ESCP Professor Florian Lüdeke-Freund joins “Entscheider treffen Haider” podcast
In their conversation, they explore how companies, policymakers and consumers can contribute to a more sustainable economy – and why sustainability needs to be understood as a business model challenge.
Professor Florian Lüdeke-Freund highlights three key points from the discussion:
Long-term goals require stable conditions
Businesses need clear and reliable framework conditions to invest in sustainable solutions. If policymakers establish a long-term objective such as climate neutrality, they should maintain that direction while allowing companies sufficient flexibility in how they achieve it. This applies to Hamburg’s plebiscite on climate neutrality by 2040, as well as to sustainability regulation at European level. The debate surrounding the EU Omnibus package shows that companies are also concerned about changing political priorities and creating regulatory uncertainty.
Sustainability is closely linked to business models
The transition is particularly challenging for companies with energy-intensive or resource-intensive operations, such as Aurubis and HHLA. At the same time, new opportunities can emerge when companies rethink how they create value. The transformation of the Moorburg site – from a coal-fired power plant into a location for an electrolysis facility – offers one example of how industrial infrastructure can be repurposed. Further opportunities may arise in areas such as the circular economy.
Companies can make sustainable choices easier
It sometimes feels as if consumers alone are expected to solve major environmental challenges through individual sacrifice. This can lead to frustration and resignation and sends the wrong signal. A more effective approach is to develop business models that make resource-efficient choices more convenient and accessible. Examples discussed include MOIA’s shared taxis and 1KOMMA5°’s renewable energy solutions for private households.
The full episode (in German) is available on Spotify.
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