Our focus is on the positive change of companies in the real economy, not the commercial scaling of our sustainability consulting. To achieve greater impact, we work with selected experts. Their in-depth knowledge of topics, methods and industries as well as their life and project experience make us even more powerful together.
Senior Advisor
Senior Consultant
Senior Advisor
Senior Consultant
Senior Advisor and Engineer
We are careful with our resources and profitable from day one. This gives us the opportunity to make small contributions to what we want to help bring about on a much larger scale: a good life for everyone within planetary boundaries.
Forests play a central role for carbon sequestration, as bastions of biodiversity, and as vital ecosystems for local communities. We’re working with our partner Eden Reforestation Projects to plant a million mangroves in Haiti, Madagascar, and Mozambique since 2021. This helps capture CO2, finances over 9,000 working days, and strengthens the coasts and fisheries that sustain local livelihoods.
Reforestation projects may be popular, but they don’t replace protection of existing forests. Especially the old stocks that have stored away lots of CO2 over the centuries and house complex ecosystems. We were inspired by Wilderness International and have already begun to protect our first areas. In addition, we are currently looking for ways to effectively protect 100 hectares of forest in the long term.
© 2024 Better Earth
Founder and CEO
For more than 15 years, Philipp dedicated himself to the topic of sustainability. First as international change manager at Save the Children, then for several years as project manager at McKinsey, before helping to develop the Circular Economy offering at Accenture Strategy and leading the Sustainability and Decarbonization division at innogy Consulting. In between, he successfully founded a Circular Economy startup and realized that with his own company, he could build up more long-term expertise and increase quality and impact of his work. That's why he founded Better Earth.
Co-Founder
Sebastian wants to shape the future in collective action. After more than 10 years at the intersection of innovation and sustainability, he decided against a return to big consulting to found Better Earth with Philipp. He had started his career developing visions for a future economy and society at a UNEP think and do tank. In search of more leverage, speed and immediacy, he had then moved on to Asian Development Bank, Accenture Strategy, and finally to the Bahlsen Family, a German midcap for whom he built a consulting team on the future of the food.
Consultant
Fenja wants to translate the forces of science and activism into entrepreneurial action. Her economics and political science studies focused on renewable energy and statistics. She worked on decarbonization of the transportation sector and human rights in the value chain. After stints at the United Nations, the German Foreign Office, and Joschka Fischer & Company, she knows that there is great potential for dynamic change in organizations. She chose Better Earth to contribute to sustainability transformation and lead organization on the 1.5° path.
Senior Advisor Sustainability
Birgit Klesper has a decade long track record in leading sustainability teams. Her leadership has been recognised by a number of prestigious distinctions, including the German Sustainability Award, which she received for the sustainability performance of Deutsche Telekom.
Birgit Klesper is an honorary Chairwoman of the board of “econsense“ (Forum Nachhaltige Entwicklung der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.). She has also been a member of the board of “Global e-Sustainability Initiative”, of the Board of trustees of “Aktion Deutschland hilft” (alliance of German aid organizations) and of the German “CSR-Forum”.
Partner – (Project-based)
When, more than 15 years ago, Daniel Schmitz-Remberg as a young sustainability consultant, conducted initial projects, topics like materiality analysis, respective strategies, and business cases were uncharted waters for many companies. In his further career, he shaped the development of “Corporate Sustainability”, especially when transformation was at stake.Just a report does not make anything greener – still a cornerstone of transparency what is asked for by regulations today. This could become a vital trigger for real impact tomorrow.
In partnership with BetterEarth, Daniel´s long-year experience contributes to integrating sustainability into business processes along the value chain in a viable way.
Partner – (Project-based)
Thomas Krick has been working at the intersection of business, society and environment for nearly two decades. In the early 2000s, he helped develop and advance multi-stakeholder based standards for corporate accountability to society, launched one of the world’s first public ESG ratings (the AccountAbility Rating), and worked with the UN to guide corporations towards better engagement with external stakeholders.
He also led Deloitte’s sustainability offering in Germany, worked as an independent advisor to corporates, investors, foundations and civic actors and built software solutions that help mid-sized companies advance towards sustainability.
Junior Consultant
Erica focuses on the integration of ESG aspects and sustainability policy into everyday decisions within businesses. Her background is in economics and public policy, with a focus on climate and energy policy. Erica started her career by gaining insights in the public sector at the German Parliament and Ministry of Economics. Given the key role businesses play in the sustainable transformation, she joined Better Earth to focus on advancing sustainable business strategies and practices. Erica enjoys working on quantitative analyses and bringing assessment tools to life.
Why we work together:
Jan-Menko Grummer and the team at Better Earth view the integration of sustainability goals and strategies into overall corporate management and reporting as crucial for a successful transformation of companies to meet sustainability requirements. With decades of experience in corporate reporting and management, as well as close involvement in the development of European sustainability reporting (Taxonomy/CSRD) regulations, Mr. Grummer brings his profound knowledge to the implementation of reporting and the integration of ESG into all corporate areas. As a Senior Advisor at Better Earth, he assists clients with pragmatic solutions to navigate the sometimes-complex regulations.
Über Jan-Menko Grummer:
Jan-Menko Grummer has over 30 years of professional experience as an auditor and consultant for clients from various industries and company sizes within Big4 firms. From the beginning, he worked as an auditor for large international publicly listed companies in the DAX and MDAX segments. In addition to auditing, for many years his consulting services have included advising companies on capital market transactions, acquisitions, and post-merger integration. Throughout his career, Jan-Menko Grummer has been involved in more than 12 IPOs in Germany, the USA, Asia, and France as an auditor and advisor, and in countless transactions on both the buyer and seller sides.
Besides holding various leadership positions in his career, since 2017, he was responsible at EY for the Embankment Project with the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism (CIC). In this project, together with representatives from more than 30 global companies, a long-term value model and reporting framework for non-financial reporting were developed. The concept was pioneering for the documents published by the WEF IBC since 2019.
From 2019 to 2022, Jan-Menko Grummer held the vice-chairmanship of the “Corporate Reporting and Sustainable Finance” guideline group of the professional organization Accountancy Europe and, since the founding of the Value Balancing Alliance in 2019, he has been the responsible partner for EY, leading the “Integrated Accounting” working group since August 2021. Since June 30, 2022, Jan-Menko Grummer has been working as an independent consultant for strategy, transformation, and reporting topics in the ESG area, a licensed auditor, and an advisory board member.
Why we work together:
Jan-Menko Grummer and the team at Better Earth view the integration of sustainability goals and strategies into overall corporate management and reporting as crucial for a successful transformation of companies to meet sustainability requirements. With decades of experience in corporate reporting and management, as well as close involvement in the development of European sustainability reporting (Taxonomy/CSRD) regulations, Mr. Grummer brings his profound knowledge to the implementation of reporting and the integration of ESG into all corporate areas. As a Senior Advisor at Better Earth, he assists clients with pragmatic solutions to navigate the sometimes-complex regulations.
Über Jan-Menko Grummer:
Jan-Menko Grummer has over 30 years of professional experience as an auditor and consultant for clients from various industries and company sizes within Big4 firms. From the beginning, he worked as an auditor for large international publicly listed companies in the DAX and MDAX segments. In addition to auditing, for many years his consulting services have included advising companies on capital market transactions, acquisitions, and post-merger integration. Throughout his career, Jan-Menko Grummer has been involved in more than 12 IPOs in Germany, the USA, Asia, and France as an auditor and advisor, and in countless transactions on both the buyer and seller sides.
Neben verschiedenen Leitungsfunktionen in seiner beruflichen Laufbahn war er seit 2017 verantwortlich bei EY für das Embankment-Projekt mit der Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism (CIC). In dem Projekt wurde zusammen mit Vertretern von mehr als 30 globalen Unternehmen ein langfristiges Wertmodell und einen Berichtsrahmen für nicht finanzielle Berichterstattung entwickelt. Das Konzept war richtungsweisend für die seit 2019 veröffentlichten Dokument des WEF IBC. Von 2019 bis 2022 hatte Jan-Menko Grummer den stellvertretenden Vorsitz der Richtliniengruppe „Unternehmensberichterstattung und nachhaltige Finanzierung“ der Berufsorganisation Accountancy Europe inne und war seit Gründung der Value Balancing Alliance in 2019 als verantwortlicher Partner für EY tätig und leitet seit August 2021 die Arbeitsgruppe „Integrated Accounting“. Seit dem 30. Juni 2022 ist Jan-Menko Grummer als selbständiger Berater für Strategie-, Transformations- und Berichterstattungsthemen im Bereich ESG, als niedergelassener Wirtschaftsprüfer und Beirat tätig.
Why we work together:
Through her role as Project Manager at econsense, Anna Lena possesses profound expertise in the areas of climate and environment. She works closely with many sustainability managers from the German business sector and understands the challenges in the dynamic interplay between regulation and stakeholder expectations. Anna Lena has an excellent overview of current sustainability trends and initiatives and knows what ambitious and credible sustainability strategies across the three ESG dimensions look like.
About Anna Lena Hackelsberger:
Anna Lena leads the Climate & Environment Cluster and the Supervisory Board Program at econsense. econsense is the sustainability network of the German economy, currently comprising 50 member companies. For the sustainability managers of these member companies, she organizes workshops and events around climate and nature strategies, as well as circular economy. As part of the Supervisory Board Program, econsense offers ESG training for supervisory boards.
Before her role at econsense, Anna Lena supported the establishment of a Sustainability Practice at innogy Consulting as a consultant. She holds a degree in Business Administration from WHU and a Master of Public Policy with a focus on energy and climate policy from the Hertie School of Governance.
Why we work together:
Through her role as Project Manager at econsense, Anna Lena possesses profound expertise in the areas of climate and environment. She works closely with many sustainability managers from the German business sector and understands the challenges in the dynamic interplay between regulation and stakeholder expectations. Anna Lena has an excellent overview of current sustainability trends and initiatives and knows what ambitious and credible sustainability strategies across the three ESG dimensions look like.
About Anna Lena Hackelsberger:
Anna Lena leads the Climate & Environment Cluster and the Supervisory Board Program at econsense. econsense is the sustainability network of the German economy, currently comprising 50 member companies. For the sustainability managers of these member companies, she organizes workshops and events around climate and nature strategies, as well as circular economy. As part of the Supervisory Board Program, econsense offers ESG training for supervisory boards.
Before her role at econsense, Anna Lena supported the establishment of a Sustainability Practice at innogy Consulting as a consultant. She holds a degree in Business Administration from WHU and a Master of Public Policy with a focus on energy and climate policy from the Hertie School of Governance.
Why we work together:
Thanks to her direct involvement in the EU taxonomy, her many years of experience in the financial sector and with publicly owned companies, Mica is an ideal addition to the team when it comes to the implementation and further development of the EU taxonomy, the financial perspective of the CSRD, dealing with green bonds and related topics.
About Mica Valdivia:
Mica Valdivia has held various positions within the financial industry (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, CBRE Investors, Dexia Kommunal) as well as in the academic context in the field of Corporate Responsibility (Steinbeis University). In her function at the Association of German Public Banks, she has built up the ESG Capital Markets topic with a focus on Green Bonds from 2014. Since 2019, she has been responsible for the political positioning of the German Public Banks on the topic of Sustainable Finance. Within the VÖB-Group, Mica has been in charge of an AI-based software solution for the implementation of the EU Taxonomy. Mica is passionate about supporting clean techs like for fossil-free heat as well as green fintech startups.
Why we work together:
Thanks to her direct involvement in the EU taxonomy, her many years of experience in the financial sector and with publicly owned companies, Mica is an ideal addition to the team when it comes to the implementation and further development of the EU taxonomy, the financial perspective of the CSRD, dealing with green bonds and related topics.
About Mica Valdivia:
Mica Valdivia has held various positions within the financial industry (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, CBRE Investors, Dexia Kommunal) as well as in the academic context in the field of Corporate Responsibility (Steinbeis University). In her function at the Association of German Public Banks, she has built up the ESG Capital Markets topic with a focus on Green Bonds from 2014. Since 2019, she has been responsible for the political positioning of the German Public Banks on the topic of Sustainable Finance. Within the VÖB-Group, Mica has been in charge of an AI-based software solution for the implementation of the EU Taxonomy. Mica is passionate about supporting clean techs like for fossil-free heat as well as green fintech startups.
Why we work together:
Manuel Reppmann's extensive scientific background makes him a highly valued consultant, having previously worked with Accenture Strategy alongside Philipp Buddemeier and Sebastian Philipps. With Better Earth, he develops sustainability strategies and manages innovative transformation projects.
About Dr. Manuel Reppmann:
For Manuel, the key to a successful sustainability transformation of companies is evidence-based action. As a scientist and sustainability consultant, this approach is second nature to him. At the Chair of Sustainable Business at the University of Mannheim, he researches new paths to corporate sustainability with DAX corporations and medium-sized companies. Manuel thrives on analyzing large datasets and utilizing various quantitative methods.
Why we work together:
Manuel Reppmann's extensive scientific background makes him a highly valued consultant, having previously worked with Accenture Strategy alongside Philipp Buddemeier and Sebastian Philipps. With Better Earth, he develops sustainability strategies and manages innovative transformation projects.
About Dr. Manuel Reppmann:
For Manuel, the key to a successful sustainability transformation of companies is evidence-based action. As a scientist and sustainability consultant, this approach is second nature to him. At the Chair of Sustainable Business at the University of Mannheim, he researches new paths to corporate sustainability with DAX corporations and medium-sized companies. Manuel thrives on analyzing large datasets and utilizing various quantitative methods.
Why we work together:
Anne Jacobs has more than 20 years of sustainability experience - combined with a global perspective through her work in several European and Asian countries. As an engineer, she specializes in the construction, real estate and infrastructure sectors, where she can support sustainability and optimization as well as life cycle analysis (LCA) and digitization.
About Anne Jacobs:
As a former Global Head of Sustainability for a multinational company she supports both quick wins and the long-term, strategic orientation of companies. She brings experience from a variety of companies and geographies, having built and led a corporate sustainability department as well as implementing practical sustainability concepts in start-ups. She sees sustainability not as an obligation, but as a great opportunity for real innovation.
Why we work together:
Anne Jacobs has more than 20 years of sustainability experience - combined with a global perspective through her work in several European and Asian countries. As an engineer, she specializes in the construction, real estate and infrastructure sectors, where she can support sustainability and optimization as well as life cycle analysis (LCA) and digitization.
About Anne Jacobs:
As a former Global Head of Sustainability for a multinational company she supports both quick wins and the long-term, strategic orientation of companies. She brings experience from a variety of companies and geographies, having built and led a corporate sustainability department as well as implementing practical sustainability concepts in start-ups. She sees sustainability not as an obligation, but as a great opportunity for real innovation.
Why we work together:
Was Jörn Apel und Better Earth eint, ist die Überzeugung, dass Menschen, ihre Werte und Haltungen der Schlüssel für die Integration von Nachhaltigkeit in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft sind. Als Unternehmer und Berater im Bereich Kulturtransformation sowie Learning & Development bringt Jörn Apel seine Expertise intern und in Kundenprojekten bei Better Earth ein. Sein unternehmerischer Mindset, kombiniert mit vielen Jahren praktischer Erfahrung in der Begleitung von Entscheidern und deren Teams im Mittelstand und Großunternehmen ergänzt das Kompetenzspektrum von Better Earth um eine wichtige Perspektive. Gemeinsam setzen wir auf ganzheitliche Beratungsansätze, um Mittelstandsunternehmen bei ihrer Nachhaltigkeitstransformation zu unterstützen und dadurch langfristigen Erfolg und positive gesellschaftlichen Impact zu erzielen.
About Jörn Apel:
Jörn Apel begleitet seit über 20 Jahren Unternehmen wie die Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, ZF Automotive, Volkswagen, Unilever, Roche und viele weitere bei der Entwicklung ihrer Führungs- und Zusammenarbeitskultur. Als Mitgründer der New Work Beratung TheDive und Gründer der remote Teamcoachingplattform remotly hat er Frameworks entwickelt und implementiert, die Maßstäbe darin setzen, wie Unternehmenskultur pragmatisch, auf der Arbeitsebene effektiv und skalierbar gestaltet werden kann. In seiner ersten Lebenshälfte wirkte Jörn als promovierter Biomedizintechniker und Wirtschaftsingenieur bei Fresenius Medical Care und Festo AG in diversen Führungsrollen entlang der Wertschöpfungskette. Er ist u.a. ausgebildet als Systemischer Organisationsberater und Innovationscoach.
Why we work together:
What unites Jörn Apel and Better Earth is the conviction that people, their values, and attitudes are the key to integrating sustainability into business and society. As an entrepreneur and consultant in the fields of cultural transformation and Learning & Development, Jörn Apel brings his expertise both internally and to client projects at Better Earth. His entrepreneurial mindset, combined with many years of practical experience supporting decision-makers and their teams in medium-sized and large companies, adds an important perspective to Better Earth's range of competencies. Together, we rely on holistic consulting approaches to support medium-sized companies in their sustainability transformation, thereby achieving long-term success and positive societal impact.
About Jörn Apel:
For over 20 years, Jörn Apel has been assisting companies such as Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, ZF Automotive, Volkswagen, Unilever, Roche, and many others in developing their leadership and collaboration culture. As a co-founder of the New Work consultancy TheDive and founder of the remote team coaching platform remotly, he has developed and implemented frameworks that set standards for how corporate culture can be designed pragmatically, effectively at the working level, and scalably. In the first half of his career, Jörn worked as a PhD biomedical engineer and industrial engineer at Fresenius Medical Care and Festo AG in various leadership roles along the value chain. He is also trained as a systemic organizational consultant and innovation coach.
Sebastian Philipps
dialog[at]betterearth.partners
We are pleased to meet you! Simply provide us with your contact information. We'll get back to you immediately.
We are pleased to meet you! Simply provide us with your contact information. We'll get back to you immediately.
Why we work together:
Many people in large organizations want to act more sustainably. However, they often do not know how to translate this enthusiasm into daily decisions. Clear goals, guardrails, and incentive schemes help, but they need to go hand in hand with lasting enablement of teams and individuals. Together with Remotly, we offer this enablement in a way that avoids the common and often expensive “flash in the pan.” We deliver effective, cost-conscious, and thus scalable support.
About remotly:
remotly systematically and measurably shifts business areas with 20 to 100+ teams to new levels of purpose-orientation, empowerment, and sustainability competency in 3-9 months through remote team coaching on the job.
Why we work together:
Many people in large organizations want to act more sustainably. However, they often do not know how to translate this enthusiasm into daily decisions. Clear goals, guardrails, and incentive schemes help, but they need to go hand in hand with lasting enablement of teams and individuals. Together with Remotly, we offer this enablement in a way that avoids the common and often expensive “flash in the pan.” We deliver effective, cost-conscious, and thus scalable support.
About remotly:
remotly systematically and measurably shifts business areas with 20 to 100+ teams to new levels of purpose-orientation, empowerment, and sustainability competency in 3-9 months through remote team coaching on the job.
