Our team
Our team brings together extensive project experience and a strong understanding of sustainability challenges. With a spirit of innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset, we develop sustainable strategies for a livable future. As dedicated doers, consultants, and team players, we approach every project with passion and aim to deliver the best possible solutions. Our team is based in Freiburg and the Cologne/Bonn region and operates worldwide.
Dr. Martin Ritter
CEO
Expertise: sustainable business models, sustainability strategy, sustainable value chains
Fields of application: Mobility, medical technology, sharing economy, apiculture
Languages: German, English
Projects (selection):
Preparation for CSRD Reporting at a medium-sized company in the medical technology sector. Stakeholder identification and analysis, double materiality assessment, climate risk analysis, gap analysis, KPI identification.
Which ESG tools fit your organisation? (wvib Schwarzwald AG). Market analysis of sustainability software solutions, development of a needs assessment tool to support structured software selection, including a white paper.
Potentials of Honey/Wax Value Chain in Nono Sale (Ethiopia). Increasing farmers‘ and producers’ income through organic-certified beeswax production. (On behalf of GIZ Programme ‘Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains and Standards’).
Business Models of the Sharing Economy (University of Freiburg). Analysis of sustainable sharing economy business models and mobility concepts, empirical data collection, data analysis and aggregation.
Publications (selection):
Lammert, Ritter et al. 2024 The Impact of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) on Software Companies – a survey (in press)
Ritter et al. 2023: Mobility transition or just another business? Temporal and spatial analysis of the diffusion of station-based carsharing services in five German municipalities. Spatial Research and Planning 81 (4)
Ritter and Schanz (2019): The sharing economy: A comprehensive business model framework, Journal of Cleaner Production 213.
Ritter et al. (2019): The African Way: Healthy Bee Colonies and Sustainable Income Maintenance. American Bee Journal 159 (5).
Ritter and Hampe (2019): Local and digital. Business model development of neighbourhood platforms and apps in the German-speaking market. ZEE Working Paper (only available in German)
Dr. Emma Gothár
CEO
Expertise: Circular economy, circular supply chains, sustainability management, NGOs an international project coordination
Fields of application: Plastics, packaging, wood-based industries, medical technology
Languages: German, English, Hungarian
Projects (selection):
Preparation for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) at a medium-sized company in the trade sector (import). Value chain analysis, risk assessment, design of EUDR process management, introduction to the EUDR Information System.
Implementation of a Sustainability Report under the VSME Standard at a medium-sized company in the medical technology sector. CO₂ analysis (Scopes 1–3), data aggregation, identification and planning of climate adaptation measures, VSME reporting.
Circular Economy for Plastic Packaging (University of Freiburg). Analysis of corporate circular economy strategies, circular supply chains and procurement strategies, plastic recycling, data collection, social network analysis, system dynamics modelling.
Many years of experience coordinating and managing international projects in civil society and the public sector.
Publications (selection):
Gothár, E., Schanz, H., 2024. Dynamics in the evolution of circular sourcing strategies: Evidence from German frontrunners sourcing for recycled plastics. J. Clean. Prod. 435, 140561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.140561.
Gothár, E., & Schanz, H. (2022). Bringing a governance perspective to plastic litter: A structural analysis of the German PET industry. Sustainable Production and Consumption 31, 630-641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.03.019
Winner of the People’s Choice Award of the Three Minute Thesis Competition (2019). Graduate School Environment, Society and Global Change, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg
Dr. David Sipple
Partner and consultant
Expertise: Solution-oriented Sustainability Governance, governance instruments, System Dynamics and Network Analysis, funding (state, federal and EU)
Fields of application: Food economy, business development, municipal administration and politics, municipal development
Languages: German, English
Lectures (selection):
Sipple D. (2024). Municipal scope for Fostering the Sustainable Local Food Economy. Robert Bosch Foundation, 06.03.2024.
Sipple D. (2024). A circular food economy for the city of Freiburg and the surrounding region. Circular Black Forest, City of Freiburg, Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG. 22.02.2024.
Sipple, D. (2023). Municipal Tools for Fostering the Sustainable Local Food Economy. Freiburg environmental talks. Jazzhaus Freiburg, 15 November 2023.
Publications (selection):
Sipple, D.; Wiek, A. & Schanz, H. (eds.) (2024). Sustainability Governance of local food systems through municipal policy and administration. Stadtforschung aktuell. Springer VS.
Sipple, D., & Wiek, A. (2023). Municipal Tools for Fostering the Sustainable Local Food Economy. Freiburg i.Br.: Institute for Environmental Social Sciences and Geography.
Sipple, D. & Schanz, H. (2021). Leverage points of local economies. Business closures in local artisan food production from a system perspective. Spatial Research and Planning, 79(1), 58-72.
