Budderfly CMO Jodi Susman Leads Sustainability Live Panel on Innovation & Technology in Sustainability

Last month, Budderfly Chief Marketing Officer Jodi Susman moderated a panel at Sustainability Live’s US Summit in Chicago exploring how innovations in AI, data intelligence, and emerging technologies are reshaping the way organizations set sustainability goals, measure progress, and communicate environmental impact.

The discussion focused on how companies can move beyond ambition and pilot programs toward successful execution and scalable, industry-wide adoption. Joining Jodi on the panel were:

• Dr. Jutta Pils, Director, Digital Sustainability Strategy & ESG Technologies at DuPont
• Dave Duncan, Vice President of Sustainability and Analyst Relations at PTC
• Pooja Knight, ESG Controller & Sustainability Strategy VP at Gallagher
• Saleh ElHattab, Co-Founder and CEO at Gravity

A central theme throughout the conversation was the growing importance of data as the foundation for scalable sustainability strategies. Panelists emphasized the need for unified data systems, clean datasets, and a single source of truth to support both operational decision-making and sustainability reporting.

The panel also explored the technologies accelerating progress across industries. From digital product passports and intelligent sensors to AI-powered analytics, organizations are leveraging new tools to gain real-time visibility into energy, water, and emissions data while driving more measurable business outcomes.

Another key takeaway was the need to reframe sustainability through the lens of operational and financial value. Panelists discussed how many initiatives struggle when positioned solely as environmental programs instead of as drivers of efficiency, resilience, and long-term business performance. Overcoming internal resistance and organizational complexity remains one of the biggest challenges to scaling adoption.

Looking ahead, the group shared a vision for a future where sustainability is fully embedded into core business strategy rather than treated as a standalone function. Financial and sustainability accounting are expected to increasingly converge, creating greater transparency around carbon, waste, and resource costs across organizations.

Despite ongoing challenges including regulatory complexity and energy market volatility, the panelists remained optimistic about the future. The consensus was clear: sustainability is evolving into a more mature, operational discipline focused on measurable impact, scalable execution, and long-term business value.

Watch the full panel below.