The Heartprint approach
The Heartprint approach supports you in competently navigating your company through the sustainability jungle. We are the sustainability consultancy that wants to empower you and make yourself redundant as quickly as possible.
We support you along the way with the following goals:
- =Demand |Pulling in the same direction
- =Knowledge | Knowing what to do
- =Ability | Develop competence in-house
Footprint - Handprint - Heartprint
The footprint
The cornerstone of the sustainability debate is the ecological footprint.
For many years, it has measured the (negative) impact that people and companies have on our planet.
The handprint
Some time later, the concept of the handprint was launched.
The handprint looks at the positive impact that people and companies have on our planet.
The heartprint
After many years of dealing with sustainability, I have come to understand that what we need is real transformation.
And this is only possible if people put their hearts into it.
When people put their heart into something, they find solutions instead of obstacles, go the extra mile and have fun doing it.
That’s why I created the concept of the heartprint.
What makes the Heartprint approach so special?
If we – as people and organizations – really want to make a difference, if we want to shape change – whether at an individual, corporate or societal level – we need knowledge, skills AND will.
We have to realize that we can only work together, not against each other or in competition.
That’s why we – as Heartprint GmbH – want to support you in achieving real change in relation to your individual sustainability goal or challenge.
Our aim is to show you the map, help you to locate yourself, choose the best means of transportation for you and get moving.
As a result you get:
Demand
Being able to see your own contribution and place it in the bigger picture creates a sense of purpose.
Understanding that you yourself are capable of contributing to positive change – regardless of the hierarchical level – gives you strength and motivation for the next tasks.
Knowledge
You gain knowledge about where you are, what is most important now and how you can approach your goals.
The orientation and prioritization is invaluable for the feeling of feasibility.
Ability
Together we find solutions instead of obstacles.
With the right know-how, leaders and employees learn what to do and how to do it.
Celebrating lighthouse projects and regularly realizing results under your own steam feels incredibly good.
Together
Sustainability is a team sport. Only if we manage to join forces will we succeed in achieving real transformation – at both a corporate and social level. What’s more, like any team sport, it’s more fun together. Genuine, early change management with all those affected on an equal footing is a key success factor. We would be happy to discuss how this can be achieved without endless communication loops.
On the path through transformation
Many companies that start to deal with sustainability encounter obstacles and problems despite great motivation.
At Heartprint, we try to help you overcome these hurdles so that you have a clear vision of your goals, know how to proceed concretely and efficiently and how to turn your sustainability efforts into a team sport.
The problem
The solution
Lack of overview & unclear objectives
- Lack of overview: What does the “topic of sustainability” consist of?
- What should we do first, what is particularly important?
- Unclear motivation and objectives Who wants sustainability, why and with what objectives?
- Often therefore: paralysis or hectic, undirected actionism
Lack of in-house knowledge & expertise
- Lack of knowledge: What exactly do we need to do now?
- Process ambiguity: How should we proceed?
Who should talk to whom about what?
Operational overload
- Conflict between the idealistic desire for more sustainability and the excessive demands of operational implementation
- Unclear which topic should be addressed by whom
Concern about costs
- Concern about having to hire someone (e.g. a Chief Sustainability Officer)
- Concern about follow-up costs (“He or she still wants to have a team of 15 at the end”)
- Belief “You have to be able to afford sustainability”
- No understanding of synergy effects (which would even lead to greater sustainability)
Concern about internal resistance
- Unclear how critical people can be taken along for the ride
- Concern about the rejection of transformation processes, particularly in light of the tense capacity situation (“Not this too”)
Fear of data requirements for reporting obligations
- Knowledge that reports will be required but no capacity to care (and often unclear exactly what that means)
- Separate consideration of digitalization and sustainability.
Areas often do not talk to each other - Lack of clarity on how simple digitalization measures help with the reporting obligation (and sustainability in general)
Temporary CSO
- Temporary resource – without long-term costs, goal: make yourself superfluous
- Orientation through specialist knowledge and external experience
- Clarification of what the company needs in the individual situation
- Enabling the entire company and every team so that in the end everyone is a CSO (keyword: institutional readiness)
- Translation between top management, management levels and employees
- Leave expertise & responsibility in the area (usually at the base) where work is carried out
- The core role is not to “make companies sustainable”, but to empower employees to make their companies sustainable themselves
Orientation & goal clarification
- Overview & orientation: show which topics could be relevant
- Clarification of objectives: Who wants what in the company in terms of sustainability and why (not)?
Are there conflicts here?
Is there a common vision?
Prioritization, structuring & roadmap
- Prioritization of fields of action in order to use resources efficiently and prevent excessive demands
- Development of a roadmap that can also be used for communication purposes
- Structuring and assigning tasks to the specialist departments
Concretization - Rapid success through lighthouse projects
- Rapid, visible success through lighthouse projects
- Celebrate successes
- Appreciation and recognition to everyone involved for the extra portion of joy and motivation
- Room to enjoy your own contribution
- Basis for goodwill towards further development steps
Liability
- Heartprint stands for more than PowerPoint slides
- Our mission is real change and that only comes through DOING
- Together with the specialist departments, we develop feasible measures and solutions
- Commitment through comprehensibility – We work at eye level with the people in the organization – regardless of hierarchy
- But commitment also means: no green washing
- We support companies that really want to make a difference
- This may also include decisions relevant to the business model
Digitalization & automation - twin transformation in action
We will only succeed in bringing about change if people participate of their own free will and not because they are forced to.
That’s why it’s my mission – as a man of conviction and a climate activist in a suit – to reach people’s hearts and help ensure that everyone from the janitor to the managing director knows what needs to be done, is able to make their contribution and is motivated to act.
See also the Heartprint approach
“Twin Transformation enables companies not only to increase their economic performance through digital solutions, but also to make a positive contribution to sustainability at the same time.”
Rainer Karcher, founder of Heartprint
Twin...
What?
Many companies see digitalization and sustainability as two separate issues.
More precisely, as two challenges, at least one of which is too many.
It often feels overwhelming to have to turn the big wheel of sustainability in addition to modernizing the company.
Twin Transformation enables a new perspective.
Twin Transformation assumes that there are many synergies if a company drives forward the digital and sustainable transformation simultaneously and closely interlinked.
The simultaneous integration of digital and sustainable transformation processes in companies and organizations through digital technologies optimizes business processes and at the same time implements sustainable practices to assume ecological and social responsibility.
It is important to note that twin transformation is not an end in itself.
By driving both transformation processes forward at the same time, companies
they can remain future-proof and competitive.
Digital transformation…
… includes the introduction of technologies such as Cloud ERP, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT)/Industry4.0 and Cloud Computing to promote efficiency and innovation.
Sustainable transformation…
… aims to make business models more environmentally friendly and socially responsible, e.g. by reducing CO2 emissions, conserving resources and promoting social justice.
Twin Transformation…
… uses digital possibilities (digitalization, automation through to AI) to, for example, intelligently optimize energy consumption or develop digital platforms that support the circular economy.
Consulting process & intensity
Our process
01 Non-binding initial consultation
We get to know each other, see if the chemistry is right and whether we can help you with your request.
02 Order clarification
If we want to work together, we will sit down with the relevant people to determine your exact brief and what you want from us.
03 Kick-Off
Together we start the process defined in the order.
If necessary, we involve all the people involved, set deadlines, plan workshops if necessary and carry them out.
04 Check-Ins
Our process continuously logs all milestones together and can correct or realign the course at any time.
05 Conclusion & evaluation
At the end of the collaboration, we offer a comprehensive target/actual comparison and evaluate our time together.
Intensity levels:
We are happy to advise and support you as closely or as loosely as you wish.
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Some customers simply want an initial orientation, want to develop their vision and continue on their own from there.
- Others want support until the strategy and roadmap are in place so that they can start from there.
- And still others are happy for Heartprint to accompany them as CSO (Chief Sustainability Officer) for a period of time until implementation, to bring solution partners on board and to monitor implementation.
Why us
There are many sustainability consultancies. Not that the topic of sustainability isn’t complicated enough. Now you can also decide who can accompany you. Here are a few good reasons to choose Heartprint.
All topics
There are numerous solution providers for special sustainability requirements.
But what do you really need?
We’ll start with you right at the beginning.
Timetable & direction
Together we develop a feasible plan that will get you moving and make the direction of the company tangible – always together with the teams.
Facts & feeling
We combine facts, analyses and science on the one hand and motivation and the feelings of those involved on the other.
This is how movement is created.
Group know-how
As CSO in the Group, I helped to draw up the sustainability regulations for suppliers myself.
Now I would like to help smaller companies with this knowledge.
Sustainability & IT
As a trained IT specialist, I consistently bring IT and sustainability into the conversation, always with the aim of automation.
AI can also be a useful application here.
Sounds good? Please feel free to contact us!
Would you like support and guidance with your individual sustainability challenges? Or would you simply like to discuss your situation without any obligation? Book a free initial consultation here:
You can also leave me a message using the contact form. I will get back to you shortly.