Artificial intelligence divides the sustainability world: while some speak of enormous efficiency gains, others warn of the energy hunger of large language models. How can AI be used responsibly as part of an ESG strategy? What concrete potentials arise and how does this change the role of those responsible for sustainability?
In an interview with Jan Borchert (Chief Sustainability Officer) and Saša Redžepović (Senior Data Scientist), we shed light on the use of AI at Planted and show how companies are successfully mastering the balancing act between ecological impact and technological progress.
Understanding ambivalence: Opportunity or risk?
Jan, as CSO you advise companies on sustainability strategies on a daily basis. What do you think about the use of AI in the context of sustainability?
Jan: As a sustainability manager, the first thing I think of when I think of AI is emissions and resource consumption. Large language models really do consume immense amounts of energy. That doesn't feel sustainable at first.
At the same time, I see the huge potential for targeted, responsible use. It's not about "AI or sustainability", but about how AI can help companies to achieve sustainable goals faster and more efficiently. The impact is what matters: If AI helps thousands of companies to reduce CO₂ faster and operationalize ESG, then the positive effect far outweighs the negative.
That sounds like a pragmatic approach. Where specifically do you see the greatest potential?
Jan:Studies show that AI can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as resource and energy consumption, for example by optimizing processes or supply chains. In the best case scenario, companies see these savings directly on their balance sheet as a return on impact.
Saša, from a technical perspective: What specific applications do you see?
Saša: AI enables us to act proactively instead of just reacting. We can develop early warning systems for ESG risks - such as climate risks or supply chain problems. This means that companies can recognize changes in real time and take immediate countermeasures instead of reading about them in reports months later.
Keeping an eye on the risks
At the same time, AI also brings challenges ...
Jan: Absolutely. We can't ignore the environmental impact of AI: high energy consumption due to training and operation, water consumption due to data center cooling and more electronic waste due to more frequent hardware changes.
Saša: In addition to the environmental impact, we must also consider the legal framework. The EU AI Act requires transparency, ethics and traceability in AI decisions and sets standards for bias detection. At the same time, the protection of personal data must be guaranteed. Anyone using AI must consider these regulations from the outset and not as an afterthought.
Concrete implementation: What does "responsible use of AI" mean?
What does "responsible use of AI" mean in concrete terms for companies?
Jan: Put simply, you need a strategy. If you use AI, you need to define clear rules: What data will be used? Who is responsible for the results? How is bias recognized and addressed? And above all, check the AI-generated results again: Humans remain the final authority. We also support all companies that use our AI functions.
Saša, what are the most important structural requirements?
Saša: In order to use AI responsibly, companies should consider a few basic points:
Firstly, the responsible handling of data. Secondly, training. It is important that companies train their employees so that they understand how AI works and how it is used as a support - not as a threat. Thirdly, energy consumption. AI can be resource-intensive, so companies should focus on efficient infrastructure, such as green cloud services and optimized models.
And last but not least: transparency. The AI's decisions must be comprehensible and explainable so that humans always remain in control and can understand how the AI arrives at its results.
How does Planted ensure that AI is used responsibly?
Saša: At Planted, we see AI as an effective tool that can help companies to implement sustainability faster and more efficiently. At the same time, we are aware of the responsibility that the use of this technology entails - particularly in terms of data protection, energy consumption and social acceptance.
Our AI is not intended to replace, but to empower. It supports those responsible for sustainability to increase their knowledge and impact. We make sure that AI at Planted does not act as a black box, but remains comprehensible.
Jan: We use AI specifically where it offers real added value. For example, in the identification of IROs (Impact, Risks, Opportunities). Here, AI saves huge amounts of hours and identifies the most important IROs tailored to companies in minutes. This enables companies to implement their ESG strategies faster and more precisely.
The role of the future: from rapporteur to strategist
Jan, what influence do you think AI will have on the role of sustainability managers in the future?
Jan: The role will change. AI enables data-driven decision-making, so sustainability managers are increasingly becoming data managers and analysts. They use AI-supported tools for monitoring, reporting and forecasting to develop efficient ESG strategies.
With AI and the ability to make larger data sets comprehensible, the issue of return is also made easier - i.e. the question of how much money a sustainability manager actually generates for the company with their activities. The value of sustainability will rise sharply in the future for economic reasons, and companies that have already launched sustainable initiatives will benefit in particular.
That sounds like a strategic upgrading of the role ...
Jan: Exactly. The role is evolving from a traditional reporting and control function to a strategic management position. Those who understand AI and use it responsibly can once again help set the sustainability agenda instead of just documenting what others have decided.
