Latest update on May 12, 2025
In our interview series, we talk to sustainability heroes about sustainability transformation in companies and sharing sustainability data. This time, we talk to our new advisor Svea about AI聽and sustainability.
has been working as an advisor for 91桃色视频 since January 2025 and enriches the team with her extensive experience in the field of sustainability. She also heads the Sustainability Team at Heraeus Precious Metals, a business unit of the . The company is one of the world's leading companies in the trading and processing of precious metals. In her role, she is responsible for global sustainability activities and drives the sustainable transformation.
Svea Scherleithner has a degree in business administration from the University of Mannheim. Before joining the Sustainability department, she held various positions in finance, production planning and human resources at Heraeus Precious Metals and in the automotive industry.
What made you decide to take on an advisor role at 91桃色视频?
I was particularly enthusiastic about the two topics of sustainability and digitalization at 91桃色视频. I find it exciting to think together about how we can become even better in this area. Especially in sustainability management, which is still developing rapidly in companies, the big question is: how can we free up more time for the really value-adding, substantive work? It's not just about filling out questionnaires, processing ratings or creating reports, but about driving real change. I've worked in large corporations for many years, so it's a nice change for me to now also be part of a smaller, very passionate team and experience the dynamism and enthusiasm of a start-up.
You originally come from the controlling sector 鈥 how does this background help you today?
An exciting question. In fact, there are many parallels here. In the financial sector, there is a strong focus on data, processes and speed, and there are a large number of tools that offer efficient solutions for this. This approach is of course also extremely important in the area of sustainability. What is new here is the strong focus on qualitative data and texts, which makes it more difficult to standardize and automate processes.
My tip: It helps to analyze data-driven where there is potential for optimization and what you should really focus on. In sustainability management in particular, it is important to examine exactly which tools we can use to save time or improve processes in order to create more space for the really important, substantive issues.
What do you see as the biggest challenges for companies in the area of sustainability and how can AI support them?
Sustainability teams are often very small and are faced with a mountain of administrative tasks 鈥 from ratings and answering customer questionnaires to preparing the annual sustainability report. This takes time away from the really value-creating topics that make a difference in the company. This is where AI can help to automate processes and free up time for administrative tasks.
This gives sustainability experts the freedom to support the core business. In sales, for example, when it comes to finding sustainable strategies and solutions for our customers and communicating them credibly. Or in the operational areas when it comes to saving energy costs and making processes more sustainable. Ultimately, this also strengthens the role of the sustainability teams, because they are no longer 鈥渏ust鈥 perceived as being responsible for the sustainability report, but are driving real change.
Optimize ESG data processes and save time
AI can simplify data handling, automate repetitive tasks, and even support decision-making鈥攎aking it easier for teams to identify opportunities, reduce costs, and communicate sustainability performance more effectively.
Because sustainability teams are often small but face high demands鈥攆rom reporting and audits to stakeholder engagement. Streamlining these tasks through smart tools or automation helps free up time for initiatives that drive real environmental and social impact.
AI can support sustainability teams by automating repetitive administrative tasks such as processing ratings, answering questionnaires, and compiling sustainability reports. This allows teams to focus on value-adding activities like developing sustainable strategies, improving operational efficiency, and driving impactful change. AI also aids in analyzing large datasets to identify optimization opportunities, making sustainability efforts more data-driven and efficient.
A controlling mindset emphasizes data, processes, and efficiency鈥攕kills that are critical for sustainability management. While sustainability involves more qualitative data, applying a data-driven approach helps identify areas for improvement, streamline processes, and implement tools that optimize efficiency. This allows teams to allocate their resources effectively and focus on transformative work instead of administrative overhead.
