Matthias Medert’s Post

As the new Global Head of Sustainability at SAP, I recently had the pleasure of participating in a gathering of leading sustainability officers from major companies, hosted by SAP. Our discussions centered around some of the most pressing sustainability issues of our time, including recent political and regulatory developments and their impacts on the corporate landscape. Here are 3 key takeaways I would like to share with you:   1) 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 A key topic was the potential impact of recent political changes and elections on global sustainability programs. Even though sustainability and ESG topics might fluctuate in priority depending on political climates, there is still a significant opportunity to focus on risk responses that are appealing to economically minded stakeholders. Even companies that may not prioritize sustainability are open to solutions that mitigate risks and offer economic benefits. As sustainability leaders, we can set strategic frameworks and leverage transparent risk management to create impactful initiatives that are resilient in a more challenging environment.   2) 𝐂𝐒𝐑𝐃 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 Another central discussion point was the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Yes, CSRD generates a significant amount of bureaucracy. But we shouldn't view it solely as a burden and compliance issue. Instead, we should seize the opportunities it presents, such as enhancing transparency and accountability across industries. It provides companies with a unique chance to realign their KPIs and make genuine, measurable progress towards sustainable business practices. By integrating sustainability metrics into risk management, companies can not only meet regulatory requirements but also strengthen their long-term strategy and resilience.   3) 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 A personal highlight was the vibrant atmosphere of the SAP Arena, where we watched the German national handball team play against Switzerland. The teamwork and dedication displayed by the players on the court served as a powerful metaphor for our own efforts in sustainability. Just as the team supported each other to achieve a collective victory, we too must support one another in our sustainability initiatives to create a meaningful impact for society and the environment.   𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔? 𝑳𝒆𝒕'𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒔!