Sustainability is not an end in itself, but a business asset.
Sustainability has long been more than just a "nice-to-have". It has become a strategic challenge - from a regulatory, economic and social perspective. In an interview with Dr. Christian Reisinger, Managing Director of Substain GmbH, we talk about the biggest hurdles for companies in ESG reporting, the origin of the idea behind Substain and what makes the software special.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges for companies when it comes to ESG reporting?
Dr. Reisinger: There are two main challenges: Firstly, the challenge of content, i.e. the question of what exactly a company actually has to report - and to what standard. This is not trivial, especially with ESRS. Secondly, there is the organizational challenge, as ESG data has to be collected from a wide variety of company divisions, checked, consolidated and processed on time - often across locations and countries. Without a central software solution, this becomes extremely time-consuming, error-prone and expensive.
What was your original motivation for developing Substain?
Dr. Reisinger: The idea arose from practical experience: I have supported companies for many years with their carbon footprinting, climate strategy and sustainability reporting. There was always a lack of a solution that was both well-founded in terms of content and technologically flexible. With Substain, we wanted to change exactly that - to create software that works across all standards, operates according to the principle of single input, multiple outputs and intelligently automates processes.
According to which basic principle was the ESG software Substain software developed?
Dr. Reisinger: The central principle is the SIMO principle: data is recorded once and then used for various evaluations. We combine this with the Single Source of Truth (SSOT) - i.e. central data storage - and a high degree of configurability so that the software adapts to the company, not the other way around. This is the basis for efficiency, consistency and scalability.
What are the typical areas of application for the ESG software Substain?
Dr. Reisinger: I see three major clusters.
- Centralized ESG data management: Many companies use Substain to collect all sustainability and environmental information in one place - audit-proof, traceable, with responsibilities, e.g. also for topics such as ISO certifications or fire protection documentation.
- Carbon management and life cycle assessments: These include corporate carbon footprints (CCF), product carbon footprints (PCF) and full LCAs. Our customers record consumption and activity data, e.g. vehicle fleet, energy, business travel, and create carbon footprints at the touch of a button - including product-specific ones.
- Regulatory & ESG reporting: Whether ESRS, VSME or EUDR is voluntary or mandatory - Substain can be used to systematically record and evaluate narrative content and key figures. The dual materiality analysis, which we have integrated into the software with AI support, is also particularly important.
What are your personal top features of Substain?
Dr. Reisinger: Certainly the real-time evaluations - based on thousands of data points, users can analyze by location, company or product at the touch of a button.
Then there is the automated report generation - from CO₂ reports and product balances to comprehensive sustainability reports, everything can be generated dynamically. And our technical solution for interfaces and integration is in high demand among customers - we have enabled Excel imports since the beginning and have now also created a REST API for ERP and costing systems. This means that even complex IT landscapes can be integrated.
For which company sizes and industries is Substain particularly suitable?
Dr. Reisinger: Our main target group is SMEs and large companies, often with several locations and also in the manufacturing industry. This is precisely where our strengths in decentralized data collection come into play. But smaller companies also benefit, e.g. if they use individual modules in a targeted manner. And we have supported global rollouts for large corporations.
What successful moments from customer projects do you remember?
Dr. Reisinger: A frequent "aha moment" is the central access to ESG-relevant data - many companies realize how much business intelligence there is in ESG. Suddenly they can not only report, but also identify operational optimization potential - for example in logistics, purchasing or production. Sustainability thus becomes a genuine value-added component.
How can Substain help to understand sustainability as part of value creation - not just as an obligation?
Dr. Reisinger: The internal attitude within the company is important. Anyone who sees ESG as nothing more than a chore will not generate any added value. But if you ask "What can we learn from the data?", you can optimize processes, develop business models and identify risks at an early stage - e.g. raw material availability or transformation risks. Substain creates the relevant data basis for decision-making.
What advice do you have for companies that are just starting out?
Dr. Reisinger: Take stock! Start with a CO₂ balance sheet - it often provides 70-80% of the required data. At the same time, it should be clarified where the company stands, where it wants to go and how much can be done internally. Substain and our consulting services help you to start pragmatically and move step by step towards independently controllable ESG management.
Our conclusion: Dr. Reisinger impressively demonstrates that Substain is not just a tool for sustainability reporting, but a strategic enabler. The software combines technological excellence, regulatory expertise and user-friendliness - and is at the same time deeply rooted in ConClimate's consulting expertise.