Denis (Kenan) Schäfer-Interim & Sustainability Manager

The aspects listed here outline the different roles and activities that I have taken on or am currently taking on in my work in sustainability management for companies across a wide range of industries:

• External sustainability manager role
• Training and workshops for (international) teams on sustainability topics
• Responsibility for building CSRD reporting structures
• Responsibility for building CBAM reporting structures
• Responsibility for implementing a LkSG risk management system
• Responsibility 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-related developments
• Support with funding controlling and grant applications

Through my work, I have gained experience in companies from a wide range of industries. My clients include, for example:

• international corporate group in the clothing industry
• securing funding and implementing international projects
• group company in the automotive sector
• family-run group of companies in the tobacco goods sector
• owner-managed company in the food sector
• internationally active laboratory group
• family-run group of companies in the special items sector
• family-run company in the food sector
• group of companies in the retail sector
• IT services with a focus on the public sector

Expertise in sustainability reporting (especially CSRD):

• main focus of work since the end of 2023
• identification of the regulatory sustainability-related requirements for sustainability reporting
• development of a concept / project roadmap for setting up and implementing compliant sustainability reporting
• coordination and implementation of the materiality analysis in line with ESRS
• coordination and implementation of the stakeholder dialogue incl. development of a materiality questionnaire
• identification of material ESRS topic areas and derivation of the relevant reportable data points
• coordination of data collection and preparation
• ensuring compliant documentation of all relevant process steps
• coordination with audit firms
• management of cross-departmental teams for data collection and management

Expertise in sustainability ratings (especially Ecovadis):

• assessment of the status quo
• derivation of improvement areas to achieve the desired rating result
• identification of company-specific thematic rating priorities
• development of a concept for preparing and carrying out the sustainability rating
• preparation of new documents to meet the rating requirements, e.g. in the areas of policies and reporting
• coordination of data collection and preparation as well as measures in the defined improvement areas
• management of cross-departmental teams to implement the requirements
• carrying out the questionnaire-based rating

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

• identification of the company-specific regulatory sustainability-related requirements of EUTR & EUDR
• development of a concept / project roadmap for setting up and implementing compliant risk management structures
• coordination and implementation of supplier data requests
• development of supplier templates for data collection
• development of the due diligence regulation
• support in carrying out official notifications
• coordination of the risk management system
• preparation and support for an official audit
• management of cross-departmental teams to implement the requirements
• early identification of further regulatory requirements under EUDR
• handling official communication (e.g. to clarify regulatory uncertainties)

Expertise in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):

• identification of the company-specific regulatory sustainability-related requirements of CBAM
• development of a concept / project roadmap for setting up and implementing compliant reporting structures
• coordination and implementation of supplier data requests
• development of supplier templates for data collection
• development of data collection and preparation structures to determine GHG emissions
• registration in the CBAM register and takeover of CBAM reporting
• early identification of further regulatory requirements of CBAM

Expertise in the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act:

• identification of the regulatory sustainability-related requirements of the LkSG
• development of a concept / project roadmap for implementing compliant risk management structures
• coordination and implementation of the risk analysis
• development of prioritization mechanisms to derive risk mitigation and remedial measures
• monitoring of initiated measures with risk suppliers
• development of a Supplier Code of Conduct and a rollout process
• development of a policy statement on human rights and a human rights strategy statement
• implementation and operation of LkSG whistleblowing procedures
• interface and coordination of internal departments and external contacts in operating the LkSG risk management system

Further expertise in sustainability management:

• carrying out opportunity and risk analyses
• defining sustainability strategies
• defining climate targets in line with the SBTi
• answering sustainability-related customer requests
• support in the sustainability-related optimization of existing processes (e.g. operation of the EnMS according to ISO 50001, carrying out audits)
• support in expanding renewable energy in the photovoltaic area
• setup and operation of compliance reporting systems
• preparation of greenhouse gas inventories for Scope 1, 2 and 3 according to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, GHG Protocol Product Carbon Footprint and ISO 14064 as well as product-specific CO2 inventories
• management of cross-departmental teams to implement sustainability-related requirements

for an internationally active trading company