How companies successfully implement ESG with Substain
Substain is used in practice for three central fields of application:
Lifecycle & Carbon Management, ESG Management and Regulatory & Reporting. The following examples show how companies from different industries have solved their ESG challenges efficiently and future-proof with Substain.
Use Case 1: Lifecycle & Carbon Management
Company: Manufacturer of technical components (medium-sized company, 4 plants in Europe)
Challenge:
The company wants to calculate product carbon footprints (PCF) for the first time - as a basis for customer requirements and internal sustainability targets. Previously, the company calculated its carbon footprint in Excel, without consistency or standardization.
Substain solution:
- PCF module with calculation according to GHG Protocol / ISO 14067
- Import of consumption data from ERP & calculation
- Product comparison & LCA results with a click
- Generation of reports for customers & sales
Result:
PCFs calculated for more than 50 products within one month. Marketing & Research and Development actively use the data for communication & product development.
Use Case 2: ESG Management
Company: Service group with 20 locations in DACH
Challenge:
ESG data such as energy consumption, social KPIs and the progress of measures were previously available in an unstructured format. The ESG managers had to laboriously collect information via email and Excel.
Substain solution:
- Central ESG data structure with location-specific role rights
- Digital input forms & automated evaluation
- Dashboards for target tracking and ESG progress
- Action tracking & progress reports
Result:
Consistent data quality, real-time ESG target tracking and monthly ESG scorecards at the touch of a button - without any manual effort.
Use Case 3: Regulation & Reporting
Company: Group of companies with 9 subsidiaries
Challenge:
The Group is subject to CSRD and must report in accordance with ESRS for the first time. The ESG data is distributed, the requirements are unclear and the team is small.
Substain solution:
- Group structure with centralized control and decentralized input
- AI-supported double materiality analysis
- Automated report generation incl. XBRL export
- Commenting & approval functions for legal & audit department
Result:
CSRD-compliant report with complete documentation, centralized overview and full traceability - in a fraction of the original time.
For companies of any industry, size and structure
Substain is specially tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, corporate groups with multiple locations, subsidiaries or international reporting obligations will also find Substain a scalable solution for managing ESG data centrally, consistently and in a future-proof manner.
Cross-industry application - practical examples:
- Manufacturing industry: from small mechanical engineering companies to internationally active suppliers
- Real estate industry: ESG documentation for construction, operation and portfolios
- Service & digital economy: For organizations that integrate sustainability smartly
- Retail & consumer goods: Transparency in supply chains, product range & packaging
No matter what your structure looks like - Substain adapts. Not the other way around.
Voices of our customers:
With Substain and consulting from ConClimate, we have created a sustainable infrastructure for our sustainability management. The combination of CO₂ footprints at the company and product levels, along with structured ESG reporting, not only makes it easier for us to meet regulatory requirements but also provides crucial impetus for our strategic development.
With ConClimate and Substain, we have found the ideal combination of technical expertise and technological solution. The automated carbon footprinting and structured ESG data management create a reliable basis for us - both for stakeholder inquiries and for strategic decisions in the area of sustainability.
Using the PCF calculation tool, we can conduct detailed life-cycle assessments of individual construction site projects. In addition to meeting legal disclosure requirements (CSRD), this foundation enables us to develop targeted measures to reduce our environmental footprint.
"Thanks to this collaboration, we have developed an advancedCO2 calculation tool that enables us to transparently present theCO2 emissions of our products and implement targeted measures to reduce ourcarbon footprint."
The introduction of Substain has taken our sustainability processes to a new level. Automation and structuring not only improve efficiency but also provide us with reliable information that we can use for our sustainability strategy, stakeholder inquiries, and our ongoing innovation efforts.
