arne shares how he and his team integrate sustainability into daily business practice, turning it from a reporting task into a driver of innovat...

What happens when a global hydraulics leader integrates new power solutions for a decarbonising world? In this episode, host Sven Steinert speaks with Dr. Andreas Schumacher , Head of Sustainability and Product Compliance at Danfoss Power Solutions. More than a decade ago, Danfoss recognised that relying solely on hydraulics could limit its future growth perspective. The company made a bold early...

When climate change drives health risks, insurers can’t afford to stand still. In this episode, host Sven Steinert welcomes Hanna Krayer , Head of Sustainability at Helsana, Switzerland’s largest health insurer. Hanna explains why sustainability is inseparable from health, how climate change poses strategic and financial risks, and what it takes to embed sustainability into corporate strategy. She...

Is “good enough” the key to real sustainability? In this episode, host Sven Steinert welcomes Sebastian Schwarz , Head of Sustainability at REMONDIS Group, who champions pragmatic idealism over perfectionism. Sebastian argues that the term “sustainability” is overused, and urges leaders to focus on what counts: reducing CO₂, saving energy, and achieving measurable results. With REMONDIS’s eight de...

Making sustainability work isn’t just about numbers. It’s about building the right relationships, across every level of a group. In this episode, host Sven Steinert sits down with Sabrina Raith , Head of Sustainability at TAKKT Group, to explore how real sustainability transformation happens in a diverse, multi-company setting. Sabrina shares why robust data and clear frameworks are essential, but...

From board-level commitment to frontline action, sustainability is powering resilience and innovation at Dräger. In this episode, host Sven Steinert welcomes Stefanie Hirsch , Chief Sustainability & Quality Officer and Executive Board Member at Dräger, to explore what sustainable transformation looks like when it’s driven from the top. Stefanie explains why regulatory compliance is no longer e...

Sustainability isn’t a hurdle to innovation—it’s the spark. In this episode, host Sven Steinert is joined by Steffen Erath , Head of Innovation & Sustainability at Hansgrohe Group, to explore why the future of innovation can be green—and how regulations, mindsets, and timing could shape that future. Steffen shares how Hansgrohe uses sustainability as an innovation search field. He dives into h...

Scaling circular plastics is part chemistry, part collaboration—and 100% systems thinking. In this episode, host Sven Steiner t is joined by Stephan Roest , Head of Circular Economy Business Development at Borealis, to explore what it takes to build a truly circular plastics economy. Stephan explains why circularity goes far beyond recycling—it demands a fundamental shift in how we design, produce...

Hospitals don’t sell sustainability—but they can’t operate without it. In this episode, host Sven Steinert speaks with Aline Mittag from the ESG team at Asklepios, one of Germany’s largest private hospital groups. While patients don’t choose hospitals for their sustainability credentials, healthcare facilities are vulnerable to climate risks, resource scarcity, and rising operational costs. Aline...

Can sports drive the next wave of sustainability transformation? In this episode, host Sven Steinert welcomes Max Sorst , Senior Director of Sustainability at SPORTFIVE, to uncover how sports can catalyse sustainability efforts worldwide. Max shares his journey of building a sustainability function from scratch at SPORTFIVE, tackling the industry's inherent challenges and leveraging sports’ e...

Navigating the challenging journey of setting and implementing SBTi net-zero climate targets is essential for any company serious about sustainability and climate management. In this episode, host Sven Steinert welcomes Laura Cremer-Heesen , Director Sustainability at DKV Mobility, to share how her team tackled the challenges of defining, receiving approval and implementing SBTi net-zero climate t...

The climate crisis and AI are set to reshape businesses more profoundly than the internet has over the last 20 years. In this episode, Sven Steinert sits down with Luis Cilimingras , entrepreneur and fellow at IDEO, to explore how these two transformative forces are redefining the way organisations innovate, adapt, and thrive in the face of rapid global change. Drawing on over two decades of exper...

How do we build a future where sustainability isn’t just a goal but the foundation of better business? In this episode, host Sven Steinert welcomes Frank Jensen , owner and third-generation leader at Søren Jensen, a pioneering building engineering consultancy at the forefront of regenerative construction. Frank, who recently co-founded the Aarhus Centre for Regenerative Building with Aarhus Univer...

Is your sustainability strategy truly integrated into your business DNA? In this episode, host Sven Steinert talks to Susanne Horn , Director of Corporate Development at DEHN SE, about embedding sustainability into corporate strategy. Susanne shares how DEHN SE drives innovation by reducing material use, co-developing digital product passports, and collaborating with suppliers and industry peers....

Transformative change needs diverse voices. Discover how Dr. Saskia Juretzek is empowering women to shape the future of sustainability. In this episode, Sven Steinert welcomes Dr. Saskia Juretzek , Advisory Council Member at Futurewoman and author of "Nachhaltige Karriere: Mit dem richtigen Job die Welt verändern." They discuss the pivotal role of women in driving sustainability, Dr. Jur...

Discover how Bayer Crop Science is driving a new era in global agriculture with innovative sustainability strategies and strong partnerships. Join host Sven Steinert as he sits down with Tomás Zaborowski , Global Head of Sustainability Excellence at Bayer Crop Science. Tomás explains the company's comprehensive approach to revolutionising agriculture through regenerative practices and advance...

Discover how Viessmann Climate Solutions is leveraging circular design and bold strategies to lead the global market in net zero innovation. In this episode, Sven Steinert talks with Jahanzeb Tariq , Global Manager of Product Sustainability and Circularity at Viessmann Climate Solutions. Jahanzeb explains how Viessmann, now part of Carrier Global, is driving decarbonisation with unique circular de...

ALDI SOUTH Group has set ambitious sustainability goals, but how do they bring suppliers along for the journey? Get inside their game-changing tactics. In this episode, host Sven Steinert talks with Sandra Körger , Director of International Sustainability at ALDI SOUTH Group, about the retailer’s ambitious global sustainability strategy. Sandra explains how ALDI SOUTH Group is embedding sustainabi...

Forget about ticking boxes. Sustainability is now the driving force behind successful, future-ready companies. In this episode, Sven Steinert talks to Change and Transformation Director Carolle Müller (Ex Merck) to explore the critical role sustainability plays in modern business strategy. Carolle explains why sustainability is not just a compliance topic, but the key to future-proof transformatio...

Circular product design is the key to moving sustainability beyond greenwashing to achieve true environmental impact. In this episode, host Sven Steinert sits down with Dr. Jan Christoph von der Lancken , Managing Director at EPEA GmbH, to explore the revolutionary "Cradle to Cradle" framework, and how it is transforming circular product design. Dr. Jan Christoph von der Lancken highligh...

Unlock the secrets of turning sustainability from a regulatory necessity into a business edge. In the first episode of SUSTAINX: Leaders in Sustainability, host Sven Steinert is joined by Vanessa Seipp, Sustainability & Governance Expert Strategic Procurement at Siemens Healthineers. Vanessa shares insights on how to integrate sustainability into procurement processes, the real challenges of i...