With Sonia Erdmann, we not only have a new colleague in the flow team, but also another topic for you: sustainability. You can read about how you can benefit from this in this blog.

We are pleased to have Sonia Erdmann join the flow team. She has been on board as a senior consultant, trainer and coach since 1st February. She not only brings a lot of experience as a project and event manager and moderator, but is also an experienced climate protection manager and certified environmental auditor. With her, we are adding a new, very topical subject to our portfolio for you: sustainability.

Change Management Seminar on Sustainability

For organisations and executives who are interested in the important Change topics of sustainability, environmental management and climate protection, we will in future offer a change management seminar on sustainability in the flow Academy in addition to consultancy.

Sustainability management includes the topics of buildings and energy, climate-friendly mobility, logistics and procurement, social compatibility and economic efficiency.

Would you like to professionalise sustainability management in your organisation? Then please contact Sonia Erdmann. She will accompany you in the process towards EMAS certification (Eco Management and Audit Scheme). This is the legally secure certificate for environmental management in companies and organisations that is recognised throughout Europe.

Sustainability in organisational development and change management

Both the negative effects of climate change and legal requirements regarding environmental and social standards are increasing. They present organisations with major challenges. How can a sustainable corporate orientation be seriously integrated into one’s own corporate identity? I conducted a short interview with Sonia on this topic.

Dieter Kannenberg: Sonia, how seriously do companies now take the issue of sustainability management?

Sonia Erdmann: Not only digitalisation, globalisation and a shortage of skilled workers, but also the advance of climate change pose a major challenge for companies. The goal of reducing CO2 is already written in many company brochures and a lot is happening, not only in electromobility. However, many companies – especially smaller ones – still regard their own environmental management as “nice to have”.

DK: As a smaller organisation, you are not so much in the public eye. What must or will happen to change that?

SE: In the meantime, the topic of sustainability is no longer just about voluntary participation, but increasingly also about legal requirements and measures for climate impact adaptation, adaptation and innovation. And it can be assumed that the legal requirements will become even stricter. In addition to climate protection measures, compliance with social standards is also coming into focus, and the Supply Chain Act should also be mentioned here.

DK: In your experience, is the topic only seen reactively, according to the motto: “We have to comply with the law”? Or do companies also see advantages in professionalising their sustainability management?

Professional sustainability management brings trust

SE: Yes, the view of advantages is gradually increasing. In addition to a sense of responsibility, public impact also plays a major role. It is important to approach the topic seriously so that the accusation of “greenwashing” cannot arise. That is why I recommend certification according to the EMAS criteria. In my opinion, this is currently the best and safest standard accepted throughout Europe. More and more consumers are paying attention to what a company is doing in terms of climate protection or social standards, for example. Innovations can also come about through the consultation process and costs can be saved in various places. But it should not be concealed that it is also about investments for a better environmental compatibility of the company. And these have to be calculated.

DK: Then describe briefly how you go about sustainability management in your consultancy or support?

With a system for sustainable organisational development

SE: Consulting on sustainability issues is an example of contemporary, practical change management. For me, it’s about making sure that managers and employees understand the connections. What effects do we trigger with our production, our administration, our supply chains, our office use? And at the same time, it is about developing customised optimisation measures for the companies. Effective instruments here are, for example, so-called environmental management systems such as EMAS. They enable organisations to improve their environmental and social performance in a targeted and continuous manner. Actual status analyses and checklists, portfolio diagrams and catalogues of measures are used as well as effective communication strategies. At the end of the process, certification is possible. But it does not always have to be an entire management system. For companies that are still at the beginning, impulse lectures, consultations and sensibly considered individual measures are also a good introduction to the topic. 

DK: Thank you very much, Sonia, for this initial information on your special topic. If you would like to know more, it is best to call us or send us an email to our contact address.

SE: Yes, exactly. I am very much looking forward to being able to contribute to sustainable organisational development with our clients.

We look forward to your interest!

Dieter Kannenberg
Managing Director