This new post from the PLM Green Global Alliance (PGGA) is next in a series on “Leaders in PLM & Sustainability” where we interview professionals from around the world who are working at the intersection of Product Lifecycle Management and Sustainability.

Our goal for these profiles is to recognize and encourage professionals who are contributing to the greening of PLM across their own work, industry, customers, and suppliers. This is fundamental to PGGA’s mission of creating a global network between professionals who use, develop, research, market, consult, teach, or support PLM business strategies, enabling technologies, and software solutions that have value in transitioning to a more sustainable global economy. As demonstrated by our non-commercial website, we execute this mission by educating, collaborating, and advocating for the role of PLM in creating a circular economy of low-carbon products and processes.

As referenced in our first profile featuring Mark Reisig, our second one recognizing Jos Voskuil, and third featuring Dave Duncan, there are numerous technical, economic, and geopolitical challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the end of this decade as climate scientists warn us is so critical. Yet, with each of these hurdles there are many rewarding “hands-on” career opportunities to participate in what may be the most important application of PLM we will ever experience.

We are excited to announce that our next recognized “Leader in PLM & Sustainability” is Klaus Brettschneider. Klaus is Director of Sustainability Solutions and SAP PLM Practice Lead at the U.S. based consultancy Linx-AS. Klaus was one of the first contributors to PLM Green where he shares his expertise as a moderator leading our coverage of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Climate Change. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental technology from the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich and a Certificate in Corporate Sustainability and Innovation from Harvard University. Increasingly relevant, Klaus has experience deploying enterprise-wide PLM solutions internationally in both the U.S. and Europe, spanning industries and business cultures which often have different expectations and norms for both PLM and sustainability initiatives.

We selected Klaus after witnessing his expertise and enthusiasm for not just the business scoping and technical implementation of PLM, but on the use of PLM in tracking then managing a product’s lifecycle emissions and environmental impacts. An example of this leadership is his recently authored keystone white paper on “The Sustainability Thread: Rethinking the digital thread to drive sustainability performance and green R&D.”

In this paper Klaus “posits the creation of a digital thread for sustainability data and explains how integrating sustainability requirements in an organization’s digital thread strategy can transform both sustainability performance and product development. The paper then explores through real-world use cases how the digitalization of sustainability-related processes can greatly improve operational efficiency and reporting accuracy.”

Additionally, Klaus has led or participated in a number of PLM Green events and panel discussions whose recordings can be found HERE.

As with our other PLM & Sustainability Leaders, we asked Klaus the following question:

“What personally motivates you the most about the opportunities and challenges in using PLM to create a more sustainable, low-carbon, circular economy?”

Klaus responded:

“Sustainability has always been a topic close to my heart, and combining this passion with my 25 years of experience in the PLM world makes this a significant challenge. PLM is traditionally seen as a tool for managing product lifecycles. Still, in the context of sustainability, it takes on an even more substantial role—helping industries transition toward a circular economy by structuring, tracking, and optimizing sustainability data across supply chains and product ecosystems.

One of the key motivators for me is that sustainability data management is an actual team sport. No single approach, methodology, or IT system alone can solve the complexity of sustainable product development. It requires comprehensive data models, standardized data exchange, and system integrations that go beyond traditional PLM frameworks. This interdisciplinary collaboration is challenging and rewarding, pushing industries to think holistically about their impact.

Additionally, working at the intersection of PLM and sustainability continuously expands my knowledge. Every sustainability initiative presents new challenges, whether learning how to measure biodiversity and translate it into KPIs, understanding fair trade certification tracking, or addressing the evolving landscape of circular economy regulations. These aspects drive me to continuously learn, adapt, and contribute to making PLM a powerful enabler for sustainability.

Ultimately, what excites me the most is that PLM can now go beyond its conventional role and become a catalyst for real change, helping businesses create efficient, profitable, responsible, and regenerative products for the planet.”

We very much respect the timely work of Klaus and his employer Linx-AS in elevating the conversation about PLM and sustainability with their own colleagues and customers. This walking-the-talk is especially valued in the U.S. where the sustainability transformation to green energy is under attack, despite being widely supported by the American public. You can learn more about Klaus’ sustainability consulting and projects HERE.

The PLM Green Global Alliance welcomes hearing from others on who they think is leading our profession forward in PLM and Sustainability. Send your nomination to PLM Green co-founder Richard McFall at richard@plmgreenalliance.com.

Until then, be sure to follow our PLM Green news feed on LinkedIn and receive updates by email from our website.

(Image credit copyright and courtesy of Linx-AS.)