Full Flamingo is an innovative platform that raises awareness of sustainability when shopping and makes it easy to make an active contribution. By collaborating with various stores, Full Flamingo displays the sustainability footprint of purchases in the shopping cart and makes it possible to contribute to sustainable projects with just one click. Dominik and Marcus want to create a community for self-determined sustainability that supports local sustainable initiatives through user contributions. In this interview, they explain how the idea came about and how it became a reality.
“You shouldn’t build up a target image that is unattainable. We Germans are very good at that. If you come along now and say: ‘I’ve become a vegetarian’, someone will immediately say: ‘But you’re still going on vacation’! (…) That’s not a goal that makes sense.” - Dominik Rost, Marcus Trapp
Dominik Rost is co-founder of the eco-tech start-up Full Flamingo, which uses the platform economy to promote sustainability, where he is responsible for technical aspects, in particular platform architecture and development. He also advises various companies on software engineering and digital ecosystems. Until 2022, he headed the “Architecture-Centric Engineering” department at Fraunhofer IESE, where he supported companies in product architecture development and evaluation. He also improved their competencies in software architecture. He likes to share his experience through articles or talks at conferences.
Marcus Trapp is also a co-founder of Full Flamingo. He also supports other companies in this area as a consultant or keynote speaker. Until 2022, he headed the “Digital Innovation Design” department at Fraunhofer IESE and contributed to the development of the topic “Digital Ecosystems and Platform Economy”. He supported many companies in areas such as Digital Design, User Experience, Creativity & Innovation Workshops, and Interaction Design. As a founding member of the “Digital Design” working group at Bitkom and speaker at many events, he actively contributes to the industry. His motto is: “Software is not an end in itself; it always supports or enables business.”
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In this podcast episode, I talk with my guests Dominik and Marcus about sustainability in software development. We discuss how companies and individuals can do their bit, from reducing energy consumption to promoting sustainable practices through green IT and developing software solutions that support sustainability goals. It’s a fascinating mix of technical insights and practical tips for anyone looking to make a positive impact in the tech industry.
Today I had the pleasure of welcoming Dominik Rost and Marcus Trapp. Both are pioneers in the field of sustainability in software development. In their company, they develop software solutions that not only promote sustainable practices internally, but also help their customers to be more environmentally conscious. ‘Walk the Talk’ is their motto; they strive to integrate sustainability into every aspect of their work.
Dominik guides us through the various dimensions of sustainability - from energy consumption and resource use to social impact. Using the so-called PINK Index, they evaluate products in terms of their sustainability. This approach allows them to look beyond mere CO2 equivalents and take a holistic view of products and processes. ‘It’s about looking at all dimensions,’ Dominik emphasizes.
A key distinction in our conversation is between ‘Green IT’ - how technology itself can be made more sustainable - and ‘Green by IT’, which is about how technology can be used to support general sustainability goals. Marcus explains that both approaches are important, but it becomes particularly exciting when thinking about how IT solutions can help tackle issues such as overconsumption or inefficient use of resources.
Using practical examples, Dominik and Marcus explain how they put their philosophy into practice - from energy-efficient code development to supporting urban gardening projects with their software solutions. They also emphasize the importance of small steps: every contribution counts on the way to a more sustainable world.
Despite all the progress made, there are still challenges on the road to greater sustainability in the technology industry. We discussed both technical and cultural hurdles - but also the enormous potential for positive change through innovative approaches and the growing awareness of environmental issues.
At the end of our conversation, the focus is on optimism and a call to action. Dominik and Marcus emphasize the importance of everyone’s awareness and commitment to a more sustainable future. Their company serves as a source of inspiration for what is possible when you combine a passion for technology with a strong commitment to the planet.