Leveraging Business Process Management for Sustainable Transformation: Case Study of MECK Decarbonization Strategy

Abstract

The heating sector is a critical focus for climate change mitigation, as it accounts for 40–50% of global energy consumption and remains a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Miejska Energetyka Cieplna sp. z o.o. (MECK), a municipal heating company in Poland, faces an urgent need to undergo green transformation in order to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). This study aims to demonstrate how business process management (BPM) can be effectively applied to support MECK’s transition toward sustainable practices, ensuring its compliance with CSRD and ESRS requirements while fostering long-term profitability and competitiveness. Through the application of BPM, MECK has successfully embedded sustainability into its operations; key achievements have included developing actionable insights for process improvements, decarbonizing operations, reducing waste, creating new sustainable products, and adhering to CSRD and ESRS reporting standards. These efforts have enhanced MECK’s ability to secure long-term profitability while significantly improving its environmental sustainability. This case study highlights the pivotal role of BPM in enabling heating companies to meet regulatory requirements and advance their sustainability agendas. MECK’s experience underscores the importance of data quality, transparency, process optimization, and continuous improvement as foundational elements for achieving sustainability goals.