Leading Sustainability in Manufacturing: My Interview with Björn Hannappel

In the inaugural episode of MANSUS Twenty Minute Talks, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Björn Hannappel, the Head of Sustainability at EOS. We delved into his career journey, the intersection of sustainability and industrial 3D printing, and the impressive work being done at EOS to lead in responsible manufacturing.

Meeting Björn Hannappel

I first met Björn on the busy show floor of Formnext in Frankfurt. I spent time with him learning about EOS’s dedication to responsible manufacturing. For those unfamiliar, EOS is a leader in industrial 3D printing technology, committed to providing sustainable manufacturing solutions. Björn’s role at EOS involves driving the company’s sustainability agenda, focusing on both internal projects to enhance transparency and reduce carbon emissions, as well as external initiatives to help EOS customers meet their sustainability goals. Björn oversees the development and implementation of the company’s global diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.

Björn's Career Path

In this episode of Twenty Minute Talks Björn shared his career journey with me, which began with a degree in applied environmental sciences. After his studies, he took a role in a small consultancy supporting companies in the lime and mineral oil industries. In this role Björn was involved in pioneering work on calculating carbon footprints under the newly established European Emission Trading Scheme. His career then took him to DHL, where he contributed to the development of the company’s Go Green environmental program, focusing on carbon management and the creation of climate-neutral products.

In January 2020, Björn joined EOS, a family-owned business founded by Hans Langer. With the appointment of Marie Langer as CEO in 2019, EOS committed to a stronger focus on sustainability. Under Björn’s leadership, EOS developed a comprehensive sustainability strategy and purpose, emphasizing responsible manufacturing through industrial 3D printing.

The Importance of Purpose in Business

During our conversation, we discussed the significance of having a clear mission and set of values to guide a company. Björn told me that answering the questions: why does EOS exist gave way to their company wide commitment to sustainability. For EOS, the purpose of accelerating the transition towards responsible manufacturing acts as a North Star, unifying all initiatives under one umbrella. This purpose inspires internal innovation and pride but it also helps attract new talent. Björn talks about how younger generations increasingly seek employers who are committed to sustainability. It’s obvious that EOS understands that sustainability is a cross company initiative, that atheir commitment to responsible manufacturing impacts the whole ecosystem.

Driving Change and Innovation

Björn outlined his five "I"s for driving change: Impulse, Information, Innovation, Incentivization, and Inspiration. You can hear about each of the five I’s in the full episode. He emphasized the need for data transparency, customer demand, and internal motivation as key drivers. He also highlighted the importance of translating sustainability efforts into tangible benefits for customers, such as new products and services, and ensuring a return on investment.

For those starting their sustainability journey, Björn advised focusing on stakeholder requirements, compliance with regulations, and identifying growth opportunities through sustainability. He stressed the importance of being an ambassador for sustainability, gaining top management support, and being patient and resilient. Björn see’s the best measure of success being if other teams and stakeholders want to take parts of the topic over in their area. This will help them to see sustainability as their topic and they will keep pushing it. Björn’s advice for this is to know when and how to let go to have lasting impact.

The Future of Additive Manufacturing

Looking ahead, Björn sees industrialization and serial production as crucial for the additive manufacturing industry's next evolutionary step. He believes this shift will help realize the full potential of 3D printing and contribute to more sustainable manufacturing processes. Björn also highlighted the importance of partnerships within the industry, noting the collaborative spirit among additive manufacturing companies, including competitors, as a strength that drives innovation and sustainability.

Thanks again to Björn for taking the time to speak with me. You can watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

Twenty Minute Talks will continue to feature conversations with the people leading sustainability in manufacturing. If you or anyone you know want to apply to be a guest on the series get in touch with me to get the conversation started.

Gemma Walsh Woodcock