How have customer expectations regarding environmental issues changed today?
Anne-Sophie Meyer: Today, brands are much more accountable—both to consumers and to the groups to which they belong. They have carbon reduction goals and must incorporate these challenges into their development plans. They therefore expect their suppliers to help them better understand their environmental impact and, above all, to identify ways to reduce it without compromising their core identity.
Marco Stefanovic: Yes, clearly, environmental issues have become a key factor in decision-making. Between CO₂ reduction targets for 2030 and regulations like the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), the pressure is mounting. What’s also changing is that this is no longer just a CSR issue: it’s now integrated into the procurement, design, and sales teams.
Anne-Sophie Meyer: And that changes everything, because now we’re able to speak a common language, whereas before the concepts were more complex and sometimes vague.
Marco Stefanovic:Exactly—standardization is precisely what allows us to compare like with like and obtain analyses that are truly actionable.
Specifically, at what point does EcoDesignCloud (EDC) come into play in your interactions with customers?
Anne-Sophie Meyer: We can use it right from the design phase to directly offer clients more sustainable options. Then, during the development phase, it helps us weigh the pros and cons of different approaches. And finally, it’s also used after production, particularly to generate carbon footprint reports or analyze transportation-related impacts. It’s truly a tool we use from start to finish.
How does EcoDesignCloud help make these discussions more concrete and objective?
Marco Stefanovic: In the past , we relied heavily on statements and intentions. Today, we present concrete figures based on recognized scientific criteria. This allows us to move from perception to proof. The reports are clear, comparable, and understandable to all project stakeholders, which greatly facilitates communication.
How does EcoDesignCloud change the way decisions are made on a project?
Anne-Sophie Meyer: It already allows us to work at a very precise level. We can compare a specific component without having to reevaluate the entire product.
Marco Stefanovic: And above all, comparisons are almost instantaneous. Whereas an analysis used to take weeks, today we get results in just a few minutes. This allows us to incorporate eco-design right from the initial brief—a critical stage when most of the impact is determined—and to balance the considerations of cost, aesthetics, and environmental impact.
At Anaïk, how do you use EcoDesignCloud to support your clients without limiting their choices?
Anne-Sophie Meyer: We maintain a consultative approach. We don’t question a brief, but we systematically propose more sustainable alternatives while staying true to the brand’s guidelines. In fact, that’s what clients expect today: to be guided, challenged, and provided with concrete solutions. It’s a real differentiator for us.
Why is it essential to give customers a choice, even when impact data is available?
Marco Stefanovic: BecauseEcoDesignCloud is a decision-support tool, not a prescriptive tool. Clients always have other constraints—budget, deadlines, strategy—that the tool doesn’t take into account. The goal is to empower them, enable them to make informed choices, and move forward step by step.
What specific benefits do your customers get from using EcoDesignCloud?
Anne-Sophie Meyer: Some findings challenge common assumptions. This allows us to base decisions on reliable data and inform internal discussions.
Marco Stefanovic: And there’s also a real benefit in terms of data collection. Having everything centralized makes reporting easier and simplifies communication.
In your opinion, what role will these tools play in the coming years?
Marco Stefanovic: We are clearly moving toward market standardization. With regulations such as the CSRD and the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), these tools will become indispensable, just like technical specifications. Leading companies, such as Anaïk, are already getting a head start.
If you had to sum up EcoDesignCloud in one sentence from the customer's perspective?
Anne-Sophie Meyer: “LCA is key to designing gifts and packaging that are truly more sustainable, based on reliable data rather than common misconceptions.”
Marco Stefanovic: “ EcoDesignCloud is the standard that turns an environmental commitment into a concrete, measurable action shared across the entire supply chain, from the brand to the supplier.”
