References: experienced sustainability consulting

20+ years of experience, 500+ projects, 70+ clients

500+ sustainability projects: references from sustainability consulting

500+ projects, 70+ clients, more than 20 industries: the references of the sustainability consultancy STEINBACH STRATEGIEN tell stories of business transformation. They include the first sustainability strategies of Aurubis, Teekanne, TRUMPF, and Nordex, and sustainability reports over several years for CEWE, Holcim, DMK Group, and Lorenz. Add to this exciting transformation projects for C&A, Bayer, tesa, and E.ON, and sometimes a decisive step along the way, as with Hansgrohe, NDR, Körber, and Deutsche See.

Back when the question was still “German Sustainability Code (DNK) or GRI report?”, when energy efficiency and eco-labels were hardly advertised, and when applications for the German Sustainability Award were not conjured up by AI, Anke Steinbach was already helping to shape market developments through her projects. And she still does today.

STEINBACH STRATEGIEN supports most clients over many years, some for more than 15 years. Others reach the point after two to three years where they can continue independently: implementing the sustainability strategy, meeting new reporting requirements, or working with automatically collected ESG KPIs. Some come back for new topics. Companies that are just starting out today, or that need or want to take the next big step in their transformation, can also build on this experience.

Sustainability consulting references: a selection

Six typical consulting projects in sustainability strategy, reporting, and communication. In all of these projects, building knowledge and structures in ESG management and providing impetus for transformation were part of the consulting work.

Zentis – Sustainability strategy and reporting

Zentis has been publishing sustainability reports for many years and is involved in various CSR projects. A review of the reporting by STEINBACH STRATEGIEN Hamburg led to a new concept for the 2022/23 sustainability report and ultimately to the content and editorial implementation. Along the way, we jointly revised the sustainability strategy – with a particular focus on harmonization, substantiation and operationalization. We are pleased to be able to support Zentis in various projects in sustainability management, in setting up CSRD reporting and in sustainability communication.

Zentis 2022/23 Sustainability Report

Körber – Sustainability Reports

Our assignment: To implement the content of Körber's second sustainability report and bring the report to publication. With a dedicated team, we reviewed the existing content of the sustainability reporting, requested new inputs, establish a new structure for the report, defined KPIs and worked together to optimize the sustainability strategy with targets and substantiated the ESG measures. The goal was to create a meaningful presentation of Körber's sustainability projects, while laying the groundwork for an efficient future reporting system. During the reporting process, various tasks were addressed with the client on the way to CSRD reporting. The visual concept and design were developed in close cooperation with a communications agency. Following the successful publication of the report, we continued to support Körber in ESG reporting the following year.

Körber 2023 sustainability report

Schmitz Cargobull – sustainability strategy and reporting

A few years ago, STEINBACH STRATEGIEN Hamburg created the first sustainability report with the long-established company Schmitz Cargobull, using an efficient and pragmatic process with participants from all relevant areas.

Subsequently, solid structures were established and a well-founded sustainability strategy was developed in just a few months. Implementation was advanced by the second, now international ESG report 2022/2023 and various other strategic projects. In 2024, Schmitz Cargobull won the German Sustainability Award.

Schmitz Cargobull Sustainability Report

STULZ – Development of sustainability management and ESG reporting

Various sustainability projects have put the globally active air conditioning specialist STULZ on the right track within just under two years. Customer questionnaires, ratings, CSRD reporting, supply chain law, product footprint – together we have brought structure to the plethora of requirements and drawn up a roadmap. The first sustainability report 2022 for the German companies and the second report 2023 with comprehensive global ESG reporting helped to identify and prioritize the topics and figures, and to gradually implement them.

STULZ's 2023 sustainability report

Kikkoman – Corporate Citizenship

Is planting trees still fashionable? You bet! We have developed a corporate citizenship project with Kikkoman that anchors sustainability in the distribution company for the long term. Kikkoman will plant 50,000 trees in Europe. Although the parent company is Japanese, Kikkoman has been producing delicious soy sauce from natural ingredients in Europe for many years and distributes it in over 30 European countries. Incidentally, Kikkoman is also strengthening soy cultivation in Europe, has developed organic products and has made significant progress in terms of packaging and production. We have prepared these and other sustainability activities for the company for the sustainability section of the website and for communication in European sales.

Corporate citizenship sustainability project

Sustainability section at Kikkoman website

NDR – Sustainability communication

How can we transparently, honestly and sympathetically present the status of our sustainability activities? This was the question NDR asked itself before it wanted to integrate sustainability into its website. Together, we developed a suitable, efficient concept, drafted the texts for the website on sustainability and celebrated the go-live with the customer.

Sustainability section of the NDR website

What clients say

I have been working with Anke Steinbach on various projects since 2011. Despite the fast pace in our company and at STEINBACH STRATEGIEN, I have always been able to count on outstanding results and the highest level of commitment. With her expertise, her stamina, and her sharp focus on what truly matters, she has played a key role in advancing sustainability at DMK Group. Anke is a pleasure to work with.

- Dr. Phillip Inderhees – Head of Corporate Strategy, DMK Group

In 2022, we began working with STEINBACH STRATEGIEN to lay the groundwork for our first sustainability report, and further successful projects have followed since. We greatly value the collaboration because it is marked by close collegiality and trust. The professional support contributes significantly to our success, and we are truly grateful to have such a dedicated partner at our side!

- Ludger Ecke – Deputy Head of Quality and Sustainability Management / UMB, STULZ

STEINBACH STRATEGIEN has successfully supported us in building and expanding our sustainability management. From our first sustainability report to the development of a holistic sustainability strategy, we have experienced the collaboration as trusting and professional. We particularly appreciate the clear preparation of key content and the constructive discussions. Both helped us stay focused on what matters most. This laid the foundation for embedding sustainability across the entire company.

- Thomas Wissing de Freitas – Sustainability Manager, Schmitz Cargobull

We thank STEINBACH STRATEGIEN for the professional support in preparing our 2022/2023 sustainability report and for accompanying numerous communication activities. An internal sustainability workshop also helped our business units develop a better understanding and take an active role in further developing our sustainability strategy. We greatly appreciate Ms. Steinbach's professional and dedicated approach and look forward to continuing our collaboration.

- Nina Siegel – Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Zentis

We worked with Anke Steinbach on preparing sustainability reports in accordance with the GRI Standards. Thanks to her big-picture perspective, clear client focus, and precise craftsmanship, our joint projects were always highly efficient and fully met our clients' expectations.

- Frank Schroedter – Management, Engel & Zimmermann

Selected references

STEINBACH STRATEGIEN has successfully carried out sustainability projects with numerous companies. A selection of clients.

What sets the sustainability consulting of STEINBACH STRATEGIEN apart

Behind these references is Anke Steinbach. She works strategically and with a focus on results, shaped by her McKinsey background. Implementation is particularly close to her heart, because that is when things really start to move in companies. For specific tasks, she relies on a network built over more than 25 years of professional experience, including partners such as SAIM, with whom she works repeatedly.

The standard: results-oriented, well-founded, and pragmatic. What clients also value about working together:

Orientation in complex matters
Lean processes and short lines of communication
The right thing at the right time