Spadel produces and markets natural mineral waters, spring waters and refreshing mineral water based soft drinks in the BeNeLux (Spa, Bru, Zyla), France (Carola, Wattwiller) and Bulgaria (Devin).\n\nOur purpose is to “connect people and nature, for a healthier life, today and tomorrow” \n\nSpadel has long championed ambitious climate actions. As a testament to our efforts, Spadel became a B Corp in 2022.
“The real shift begins when people leave their cars behind.” Mobility after The Shift. An interview with Ann Schoubs, Director General of De Lijn.
Mobility accounts for 20 to 25 per cent of global CO₂ emissions. As an alpinist, Ann Schoubs sees the impact of climate change up close. In her role as Director General of public transport operator De Lijn, she has therefore made sustainability an absolute priority. “We want to encourage as many people as possible to make the switch – out of their cars and onto the bus, the tram, the bike, on foot, or perhaps one day even a drone.”
“I caught the mobility bug a long time ago. I’ve been Director General of De Lijn since 2021, and before that I spent many years at the Belgian railways. Public transport and sustainability have always been closely linked for me. Public transport is almost sustainable by definition. A car carries at most four or five people – and very often just the driver. A bus carries dozens of passengers, a tram even more. That’s dozens of people who are not sitting alone in their cars, stuck in traffic. Per passenger, emissions are significantly lower on public transport.”
“In my spare time, I’m an alpinist. In the Alps, the impact of climate change is impossible to miss. Abstract studies and statistics suddenly become painfully real. Over the past thirty years, I’ve watched glacier after glacier disappear. Above 4,000 metres, the permafrost is melting and mountain peaks are becoming less stable. It’s a tragedy for alpinist, but it’s also a wake-up call for the planet.”
“Another interest of mine is entomology, the study of insects. There too, I’ve seen the effects of climate change at close hand. You notice a marked decline in hoverflies, which play a crucial role in pollinating plants and flowers. Biodiversity tends to receive less attention, but it is an issue that deserves just as much focus.”
“So you certainly don’t need to convince me of the importance of sustainability. But the impact of public transport goes much further. Whether they’re moving or parked, cars take up an enormous amount of space. Fewer cars means not only lower CO₂ emissions, but also more room for green spaces, public facilities and vulnerable road users. And that’s without even mentioning noise pollution. There are plenty of reasons for us, as a society, to invest in sustainable mobility.”
“If we were to replace every petrol and diesel car one for one with electric vehicles, our CO₂ emissions would drop significantly. Air pollution and noise would fall too. But that switch wouldn’t solve congestion or the lack of public space, an electric car still takes up just as much room. What’s more, electric vehicles require large amounts of raw materials, which are finite and difficult to extract in a clean way. Yes, we need electric cars. But at the same time, we also need fewer car journeys overall.”
“At De Lijn, we’re working on both fronts. We’re steadily greening our fleet, with more and more electric buses. They produce zero tailpipe emissions. On top of that, these buses are more comfortable, quieter and more modern. All of this helps to make public transport more attractive to passengers.”
“The biggest sustainability gains don’t come from a greener fleet, but from increasing the share of journeys made by public transport. Fewer cars on the road, more people choosing the bus, tram or train. Alongside sustainability, we therefore also need to focus on flow and comfort. Flanders has set itself the ambition of reaching a 50 per cent modal share for sustainable transport. We will never achieve that goal without a well-developed network of sustainable transport options.”
In Paris, commuters can now travel to work by cable car. Could this be an idea for De Lijn? “As an alpinist, I’m not a big fan of cable cars. They bring crowds into the mountains,” Schoubs laughs. “But on the ground, why not?”
“I don’t have a crystal ball, so it’s hard to predict how we’ll be getting around in 2050. What I do know is that shared, public transport will still play a central role – in 2050 and well beyond. There will always be a need for accessible, affordable mobility for large numbers of people. That may still mean buses, trams and trains. Or perhaps, by then, drones or small electric aircraft. We’ll just need to make sure we don’t end up shifting traffic jams from the road to the sky.”
Technology is evolving rapidly. Self-driving buses are no longer a distant prospect found only in the US or China, Schoubs stresses. “In Leuven, a pilot project with two buses is already under way. They are learning to operate in a complex environment. When a university lecture hall empties, hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists spill onto the street at once. The algorithms designed to handle such situations are constantly improving. The breakthrough of autonomous transport will come, I’m convinced of that. Perhaps within five years, perhaps within ten.”
“Does that mean our drivers will all become redundant? Of course not. Their roles will change, however. Dispatching will become even more important. There will be a need for stewards to assist and guide passengers. That human dimension is harder for drivers to provide today, especially on busy routes. It’s an interesting paradox: the more advanced the technology becomes, the more space it creates for genuine human interaction.”
Schoubs links self-driving buses to the broader shift towards demand-responsive, flexible transport. “This evolution is inevitable. Everyone knows that spatial planning in Flanders makes our task more complex. That’s simply the reality we’re working with. It does, however, force us to think very carefully about how we organise public transport. There’s a world of difference in cost efficiency between a bus carrying 100 passengers and one carrying just three. We operate with public funds, and we have a responsibility to use them as wisely as possible.”
“People who live in more remote areas can’t expect a bus stop right outside their front door. Different solutions are needed. In 2024, in less densely populated areas, we made the shift from a traditional fixed service to flexible, on-demand transport. That change triggered a lot of reactions. We see that people still need to make a mental shift themselves, moving away from checking a timetable to thinking about when they need transport and booking it in advance. With smaller buses, we can bring people in more remote areas to the main transport corridors. In that first layer of the network, I see an important future role for autonomous transport.”
“What we really need is more cooperation than we have today. Take one example: the rise of electric bikes has transformed the first and last mile of many journeys. Yet safe bike parking isn’t available everywhere. That’s often beyond our direct control and depends on road authorities. But it is a crucial link in the overall mobility chain. All of these links need to be much better aligned.”
“Thanks to an organisation like The Shift, we’re able to look beyond our own sector, towards other companies and industries. For autonomous buses, we work with an external partner. They bring the technology, while we bring on-the-ground experience and the scale needed to test innovation and roll it out widely. Co-creation and partnerships are the future of sustainability.”
Would you like to join Ann in building a more sustainable economy?
The Shift breaks down barriers and gathers the unusual suspects around the table: colleagues from other sectors, leading companies, experts and policymakers. Together we tackle your most complex sustainability challenges. Because together you can see and do more.
“If the food of the future isn’t delicious, it simply won’t work.” Food after The Shift. An interview with Alice Lemesle, Senior Sustainability Manager at Danone Benelux.
3D-printed food, algae-based yoghurts and edible packaging… The food sector is on the brink of major change, much of it driven by the shift towards more sustainable ways of producing and consuming food. As Senior Sustainability Manager at Danone Benelux, Alice Lemesle finds herself right at the heart of these developments, and she is genuinely excited about what lies ahead: “The food of the future can’t just be healthy, seasonal and sustainable,” she says. “Above all, it has to be incredibly tasty.”
“The real challenge,” Lemesle says, “is finding the sweet spot between health benefits, climate benefits and social acceptance. Once you get that right, a new product actually stands a chance. You won’t achieve climate or biodiversity goals if people feel they’re the ones footing the bill. The same goes for taste,” she adds. “A new product simply has to be delicious. Better than the one it replaces. Food is, and always will be, an emotional thing.”
When asked whether Danone has already found that sweet spot, Lemesle pauses for a moment. “Of course there’s Alpro, which plays a key role within our portfolio. What’s great about Alpro is that you don’t have to be vegan to love the brand. It’s for anyone who wants to eat more consciously. But we’re also trying to extend that plant-based logic to less visible segments, such as medical nutrition and tube feeding. There, we’re seeing that some plant-based or hybrid products not only have a lower footprint, but are also better tolerated by patients. In medical nutrition, there’s no room for compromise when it comes to health. So when a more sustainable option also performs better medically, that’s truly remarkable, especially if the patient experience remains the same. That’s a win-win-win situation. And that’s exactly the sweet spot I was talking about.”
Danone is deliberately using food as a lever for better health. It recently opened the One Biome Lab in Paris, which focuses on the role of the microbiome and gut health. “In that lab, we explore how we can develop products that genuinely contribute to people’s health,” Alice explains. “Research and innovation are crucial for the future of food – that’s naturally what most people think of first. But sustainability doesn’t just take place in R&D labs or offices. It happens, above all, out on the land.”
In Belgium, Danone works closely with dairy farmers on regenerative agriculture. The focus is on improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, enhancing animal welfare and reducing emissions. “For instance, with the help of a specific feed additive, methane emissions from cows can be reduced by up to forty per cent,” Lemesle explains. “That’s genuinely a huge impact. Precision farming also plays an important role. Supported by technologies such as satellite imagery and sensors, it gives us a powerful lever to keep farmland productive and healthy in the long term. I see a lot of potential there.”
“But that’s still not enough,” Alice says. “It’s also about creating new stories in society. You can work extremely hard on your own portfolio, but if social norms don’t shift alongside it, you eventually hit a ceiling,” she explains. “That’s why Danone takes part in initiatives such as the Green Deal Protein Shift, and why we’re very active in networks like The Shift. These are spaces where companies, organisations and other actors share experiences, failures and successes. Sometimes we support smaller businesses with our knowledge, but just as often we learn from them. It’s a two-way exchange. No one has all the answers.”
One area where tensions around safety, environmental impact and cost all come together is packaging. “It’s probably the most complex file of all,” she admits. “Packaging has to keep food safe, remain affordable and work within existing logistics – while ideally also being reusable. There’s a lot of work being done on edible packaging, which is fascinating. But for me, the first step is the obvious one: everything that comes onto the market should be recyclable. Unnecessary materials need to go, and recycled materials should be used wherever possible.
The next question is how we can replace single-use packaging as much as possible with reusable systems, or with packaging that truly creates no waste.”
She shares an example of a pilot project using reusable yoghurt pots within a closed-loop system. The pots were returned, washed and refilled. “Conceptually, it made perfect sense,” she says. “But in practice, there simply wasn’t enough washing capacity nearby. The pots had to be transported several hundred kilometres to be cleaned, which from an environmental perspective was obviously far from ideal. It taught us that no matter how large a company is, this isn’t something you can roll out on your own. You need local infrastructure, retailers willing to play their part, and consumers who are prepared to participate.”
“And it’s not only about revolutionary new ideas,” Alice continues. “Not long ago, we removed the outer sleeve from Actimel packaging. That’s only a few tenths of a gram per pack. But at the scale Danone operates, it saves tonnes of plastic every year. The impact you can make through changes like that is exactly what makes it so enjoyable to work here.”
Lemesle has now been working for the food giant for six years. “During my master’s in sustainable development, I did an internship at Danone. In a way, I never really left,” she says. “It felt as though everything naturally led me in that direction. I started out at Danone in France, but an assignment for Alpro eventually brought me to Belgium. My family is from the Lille region, so Belgium wasn’t entirely unfamiliar territory.”
But back to the food of the future: where does Alice Lemesle see the greatest potential? “As you can probably tell from all my talking, that’s not a straightforward question to answer,” she says. “There are always many different factors to take into account. But if I really had to point to one area, I’d say algae as a protein source. Personally, I find that a very interesting avenue. Algae are genuinely promising, once again because they have the potential to hit that sweet spot. In principle, they’re relatively inexpensive to produce. The technology is still quite costly at the moment because we’re only at the beginning, but that will change. On top of that, algae are rich in nutrients, low in CO₂ emissions and, importantly, foods made from algae are relatively easy to accept socially. The versatility of algae is remarkable. You can create textures and flavours that come very close to familiar products. We’re really only just getting started.”
Alice is quick to add a caveat: when it comes to predicting the future of food, she shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
“I’m not an expert in forecasting,” she says. “I’m not a futurist or a product developer. I’m a sustainability manager. But if you ask me what the food of the future is, I simply think of pizza.”
“Food has to remain a source of pleasure. My ideal future is one where food is healthy, seasonal, as local as makes sense, and wrapped in minimal, smart packaging. And above all, it has to be really delicious. That’s where the pizza comes in. I picture a base made from wholegrain flour, perhaps enriched with algae or other protein-rich ingredients. A rich tomato sauce from flavourful, seasonal tomatoes. Vegetables like pumpkin or mushrooms in autumn. Regional, low-impact cheese made with milk from regenerative farming. And genuinely good plant-based ham – high in protein and low in CO₂. That’s what I miss most as a vegetarian: truly tasty ham. Add a few olives on top, and it’s done. Sorry it’s not more futuristic than that,” she laughs. “But food simply has to be delicious. Otherwise, it doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Pleasure is simply a key factor on the path to sustainability, one we mustn’t lose sight of. If something tastes better or feels more enjoyable and it’s more sustainable, then it has real potential. The same applies to how business leaders approach sustainability. If it’s only about rules and restrictions, the transition will never truly take off. What you need is a bit of courage, inspiration, collaboration, and a different compass. As long as success is measured solely in profit, sustainable choices will always feel like an ‘extra’.”
“We need to dare to use different indicators of progress: wellbeing within the company, social impact, ecological resilience. And the joy of exploring what’s possible, the curiosity to see what could be. If we throw those ingredients together and bake ourselves a pizza with them, we’ll be absolutely fine.”
Would you like to join Alice in building a more sustainable economy?
The Shift breaks down barriers and gathers the unusual suspects around the table: colleagues from other sectors, leading companies, experts and policymakers. Together we tackle your most complex sustainability challenges. Because together you can see and do more.
The Belgian Alliance for Climate Action (BACA) was founded in 2020 by The Shift and WWF-Belgium to connect organisations with a shared ambition to accelerate the transition towards a climate-neutral society. The initiative focussed on taking concrete climate action through Science-Based Targets, peer learning, interactive workshops and inspiring events.
On average, supply chain emissions are more than 11 times higher than a company’s direct emissions. In other words, Scope 3 plays a key role in any decarbonisation journey. In this community of practice, you will exchange with peers and experts on tangible strategies to mobilise suppliers and reduce emissions on a large scale.
How do you deal with the growing climate challenge and constantly changing regulations? The climate challenge is growing and European regulations are changing rapidly. Organisations need to think ahead and take targeted action. In this learning network, you join forces with other pioneers. You will translate ambitions into effective actions and, supported by a scientific framework, work towards a well-founded and future-proof net-zero strategy.
Sabine Pauquay (Velux) and ArcelorMittal show how strong cooperation can dramatically reduce CO₂ emissions in the steel industry.
As Director of Public Affairs at VELUX , Sabine Pauquay is committed to climate and sustainability goals by bringing public and private stakeholders together. With strong policy acumen and a passion for nature, she helps the construction sector move towards carbon neutrality.
“I believe circularity will play an increasingly important role in the future. It is not just about decarbonisation – although that is obviously a key driver – but also about addressing other pressing challenges such as biodiversity loss and strengthening resilient supply chains.”
Our cooperation with ArcelorMittal is one for the present and the future. This long-term vision makes it possible to set joint goals and clear milestones. This further ensures investment security for both partners.
But our collaboration goes beyond mere planning. For example, we actively communicate our joint efforts to drive change in the industry. On a practical level, we co-engineer new products and explore ways to reduce emissions – not only during production, but in transportation too.
One of the most important aspects of circularity is the realisation that it has a transformative effect on a business. It is not just a series of measures – it also requires a profound change in the way we work.
Fortunately, the circular economy also offers many opportunities to develop new business models, especially when you’re playing the long game. Today the focus of many companies is still very much on increasing production volumes, but we need to adjust our mindset. Circularity requires us to break the link between resource use and economic growth – undoubtedly a mental shift, but essential for a future-proof economy.
I believe circularity will play an increasingly important role in the future. It is not just about decarbonisation – although that is obviously a key driver – but also about addressing other pressing issues such as biodiversity loss and supply chains resilience.
Before anything else: measure your impact. Sustainability starts with understanding where you are today so you can focus on the biggest levers. For manufacturing companies, it is crucial to rethink product design. A pilot project can be valuable, but avoid focusing on initiatives that ultimately make little difference in your overall footprint – consciously choose actions that generate real impact.
In addition: don’t forget your customers. Sometimes we are so busy improving existing solutions that we lose sight of whether those solutions are still the right ones. True innovation starts with rethinking how we address customer needs.
More impact stories
A low-carbon supply chain requires cooperation. Lies De Meyer (bpost) shares how data, dialogue and learning from others make a difference.
What if biodiversity is the key to economic stability and innovation? Carmeuse, producer of lime and construction materials, shows us how small steps lead to ambitious projects.
In a world colored by urgency and systemic crises, Zen monk Bart Weetjens argues for leadership that starts with yourself. No quick fixes, but deep transformation.
At The Climate Shift, we believe that real progress begins with genuine climate action, and grows through learning and doing things together. Are there climate challenges you’d like to explore alongside other organisations? Do you and your suppliers want to be part of the driving force behind a net-zero economy?
A low-carbon supply chain requires cooperation. Lies De Meyer (bpost) shares how data, dialogue and learning from others make a difference.
Lies De Meyer was Sustainability Manager Procurement at bpost until August 2025. She led efforts to make the company’s supply chain more sustainable. With a focus on data transparency and supplier engagement, she plays a key role in translating climate ambitions into concrete procurement strategies.
Last year we launched a major programme, building on a clear strategy to address carbon emissions. We started by mapping our data – and now we’ve moved on to activating and engaging suppliers.
From the beginning, we made a strong commitment to improving the quality and transparency of our data. That was really important. But the challenge now is:
And then, of course, there is another challenge: creating internal support. We have to keep reminding everyone of the importance of working with suppliers.
The timing was perfect. We had just started to seriously focus on Scope 3 emissions, but we had little starting point or experience on how to go about it. This community felt like a great opportunity to network and learn from other organisations – to see how they approach it, and to grow into it ourselves.
Especially the session on artificial intelligence. I had never looked into that before – it was not on my radar at all. But it opened my eyes to how much potential technology offers to make data journalism simpler and more robust.
“Without a community, you often stay in your own bubble. By engaging with others, you gain new perspectives and ideas.”
Absolutely. It makes it much easier to reach out to others. If you have a question or run into a problem, it’s much easier to just call or message someone you’ve met through the group. You can quickly check out how they handle it – and then take those lessons back to your own organization. It’s been really valuable.
It starts with two things: measure – get a clear picture of your carbon footprint and learn with and from others. Every organisation that has mapped its carbon footprint and notices that Scope 3 has a big impact will feel the need to do something. That insight in itself creates urgency.
Joining a community of practice is then a good first step. Without a community, you often stay in your own bubble. By engaging with others, you gain new perspectives and ideas. You discover other ways to look at the challenge – and you feel encouraged to take action.
More impact stories
Sabine Pauquay (Velux) and ArcelorMittal show how strong cooperation can dramatically reduce CO₂ emissions in the steel industry.
At Vandemoortele, Sustainability Officer Laura Iacobelli works on a chain that respects nature. No loose initiatives, but a well thought-out strategy that connects business and biodiversity.
What does purpose really mean for a media group? Belgian CEO Koen Verwee shares how Mediahuis is building trust, independent journalism and long-term impact.
At The Climate Shift, we believe that real progress begins with concrete climate action, and grows through learning and doing together. Are there climate challenges you would like to explore with other organizstions? Do you and your suppliers want to be part of the driving force behind a net zero economy?
At Equans, we deliver innovative, tailor-made solutions to boost the performance of industries, buildings, transport infrastructure, and networks. Our skilled technicians and engineers offer high-value services in electrical and mechanical engineering, HVAC, security, fire protection, energy efficiency, and equipment digitalization.
Pluxee is a global partner in employee rewards and engagement, with services such as meal, eco, and gift vouchers. In Belgium, they help 2.8 million consumers, 87,000 companies and 45,000 merchants. With 5,000 employees in 31 countries, Pluxee creates more opportunities for people to enjoy what really matters.
deSter is a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative, sustainable food packaging and service concepts for aviation, hospitality and food service. With more than 40 years of experience and production locations in Belgium, the US and Thailand, they serve customers worldwide.
BergHOFF is a Belgian brand that brings design and innovation to the kitchen worldwide. With a passion for cooking and an eye for detail, we create affordable products that are appreciated both aesthetically and functionally. Thanks to our international network, BergHOFF turns every cooking experience into something special.
