From board-level commitment to frontline action, sustainability is powering resilience and innovation at Dräger.

In this episode, host Sven Steinert welcomes Stefanie Hirsch, Chief Sustainability & Quality Officer and Executive Board Member at Dräger, to explore what sustainable transformation looks like when it’s driven from the top. Stefanie explains why regulatory compliance is no longer enough—customers now expect concrete action: more recycled materials, lower CO₂ emissions, and real pathways to net zero.

From Dräger’s circular economy initiatives and the challenges of reverse logistics, to embedding sustainability across the organisation and innovating in product design, Stefanie unpacks the realities of driving impact in global medical and safety technology. She also shares how Dräger is rethinking energy efficiency, reducing supply chain emissions, and why internal alignment is just as critical as meeting external stakeholder demands.


You'll learn:

1. Why customer demands now rival regulations in driving sustainability at Dräger
2. How Dräger is building a circular economy—despite logistical and regulatory hurdles
3. What it takes to embed sustainability throughout a global organisation
4. How product design and supply chain drive decarbonisation and energy efficiency
5. The crucial role of leadership and cross-functional buy-in in sustainable transformation



Get in touch with Stefanie Hirsch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanie-hirsch-germany/

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About the host Sven Steinert:
Sven Steinert is the CEO of SUSTAINX | The Sustainability Leaders Community, and Partner and Sustainability Lead at H&Z Management Consulting. To Sven, sustainability is not just a buzzword – it’s about making real changes for a sustainable future. His goal is to help companies reduce their environmental footprint and embrace circularity. Sven is passionate about ice hockey, and exploring new cultures to enrich his understanding of the world and diverse ways of life.

Get in touch with Sven Steinert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svensteinert/

Want to connect with like-minded sustainability professionals in a collaborative space? Join our online community at osapeers.org.

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The SUSTAINX: Leaders in Sustainability Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.