Adapting sustainability regulation into business strategy

Roadmapping future EU regulations for a sustainability startup

As part of my master’s degree capstone, we worked in teams with real clients on a sustainability challenge. My team worked with a sustainability startup to assess the impact of the proposed EU Green Claims Directive on their sustainable consumption platform, flagship sustainability competition, and broader business model. Guided by a double diamond process, we evaluated how proposed and existing regulatory requirements affect labels, product information, and trust signals across the platform. Through research, workshops, and scenario exploration, we developed two roadmap options that balanced compliance with user-centric sustainability communication.

primary role

strategy and design

time frame

2025

skills

regulatory and policy analysis, strategic roadmapping, UX and design strategy, stakeholder research and engagement, scenario planning and risk assessment, sustainability communication

Challenge

The startup’s sustainable consumption platform aimed to promote sustainable consumption by assessing product sustainability and promoting relevant products on their platform. However, the European Union had passed or was about to pass three directives that would affect the operations of the sustainable consumption platform. In the worst case scenario, the startup would have to shutdown the platform, imposing a sustainability risk and a financial risk for the company.

Visual: simplified ecosystem diagram (platform, competition, users, stakeholders, directives)
Key stats or facts to set stakes (e.g., potential revenue impact, compliance deadlines)

Research and Insights

Methods visuals: scenario trees, SWOT, three horizons, multi-level perspectives

Findings: stakeholder insights, user trust challenges, regulatory complexity
Optional: small quotes or survey highlights

Process

Double diamond diagram showing phases: Understand → Define → Explore → Create

Short captions for each phase highlighting your team’s work
Optional: photos of workshops, focus groups, or outputs

Outcomes

Two roadmap options visualized clearly (timelines, decision matrices, or flow diagrams)

Highlight how each option balances compliance, UX, and sustainability communication
Optional: mini mockups of interface or label changes
Summary of how the roadmaps help the platform, competition, and messaging
Optional: a visual “before vs. after” concept or conceptual impact diagram
Short reflection on strategic/design learnings