Sustainability as a career path: Network. Inspire. Change.
Review of the sustainability career event of the SIAK sustainability platform at "42" Kaiserslautern
On January 29, 2026, the SIAK Sustainability Platform (Science & Innovation Alliance Kaiserslautern e.V.), together with the Chair of Business Administration, in particular Sustainability Management at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, invited participants to an intensive afternoon under the motto "Sustainability as a career path". Around 80 participants from science, business and the student body came together in the think tank of the Kaiserslautern Innovation Center "42" to shed light on the transformation towards sustainability not only as an ethical obligation, but also as a concrete, interdisciplinary professional field.
Embedded in the "SustainAbility - Interdisciplinary Thinking and Action" project, the event aimed to make the often abstract concepts of sustainability management tangible through concrete career examples and technological insights.
1. welcome: The new maturity of the sustainability sector
The event was opened punctually at 14:00 by Prof. Dr. Katharina Spraul (RPTU), Dr. Peter Guckeniehl (SIAK) and Josef Apfel (FUCHS LUBRICANTS GERMANY GmbH). The entire event was hosted by Carolin Langhauser (RPTU), who charmingly and confidently guided the audience through the varied program. In her introduction, Prof. Spraul set the strategic framework by pointing out the current dynamics on the job market. Based on a recent LinkedIn study, she explained that the field of sustainability management is in a phase of differentiation. While roles in compliance and reporting - driven by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) - are experiencing initial saturation, there is a massive demand for strategic transformation managers who can integrate sustainability deeply into core business processes.
Scientifically, this development can be categorized as a transition from purely defensive CSR to strategic corporate sustainability. Josef Apfel emphasized this for industrial practice: sustainability is no longer an "add-on" for global corporations, but an essential factor for resilience and competitiveness in volatile markets. The SIAK sees itself as a catalyst for connecting young scientists in the region directly with the needs of industry.
2. first impulse: Renewable Carbon - The future of chemistry
Dr. Anke Schwarzenberger from the nova-Institut kicked things off with her presentation on the "Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)". Her presentation addressed the fundamental paradox of the chemical industry: while energy can be decarbonized, the material basis of organic chemistry remains carbon-based.
Dr Schwarzenberger argued that the focus on "decarbonization" in the materials industry is misguided. Plastics, textiles and medicines are made of carbon. The solution therefore lies in defossilization - the replacement of fossil carbon (oil, natural gas, coal) with renewable sources. The RCI defines three pillars for this:
Biomass: The use of renewable raw materials, whereby competition for land must be critically considered.
Recycling: Closing the carbon cycle through mechanical and chemical recycling.
Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU): The direct use of CO₂ from the atmosphere or from industrial waste gases as a source of raw materials.
This transformation is necessary in order to stop the "extra" carbon entering the above-ground system from fossil sources and instead operate in a closed cycle. By 2050, the proportion of fossil carbon in chemistry must be close to zero - a goal that requires both technological innovation and massive regulatory adjustments in the EU.
3. honoring the best: visible academic excellence
The technological outlook was immediately followed by the award ceremony for the best students at the Chair of Sustainability Management. Prof. Spraul and Dr. Cynthia Loos (RPTU) presented certificates to students who had achieved outstanding results in the previous semester's modules.
This honor is a central part of the department's culture. It makes it clear that mastering the sustainability transformation requires excellent specialist knowledge. The award winners represent the next generation of professionals capable of translating complex ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria into business decisions. Studying at RPTU lays the foundation for the necessary interdisciplinary skills required.
4th Open Mic: Three perspectives on sustainability
In the "Open Mic" block, three players presented their specific fields of work and illustrated the breadth of the career field of sustainability.
Bioprocess engineering: Cable bacteria as a beacon of hope (Dr.-Ing. Judith Stiefelmeier, at RPTU)
Dr. Stiefelmeier showed how mechanical engineering contributes to sustainability. The focus was on cable bacteria that grow in sediments and can conduct electricity over distances of centimeters. These biological filaments have a conductivity that was previously considered impossible for organic material. Research at RPTU is investigating how these bacteria can be used to reduce methane emissions in agriculture (e.g. rice cultivation) or to develop biodegradable microelectronics. A career in this field means finding new production methods at the interface between microbiology and process technology.
Ecotoxicology: The price of transformation (Dr. Alexander Feckler, at RPTU)
Dr. Feckler took a critical look at the ecological impact of our solutions. Using the example of electromobility, he illustrated the risk of global problem shifts. While local air quality in cities is improving, the mining of lithium and rare earths in South America and Asia is causing massive ecological damage to local water systems. Sustainability careers in science therefore require the courage to criticize the system and the ability to conduct life cycle analyses (LCA) beyond one's own nose.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in practice (Annika Rupprecht, Hornbach)
Annika Rupprecht, who described her path as a dual student in the CSR team at HORNBACH, concluded the presentation. She dispelled the preconception that CSR is purely a "feel-good job". In reality, it means hard data management and communication. Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions in the supply chain) in particular present retailers with huge challenges: 99% of Hornbach's carbon footprint is not generated at its own locations, but in the production of the goods it sells. Implementing sustainability here requires a deep understanding of supply chain management and the ability to manage change within the organization.
5. networking and reflection: speed dating and a break
After the dense content blocks, the first round of speed dating offered students the opportunity to engage in direct exchange with the speakers and other company representatives. Experts from a wide range of areas of study were available to answer questions about internships, career entry and job profiles: Josef Apfel (FUCHS LUBRICANTS GERMANY GmbH), Markus Bender (John Deere & KlimaLautern e. V.), Annika Rupprecht (HORNBACH), Achim Dörflinger (SCHÖNHOFEN Ingenieure), Oliver Fock (AECOM), Dr. Anke Schwarzenberger (nova-Institut / RCI) and Alexander Wilms (SIEDA GmbH).
This networking phase also provided the opportunity for a break and a visit to "42" - a place that itself stands for the transformation of Kaiserslautern. This allowed the exchange to continue over regional catering and underlined the social capital that is essential for regional transformation.
6th keynote: People at the center of transformation
At 15:45, Stefan Roßkopf (1. FC Kaiserslautern) took over the stage. He shed light on the social dimension of sustainability from the perspective of a professional football club.
Roßkopf emphasized that FCK has an enormous social responsibility as a club. As soccer reaches people emotionally, it acts as a "barrier-breaker". Through projects such as the stadium as a place of learning or the integration of sustainability topics into matchday communication, target groups can be reached that often avoid traditional scientific discourse. He reported specifically on the club's mobility analysis: as 60% of fans travel to Betzenberg by car, the club is working on incentive systems for public transport and carpooling. However, sustainability at FCK also means taking a stand: a clear stance against discrimination and the promotion of diversity are integral parts of the club's identity. Roßkopf concluded with an appeal: "Sustainability does not need perfect experts, but people with passion who are prepared to ask uncomfortable questions.
7th panel discussion: Effectiveness and the role of AI
In the concluding discussion, moderated by Prof. Spraul, Stefan Roßkopf, Josef Apfel and Markus Bender (John Deere & KlimaLautern e. V.) came together. A central topic was the Twin Transformation - the interplay between Digitalization and Sustainability.
Markus Bender explained how John Deere uses artificial intelligence to minimize the ecological footprint of agriculture. AI-supported sensors on harvesting machines can be used to precisely control the use of pesticides and fertilizers (precision farming), which conserves resources and reduces costs. However, the "dark side" of Digitalization was discussed critically: the enormous energy consumption of Computing Centers for AI models. The panel participants agreed that technology alone is not a solution. It must be framed ethically and must not replace people, but rather enable them to make better decisions. Sustainability in professional roles today increasingly means managing this technological potential responsibly.
8. conclusion: second speed dating and conclusion
The event ended with a second round of speed dating, in which the previously discussed topics were explored in greater depth in one-to-one discussions. The official agenda closed at 5:15 p.m., but many participants stayed on for informal networking.
Conclusion: A strong signal for the Western Palatinate
The feedback on the sustainability career event was extremely positive from both companies and students.
The companies emphasized the high quality of the discussions. Markus Bender (John Deere) and Achim Dörflinger (SCHÖNHOFEN Ingenieure) emphasized that the interdisciplinary education at RPTU produces exactly the specialists they need to master the transformation. The perspective of seeing sustainability not as a burden but as a driver of innovation met with broad approval.
The students reported back that the variety of career paths shown - from traditional CSR in retail to cutting-edge research in mechanical engineering and emotional communication in professional sport - helped them to sharpen their own profile. The honesty of the practitioners about the challenges of everyday life was particularly appreciated.
The event impressively demonstrated that sustainability is a living reality in Kaiserslautern. The close integration of science, business and civil society is our greatest lever for accelerating change. We look forward to future events of this kind and would like to thank all participants for their contribution to this inspiring afternoon.
