9. October 2025 By Matthias Joos and Lukas Schmitt
Sustainability at adesso – A Never-Ending Project
Sustainability is a long-term journey, even for a consulting and IT service provider like adesso. Starting in early 2025, we intensified our efforts in environmental management by defining clear roles, allocating more time, and sharpening our focus.
In this interview, Matthias Joos, Head of Environmental Management, and Lukas Schmitt, Deputy Head, discuss their strategic approach, the changes they’ve implemented, and why the goal is not perfection but credible progress.
Why was environmental management restructured at adesso Schweiz?
Matthias: Last year, we established and certified our environmental management system under ISO 14001, which also led to the creation of the Head of Environmental Management role. In early 2025, after completing the setup and certification, the role was redefined to provide dedicated time and focus for driving sustainability initiatives.
Sustainability is no longer a side topic, neither in society nor in business. To meet our responsibilities, we need clear structures, defined responsibilities, and some room for reflection and innovation. Our goal was never to do everything perfectly but to move forward in a structured and impactful way. We knew that achieving real impact would require fundamentally rethinking how we work at adesso Schweiz.
What has changed since then?
Lukas: As Matthias mentioned, we’ve begun reassessing our ways of working. While we’ve always had good ideas and initiatives, they were often disconnected. We are now adopting a more strategic approach.
One significant improvement is better internal coordination, including with our parent company, adesso SE. Sustainability touches nearly every area of the company. We’re currently working to integrate these perspectives, embedding sustainability not just in isolated efforts but holistically into our processes.
We’re still on this journey. Not everything runs smoothly, but those challenges often provide opportunities to learn. We’re realizing how much more is possible when sustainability is treated as a cross-cutting issue and taken seriously. This is where structured milestones come into play.
Was there a particularly important moment on this journey?
Matthias: A key milestone for us was the certification of our environmental management system under ISO 14001, which we achieved last year. This was more than just a formal milestone; it validated our efforts with clear goals, responsibilities, and verifiable processes. It also gave us internal momentum.
Lukas: Yes, the ISO certification changed a lot, including how the company perceives sustainability. Suddenly, it was clear: this is no longer a niche topic but part of our integrated management system. The annual maintenance audits and the re-certification every three years instill healthy discipline and remind us that sustainability is not a project with an end date.
This gives the topic weight, both internally and externally. However, certifications alone are not enough; what truly matters is how daily work changes.
What are your current priorities as Heads of Environmental Management?
Lukas:Our focus is currently on three key areas. First, we aim to better document our progress—not just for compliance but also to learn internally and remain transparent externally. Second, we’re working to systematically integrate sustainability into our operational processes. This means embedding it into the daily work of our teams, such as in customer project execution, managed services, event planning, mobility policies, and procurement. Third, we want to anchor sustainability in our corporate culture. It shouldn’t stop at environmental management but should be embraced and lived by everyone.
In parallel, we’re implementing many concrete measures. We’re tracking energy consumption at our locations, promoting climate-friendly commuting, and engaging in societal initiatives. A standout example is our partnership with OceanCare, a passion project of our management team. This goes beyond traditional donations, involving active participation. For instance, employees can donate the value of their birthday gifts.
What personally motivates you?
Matthias: What motivates me most is the idea that we, as a company, can make a real difference if we take sustainability seriously and approach it as more than just an obligation. It’s easy to talk about sustainability, but turning it into concrete actions is something else entirely.
I want our team to show that we’re trying to do better—not perfectly, but consciously and with conviction. I also see my role as encouraging others to get involved and take responsibility, without moral pressure.
Lukas: For me, sustainability is credible when it becomes part of everyday life. I find it motivating when colleagues suddenly bring ideas from their own areas because they realize: this topic is relevant to me too. It’s not about pointing fingers but about working with possibilities.
When we create space for participation, thinking, and change, a genuine culture emerges. And for me, that’s the strongest sign of progress. This culture also shapes how we interact with our clients.
What value do your clients gain from your environmental management efforts?
Matthias: Many of our clients face challenges similar to those we encounter—new legal requirements, ESG reporting, or developing credible climate strategies. They rightly expect their partners to take responsibility as well.
That’s why we often work toward the same goals with our clients. Our aim to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 at the latest creates a shared foundation and strengthens mutual understanding. This alignment is a real value-add. Our experiences, solutions, and even our learning curve are often directly transferable. We want to shape this journey together as a reliable, forward-thinking partner on equal footing.
Lukas: A central part of our approach is Twin Transformation—the simultaneous advancement of sustainability and digitalization. We’re convinced that the challenges in both areas cannot be addressed separately.
Our services are designed to be pragmatic, impactful, and focused on our clients’ everyday realities. These include the “Workshop in a Day,” where companies develop a tailored sustainability roadmap with a clear data focus in just one day, from vision to concrete reporting solutions.
Another example is ZeroC, our platform for CO₂ and energy optimization in buildings. It combines weather and consumption data in real time, identifies savings potential, and helps improve energy efficiency measurably. Equally important is our work on Green IT & Green Code or “AI meets Sustainability.” We demonstrate how technology and data can make sustainability measurable. It’s about finding practical solutions together.
What are your next goals?
Matthias: Our next milestone is the maintenance audit for our ISO 14001 certification. This is important not just as a formal requirement but also for strengthening our internal structures. At the same time, we aim to improve our EcoVadis rating. This isn’t an end in itself but an important mirror: where do we stand, and what do we need to improve?
Our long-term goal is clear: climate neutrality by 2030 at the latest. This is ambitious, and that’s precisely why we need continuous development. We’re working to embed sustainability more deeply into the company. We believe that if as many employees as possible identify with the topic, it will become part of our identity and, therefore, part of our success.
Conclusion
Sustainability at adesso Schweiz is a journey, not something that happens automatically. It’s not about perfection but about mindset, structure, and continuous progress. We aim to show how to bring responsibility to life and why small steps can collectively have a big impact. We look forward to engaging with our clients because true sustainability always emerges collaboratively.
