WAYS - Ecodesign Encounters

Wolfgang Steiner
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WAYS – Ecodesign Encounters from the Field Because ecodesign is not a checklist. It’s a journey you take. On WAYS, we meet people who are paving new paths for sustainable products and services. Straight from practice – in walking conversations or studio discussions. We share perspectives on ecodesign in practice, the ESPR regulation, Digital Product Passports, data management, and the circular economy. Because ecodesign creates products and services that are fit for the future. Hosted by Wolfgang Steiner (Ecoviator). New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe & share! ecoviator.com/ways

  1. 28. Sept.

    #10 - Clare Bushell & Tatiana Captari (Triumph): Beyond Compliance - DPP for Brand Experience

    About WAYS WAYS explores real-world experiences at the intersection of Eco-Design, Circular Economy, Product Sustainability, Digital Transformation and Regulatory Readiness (including ESPR, the Digital Product Passport and Product Data Governance). Who should listen? Relevant for sustainability teams, product managers, retail leaders, marketing professionals, digital transformation teams, product designers and manufacturers preparing for the Digital Product Passport. About the Guests Clare Bushell Sustainability Project Manager, Triumph International Tatiana Captari Retail Operations Manager, Triumph International About the Host Wolfgang Steiner Founder, Ecoviator https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangsteiner/ https://www.ecoviator.com Summary In this episode I speak with Clare Bushell and Tatiana Captari from Triumph International about their Digital Product Passport journey – from an initial pilot to scaling across the organisation. Together they show why the DPP is much more than a compliance requirement: it is an opportunity to strengthen customer trust, improve collaboration across functions, connect sustainability with retail, and create richer product experiences throughout the customer journey. Key Topics • Launching a Digital Product Passport pilot before regulation was finalised • Scaling from pilot projects to enterprise-wide implementation • Data integration beyond spreadsheets • Cross-functional collaboration across sustainability, retail, IT and marketing • Supplier engagement and supply chain transparency • Customer experience beyond compliance • Building trust through Digital Product Passports Soundbites • "The Digital Product Passport is much more than a compliance tool." • "It became a gift for us." • "The Digital Product Passport is not really about data. It's about relationships." Chapters 00:00 Two perspectives on the Digital Product Passport 06:44 Sustainability beyond the workplace 12:00 Purpose beyond compliance 13:58 Lessons from Triumph's DPP pilot 20:24 Scaling the Digital Product Passport across the organisation 23:02 Retail, customer awareness and brand trust 25:58 Supplier engagement and data transparency 30:00 From compliance to customer experience 35:41 Looking ahead: the future of the DPP 40:16 Personal sustainability and recharging Content Type Interview Primary Goal Education Music Credits "Lullaby | Hip-Hop Instrumental" by kontraamusic Source: Freesound.org Licensed under Creative Commons CC0

    #10 - Clare Bushell & Tatiana Captari (Triumph): Beyond Compliance - DPP for Brand Experience

  2. 10. Sept.

    #9 - Jonas Bialk & Indrayush De (KSB SE): Product meets Corporate – 2 Perspectives, 1 Sustainability

    About WAYSWAYS explores real-world experiences at the intersection of Eco-Design, Circular Economy, Product Sustainability, Digital Transformation and Regulatory Readiness (including ESPR, the Digital Product Passport and Product Data Governance). Who should listen?Relevant for sustainability leaders, product managers, engineers, data and IT teams, corporate sustainability professionals and manufacturers preparing for the next generation of sustainability reporting and product transparency. About the GuestsJonas Bialk Corporate Sustainability Lead, KSB SE Indrayush De Environmental Sustainability Manager, KSB SE About the HostWolfgang Steiner Founder, Ecoviator https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangsteiner/ https://www.ecoviator.com SummaryIn this episode I speak with Jonas Bialk and Indrayush De from KSB about why corporate sustainability and product sustainability are no longer separate disciplines. We explore how reporting, product data, engineering and digitalisation are converging into one connected sustainability system, and why trusted data, shared methodologies and cross-functional collaboration will become essential foundations for the Digital Product Passport and AI-enabled sustainability management. Key Topics• Corporate vs. Product Sustainability: one system, different perspectives • Why sustainability reporting and product sustainability are converging • Product data quality, methodology and comparability • Preparing for the Digital Product Passport • AI, trusted data and connected sustainability information • Cross-functional collaboration across engineering, IT and sustainability • From periodic reporting towards continuous sustainability intelligence Soundbites• "There is no lack of ambition." • "Customers are moving from sustainability claims to sustainability evidence." • "Everything is connected: sustainability, engineering and digitalisation." Chapters00:00 Two journeys into sustainability 02:38 Corporate and product sustainability: where they meet 06:18 Looking at sustainability through a data lens 10:50 Strategy, regulation and product realities 15:23 Preparing for the Digital Product Passport 20:18 AI, methodology and trusted sustainability data 28:54 One sustainability, two perspectives 34:30 Finding balance beyond sustainability Content TypeInterview Primary GoalEducation Music Credits"Lullaby | Hip-Hop Instrumental" by kontraamusic Source: Freesound.org Licensed under Creative Commons CC0

    #9 - Jonas Bialk & Indrayush De (KSB SE): Product meets Corporate – 2 Perspectives, 1 Sustainability

  3. 30. Juli

    #8 – Vanya Boneva (Essity): Let's turn Great Sustainable Product Ideas into Business Reality

    About WAYSWAYS explores real-world experiences at the intersection of ecodesign, circular economy, product sustainability, digital transformation and regulatory readiness (including ESPR, the Digital Product Passport and product data governance). Who this episode is forRelevant for product designers, product managers, sustainability professionals, marketing and communication teams, innovation leaders, manufacturers, and anyone interested in bringing sustainable product innovation successfully to market. About the guest: Vanya BonevaVanya Boneva is Sustainability Lead (Central & East Europe) and Regional Marketing Manager HHT at Essity (essity.com). Combining sustainability with commercial marketing, she works at the interface where sustainable product innovation becomes customer value. Her work on Essity’s award-winning Coreless technology demonstrates how sustainability, product development and marketing can come together to create innovations that benefit consumers, retailers, businesses and the environment alike. About the host: Wolfgang SteinerWolfgang Steiner has spent many years working at the intersection of product innovation and design, digital & data, and sustainability. He is the Founder of Ecoviator, helping companies navigate the Twin Transformation towards sustainable product businesses through digitalisation—including preparation for the Digital Product Passport. https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangsteiner/ https://www.ecoviator.com SummaryIn this episode, Wolfgang speaks with Vanya Boneva about what it really takes to transform a sustainable idea into a successful product innovation. Using the story behind Essity’s award-winning Coreless technology, they explore why sustainability alone is rarely enough. Instead, lasting innovation emerges when sustainability, marketing, product development and commercial teams work towards a common goal. A conversation about stakeholder alignment, credible sustainability communication, customer value—and why some of the most impactful innovations begin by questioning assumptions we’ve taken for granted for decades.  Soundbites• “Marketing and sustainability should not work in parallel—they should design together.” • “The best innovations don’t always add something new. Sometimes they remove what we’ve always assumed was necessary.” • “Sustainable innovation succeeds when customer value, business value and environmental value reinforce one another.”  WAYS_Intro and Outro to Vanya Boneva_final script.pdf Chapters00:00 Introduction and Vanya’s journey 04:15 Sustainability meets marketing 10:30 The story behind Coreless 20:05 Designing products retailers embrace 29:40 Communicating sustainability credibly 37:10 Aligning stakeholders across the organisation 45:25 Why less can become more 52:10 Looking ahead: the future of sustainable product innovation Content Type: Interview Primary Goal: Education Music Credits“Lullaby | Hip-Hop Instrumental” by kontraamusic Source: Freesound.org Licensed under Creative Commons CC0

    #8 – Vanya Boneva (Essity): Let's turn Great Sustainable Product Ideas into Business Reality

  4. 16. Juli

    #7 – Oliver Mergens (VAUDE): SDG 17 Ultra: Together is the Only Way

    Über WAYS: WAYS beleuchtet echte Erfahrungen an der Schnittstelle von Eco-Design, Circular Economy, Produktnachhaltigkeit, digitaler Transformation und Regulatory Readiness (u. a. ESPR, Digital Product Passport, Daten-Governance). Für wen diese Episode gedacht ist: Relevant für Produktdesigner:innen, Produktmanager:innen, Sustainability Teams, Kommunikationsverantwortliche, Hersteller sowie alle, die Nachhaltigkeit glaubwürdig und wirksam in Produkte und Unternehmen integrieren möchten. Über den Gast: Oliver Mergens Mit über 20 Jahren bei VAUDE engagiert sich Oliver aktuell als Berater der VAUDE Academy für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften (vaude.com) mit langjähriger Erfahrung in Nachhaltigkeit und der Begleitung von Unternehmen auf ihrem Weg zu mehr Verantwortung und Kreislauffähigkeit. Über den Host: Wolfgang Steiner Engagiert sich seit vielen Jahren in den Schnittstellen von Produktinnovation und -design, Digital & Data und Nachhaltigkeit. Er ist Gründer und Inhaber von Ecoviator und unterstützt Unternehmen bei der Twin Transformation - zu nachhaltigem Produkt-Business mit Hilfe der Digitalisierung, inklusive der Vorbereitung auf den Digitalen Produktpass https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangsteiner/ https://www.ecoviator.com Summary: In dieser Episode sprechen wir mit Oliver Mergens darüber, wie Nachhaltigkeit vom Purpose zur gelebten Unternehmenskultur wird. Am Beispiel von VAUDE sprechen wir über Pionierarbeit im Eco-Design, den Umgang mit EMPCO, die Chancen des Digitalen Produktpasses sowie darüber, warum Transparenz wichtiger ist als perfekte Nachhaltigkeitsversprechen. Ein Gespräch über Glaubwürdigkeit, Suffizienz, Partnerschaften – und weshalb Circular Economy nur gemeinsam gelingen kann. Key Topics: • Vom Purpose zur Unternehmenskultur: VAUDEs Nachhaltigkeitsreise • GreenShape und die Entwicklung eigener Nachhaltigkeitsstandards • EMPCO: Glaubwürdigkeit durch Transparenz • Digitaler Produktpass als Enabler für Vertrauen • Digitalisierung als Grundlage zirkulärer Geschäftsmodelle • Nachhaltigkeit als Teamsport – SDG 17 in der Praxis • Suffizienz: Warum weniger oft mehr ist Soundbites: • „Das beste Mittel zur Glaubwürdigkeit ist Transparenz.“ • „Ich bin SDG-17-Ultra.“ • „Müll ist ein Designfehler.“ Chapters: 00:00 Wie Oliver zur Nachhaltigkeit fand 03:10 Purpose und Nachhaltigkeitskultur bei VAUDE 08:50 GreenShape und ganzheitliche Nachhaltigkeit 22:07 EMPCO: Kommunikation zwischen Anspruch und Nachweis 29:46 Nachhaltigkeit als Teamsport 33:22 Digitaler Produktpass, Transparenz und Vertrauen 39:18 Digitalisierung als Grundlage der Circular Economy 45:25 Blick nach vorn: Design, Zirkularität und Entsorgung 48:42 Suffizienz und das Lieblingsprodukt Rucksack 52:34 Unterwegs sein – draußen und nach innen Content Type: Interview Primary Goal: Education Music Credits: “Lullaby | Hip-Hop Instrumental” by kontraamusic Source: Freesound.org Licensed under Creative Commons CC0

    #7 – Oliver Mergens (VAUDE): SDG 17 Ultra: Together is the Only Way

  5. 3. Juni

    #6 – Mihaela Stefanescu (UNFCCC): The Human Side of Circular Economy

    WAYS – Ecodesign Encounters from the Field Episode #6 – The Human Side of Circular Economy – Mihaela Stefanescu (UNFCCC) About WAYS WAYS explores real-world experiences at the intersection of ecodesign, circular economy, product sustainability and the systems that help make sustainable transformation possible. Who This Episode Is For Relevant for sustainability professionals, policy makers, product teams, circular economy practitioners and anyone interested in the connection between climate action and product design. About the Guest Mihaela Stefanescu Circular Economy and Climate Governance Expert | UNFCCC Roster of Experts | Senior Counselor to the Romanian Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihaela-stefanescu-9b76702/ About the Host Wolfgang Steiner Founder & Owner, Ecoviator https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangsteiner/ https://www.ecoviator.com Summary In this episode, Wolfgang speaks with Mihaela Stefanescu about the relationship between circular economy, climate policy and product design. Mihaela shares insights from her work on circular economy policy and as a nominated expert on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) roster of experts supporting technical reviews under the Paris Agreement. Together they explore why circularity is essential for achieving climate goals, why waste is often the result of design decisions made long before a product reaches consumers, and why repairability, transparency and material choices play a crucial role in creating more sustainable systems. The conversation also highlights a theme often overlooked in technical discussions: circular economy is not only a challenge of technology and regulation, but also one of governance, education, trust and human behaviour. Topics Discussed • Circular economy and climate action • The role of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement • Why waste is often a design problem • Repairability and product longevity • Material choices and product sustainability • Transparency and Digital Product Passports • Building trust across countries and value chains • The human side of circular economy Presented by Ecoviator Your Journey Companion for the Twin Transformation of Products https://www.ecoviator.com Music Credits: “Lullaby | Hip-Hop Instrumental” by kontraamusic Source: Freesound.org Licensed under Creative Commons CC0

    #6 – Mihaela Stefanescu (UNFCCC): The Human Side of Circular Economy

  6. 20. Mai

    #5 – Christian Aschenbrenner (PA): From Scrap-Yard-Vibes to Industrial-Grade Recycling

    Über WAYS: WAYS beleuchtet echte Erfahrungen an der Schnittstelle von Eco-Design, Circular Economy, Produktnachhaltigkeit, digitaler Transformation und Regulatory Readiness (u. a. ESPR, Digital Product Passport, Daten-Governance). Für wen diese Episode gedacht ist: Relevant für Produktdesigner:innen, Produktmanager:innen, Sustainability Teams, Hersteller sowie Akteure aus Recycling, Refurbishment, und Repair.   Über den Gast: Christian Aschenbrenner Gründer & Geschäftsführer, PA GmbH (we-are-pa.com) – „Circular Architects“ mit Fokus auf profitablere Recyclinglösungen, insbesondere WEEE (E-Waste) und große Hausgeräte.   Über den Host: Wolfgang Steiner Founder, Ecoviator https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangsteiner/ https://www.ecoviator.com Summary: In dieser Episode spreche ich mit Christian Aschenbrenner über Kreislaufwirtschaft dort, wo sie oft am wenigsten glamourös – aber am wirkungsvollsten – ist: im Recyclingprozess selbst. Christian beschreibt, warum echte Zirkularität nicht mit „mehr Recycling“ beginnt, sondern mit besserer Trennung, saubereren Fraktionen und Materialqualitäten, die am Markt wirklich bestehen können.   Key Topics: • Zero Waste WEEE: Anspruch, Nutzen, Grenzen   • Industrialisierung im Recycling: Qualität, Standards, Prozessfähigkeit   • Skalierung: Mengenlogik der Hersteller vs. Realität der Stoffströme   • Design for Disassembly: Kleben/Materialmix als Circularity-Blocker   • DPP aus Recycler-Perspektive: welche Infos wirklich fehlen   • KI & Robotik für E-Waste-Behandlung (inkl. Demontage)   • Wertschöpfungskette auf Augenhöhe: Zusammenarbeit als Voraussetzung Soundbites: • „Kreislaufwirtschaft entscheidet sich im konkreten Prozess – nicht im Konzeptpapier.“   • „Zero Waste WEEE ist ein Zielbild – und es gibt viel Potenzial zu holen.“   • „Hersteller brauchen Masse und gleichbleibende Qualität – nicht viele unterschiedliche Qualitäten.“   Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Kontext   02:03 Vor Ort bei PA: Recycling, Refurb, Repair   04:42 Zero Waste WEEE – was heißt das praktisch?   10:43 Industrialisierung im Recycling & Qualitätslogik   14:31 Designentscheidungen, die Circularity blocken   16:42 DPP: fehlende Infos aus Sicht der Recycler   24:56 Blick nach vorn: Robotik & KI in der E-Waste-Behandlung   27:33 „Wenn Hersteller nur eine Sache tun…“ (First Step)   Content Type: Interview Primary Goal: Education Music Credits: “Lullaby | Hip-Hop Instrumental” by kontraamusic Source: Freesound.org Licensed under Creative Commons CC0

    #5 – Christian Aschenbrenner (PA): From Scrap-Yard-Vibes to Industrial-Grade Recycling

  7. 5. Mai

    #4 – Efrat Friedland (Materialscout): Better Materials for Better Products

    WAYS – Ecodesign Encounters from the FieldEpisode #4 – Efrat Friedland (Materialscout) About WAYS WAYS explores real-world experiences at the intersection of eco-design, product sustainability, digital transformation and regulatory readiness (ESPR, Digital Product Passport, data governance and the twin transformation). Who This Episode Is ForRelevant for product designers, product managers, sustainability teams and organisations working on better material choices, circularity and eco-design readiness. About the GuestEfrat Friedland Founder, Materialscout About the HostWolfgang Steiner Founder, Ecoviator https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangsteiner/ https://www.ecoviator.com SummaryIn this episode, Wolfgang speaks with Efrat Friedland, material expert and founder of Materialscout, about the role of materials in sustainable product design. Efrat shares her journey from industrial design into material expertise – shaped by the realisation that the world does not simply need more products, but better decisions on what products are made of. The conversation explores how material choices influence environmental impact, product perception, storytelling and collaboration across design, engineering, procurement and marketing. Through a real-world case with BSH / Bosch Siemens Hausgeräte, Efrat shows how teams can align around better material decisions – and how easily sustainability claims such as “recyclable” can be misunderstood. A key insight: material selection alone does not define sustainability. Materials may represent only one part of a product’s footprint, but they remain a powerful lever when combined with lifecycle thinking, supply chain strategy and portfolio-level decisions. Looking ahead, Efrat calls for reduced material complexity, fewer unnecessary product variants, closed material loops and a shift in mindset: brands should start seeing materials as their own long-term assets. Key Topics• Materials as emotional and strategic product drivers • BSH case: recycled materials in consumer electronics • Recyclable vs. recycled – terminology matters • Limits of material impact in lifecycle assessments • Barriers to adopting new materials • Positive Plastics as a learning tool for designers • Closing material loops and reducing portfolio complexity Action Items• Reduce unnecessary material complexity • Align design, procurement, engineering and marketing early • Think beyond one product: look at the whole portfolio • Prioritise lower material use, not only material substitution • Explore take-back and closed-loop material systems Soundbites• “We don’t need more products – we need better material decisions.” • “Recyclable does not mean recycled.” • “Brands should think of materials as their own assets.” Chapters00:00 Introduction 05:31 From designer to material expert 11:35 BSH material case 17:04 Recyclability claims 20:05 Materials and LCA 22:58 Introducing better materials 28:20 Positive Plastics 31:43 Future material standards 35:50 Making eco-design the norm Content Type: Interview Primary Goal: Education Music Credits: “Lullaby | Hip-Hop Instrumental” by kontraamusic Source: Freesound.org Licensed under Creative Commons CC0

    #4 – Efrat Friedland (Materialscout): Better Materials for Better Products

  8. 19. März

    #3 - Beth Hadley (WBCSD / PACT): Eco-Design Without Perfect Data

    WAYS – Ecodesign Encounters from the Field Episode #3 – Beth Hadley (WBCSD / PACT) Über WAYSWAYS beleuchtet reale Erfahrungen an der Schnittstelle von Eco-Design, Produktnachhaltigkeit, digitaler Transformation und regulatorischer Vorbereitung (ESPR, Digitaler Produktpass, Daten-Governance, Twin Transformation). Für wen ist diese Episode relevant• Produktmanager:innen in der nachhaltigen Produktentwicklung • Nachhaltigkeits- und ESG-Verantwortliche • IT- und Datenteams im Kontext von Produkttransparenz • Unternehmen in Vorbereitung auf ESPR & DPP Zum GastBeth Hadley World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) – PACT Hintergrund in Data Science & Software Product Management Zum GastgeberWolfgang Steiner | Founder, Ecoviator LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangsteiner/ www.ecoviator.com ZusammenfassungIn diesem Walk-and-Talk entlang der Isar spricht Beth Hadley über ihren Weg von Data Science in die Nachhaltigkeit und ihre Arbeit an CO₂-Transparenz in globalen Lieferketten. Im Zentrum stehen die praktischen Herausforderungen von Scope-3-Daten, die Rolle von Standards und der oft zitierte „Standards-Zoo“. Beth bringt eine klare, pragmatische Perspektive ein: Nachhaltigkeitssysteme und Datenreife entwickeln sich iterativ – nicht perfekt von Anfang an. Zentrale Hürden sind fehlende Anreize, mangelnde Zusammenarbeit zwischen Abteilungen und unzureichende Datenqualität. Ihr Ansatz: „Minimum Viable Truth“ – Fokus auf die wichtigsten Impact-Kategorien, statt alles gleichzeitig messen zu wollen. Die Episode zeigt, wie Unternehmen trotz unvollständiger Daten handlungsfähig werden – und warum Entscheidungen wichtiger sind als Perfektion. Zum Abschluss gibt Beth einen Ausblick auf die nächsten fünf Jahre: klarere Standards, integrierte Softwarelösungen und der wachsende Einfluss von KI auf Datenqualität und Entscheidungsfindung. Warum reinhören• Nachhaltigkeit operativ umsetzen – über Abteilungen hinweg • Mit unvollständigen Daten sinnvoll arbeiten • Product-Management-Denken auf Nachhaltigkeit übertragen • Von Reporting zu echten Entscheidungen kommen • Pragmatismus als Schlüssel zur Transformation KeywordsEco-Design, Product Carbon Footprint, Scope 3, Lieferkette, Nachhaltigkeitsdaten, Standards, PACT, WBCSD, Digitaler Produktpass, KI Soundbites• „Wir haben einen Standards-Zoo.“ • „Eine Entscheidung ist besser als keine.“ • „Priorisiere Handeln – nicht Reden.“ • „Perfekte Daten gibt es nicht.“ Kapitel (Auswahl)00:00 Einstieg & Walk 02:26 Beths Weg 10:05 Scope 3 18:13 Minimum Viable Truth 26:51 Von Reporting zu Wirkung 33:39 Blick in die Zukunft Content Type: Interview Primary Goal: Bildung Music Credits: “Lullaby | Hip-Hop Instrumental” by kontraamusic (CC0)

    #3 - Beth Hadley (WBCSD / PACT): Eco-Design Without Perfect Data
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WAYS – Ecodesign Encounters from the Field Because ecodesign is not a checklist. It’s a journey you take. On WAYS, we meet people who are paving new paths for sustainable products and services. Straight from practice – in walking conversations or studio discussions. We share perspectives on ecodesign in practice, the ESPR regulation, Digital Product Passports, data management, and the circular economy. Because ecodesign creates products and services that are fit for the future. Hosted by Wolfgang Steiner (Ecoviator). New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe & share! ecoviator.com/ways

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  • Erstellt von
    Wolfgang Steiner
  • Jahre aktiv
    2026
  • Folgen
    14
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    © 2026 Wolfgang Steiner