Denis (Kenan) Schäfer

The aspects listed here outline the various roles and activities I have taken on or continue to undertake in sustainability management for companies across different industries:

• Acting as an external sustainability manager
• Training and workshops on sustainability for (international) teams
• Responsible for setting up CSRD reporting structures
• Responsible for setting up CBAM reporting structures
• Responsible for implementing an LkSG risk management system
• Responsible for implementing an EUTR/EUDR risk management system
• Implementation and operation of compliance reporting systems
• Preparation of greenhouse gas inventories according to international standards
• Monitoring political and regulatory sustainability developments
• Support in grant controlling and grant applications

During my engagement, I have gained experience in companies from various industries. My clients include, for example:

• International corporate group in the apparel industry
• Acquisition of grants and implementation of international projects
• Subsidiary of a group in the automotive sector
• Family-run corporate group in tobacco products
• Owner-managed company in the food sector
• International laboratory group
• Family-run corporate group in special items
• Family-run company in the food sector
• Corporate group in retail
• IT services primarily in the public sector

Expertise in sustainability reporting (esp. CSRD):

• Focus area since end of 2023
• Identification of regulatory sustainability requirements for reporting
• Development of a concept / project roadmap for establishing and implementing compliant sustainability reporting
• Coordination and execution of materiality analysis as per ESRS
• Coordination and execution of stakeholder dialogue, including development of a materiality questionnaire
• Identification of key ESRS topics and derivation of relevant reportable data points
• Coordination of data collection and preparation
• Ensuring compliant documentation of all relevant process steps
• Coordination with auditing firms
• Leading cross-departmental teams for data gathering and management

Expertise in sustainability ratings (esp. Ecovadis):

• Determining the status quo
• Deriving improvement areas to achieve the desired rating outcome
• Identifying company-specific thematic rating focuses
• Developing a concept for preparing and conducting the sustainability rating
• Creating new documents to meet rating requirements, e.g., for policies and reporting
• Coordinating data collection and preparation as well as actions in defined improvement areas
• Leading cross-departmental teams to implement requirements
• Conducting the questionnaire-based rating

Expertise in deforestation-free supply chains (EUTR and EUDR):

• Identifying company-specific regulatory sustainability requirements of EUTR & EUDR
• Developing a concept / project roadmap for establishing and implementing compliant risk management structures
• Coordinating and conducting data requests with suppliers
• Preparing supplier templates for data requests
• Developing due diligence policies
• Assisting with official notifications
• Coordinating the risk management system
• Preparing and supporting official audits
• Leading cross-departmental teams to implement requirements
• Early identification of additional regulatory requirements under EUDR
• Handling official communications (e.g., clarifying regulatory uncertainties)

Expertise in CO2 Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):

• Identifying company-specific regulatory sustainability requirements of CBAM
• Developing a concept / project roadmap for establishing and implementing compliant reporting structures
• Coordinating and conducting data requests with suppliers
• Developing supplier templates for data requests
• Developing data collection and processing structures to determine GHG emissions
• Registering in the CBAM registry and taking over CBAM reporting
• Early identification of additional regulatory requirements of CBAM

Expertise in the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG):

• Identifying regulatory sustainability requirements of LkSG
• Developing a concept / project roadmap for implementing compliant risk management structures
• Coordinating and conducting risk analyses
• Developing prioritization mechanisms to derive risk mitigation and remediation measures
• Monitoring initiated measures with high-risk suppliers
• Developing a supplier code of conduct and rollout process
• Developing a human rights policy statement and a human rights strategy statement
• Implementing and managing LkSG whistleblower procedures
• Serving as interface and coordination between internal departments and external contacts for LkSG risk management operations

Further expertise in sustainability management:

• Conducting opportunity and risk analyses
• Defining sustainability strategies
• Defining climate targets in line with SBTi
• Responding to sustainability-related customer inquiries
• Supporting sustainability optimization of existing processes (e.g., operating an EnMS under ISO 50001, conducting audits)
• Supporting expansion of renewables in photovoltaics
• Establishing and operating compliance reporting systems
• Preparing GHG inventories for Scope 1, 2, and 3 according to GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, GHG Protocol Product Carbon Footprint, and ISO 14064 as well as product-specific CO2 footprints
• Leading cross-departmental teams to implement sustainability requirements

at an international trading company