This blog post is especially written for our PLM Global Green Alliance LinkedIn members — a message from a “boomer” to the next generation of PLM enthusiasts.

If you belong to that next generation, please read until the end and share your thoughts.

With last week’s announcement from the US government, no longer treating greenhouse gas emissions as a threat to the planet or climate.

We see a push to remove regulations that limit companies from continuing or expanding business without considering the broader consequences for other countries and future generations.

It feels like a short-term, greedy decision, largely influenced by those who benefit from fossil-carbon economies. Decisions like this make the energy transition harder, because the path of least resistance is always the easiest to follow.

Transitions are never simple. But when science is ignored, data is removed, and opinions replace facts, we are no longer supporting a transition — we are actively working against it.

 

My Story

When I started working in the PLM domain in 1999, climate change already existed in the background of society. The 1972 Limits to Growth report by the Club of Rome had created waves long before, encouraging some people to rethink business and lifestyle choices.

For me, however, it stayed outside my daily focus. I was at the beginning of my career, excited about the new challenges.

And important to notice that connecting to the internet with a 28k modem was the standard, a world without social media constantly reminding us of global issues.

I enjoyed my role as the “Flying Dutchman,” travelling around the world to support PLM implementations and discussions. Flying was simply part of the job. Real communication meant being in the same room; early phone and video calls were expensive, awkward, and often ineffective. PLM was — and still is — a human business.

Back then, the effects of carbon emissions and global warming felt distant, almost abstract. Only around 2014 did the conversation become more mainstream for me, helped by social media, before algorithms and bots began driving polarization.

In 2015, while writing about PLM and global warming, I realized something that still resonates today: even when we understand change is needed, we often stick to familiar habits, because investments in the future rarely deliver immediate ROI for ourselves or our shareholders.

 

The PLM Green Global Alliance


When Rich McFall approached me in 2019 with the idea of creating an alliance where people and companies could share ideas and experiences around sustainability in the PLM domain, I was immediately interested — for two reasons.

  • First, there was a certain sense of responsibility related to my past activities as the Flying Dutchman. Not guilt — life is about learning and gaining insight — but awareness that I needed to change, even if the past could not be changed.
  • Second, and more importantly, the PLM Green Global Alliance offered a way to contribute. It gave me a reason to act — for personal peace of mind and for future generations. Not only for my children or grandchildren, but for all those who will share this planet with them.

In the first years of the PGGA, we saw strong engagement from younger professionals. Over time, however, we noticed that career priorities often came first — which is understandable.

Like me at the start of my career, many focus first on building their future. Career and sustainability can coexist, but investing extra time in long-term change is not easy when daily responsibilities already demand so much.

 

Your Chance to Work on the Future

The real challenge lies with those willing to go the extra mile — staying focused on today’s business while also investing energy in the long-term future.

At the same time, I understand that not everyone is in a position to speak out or dedicate time to sustainability initiatives. Circumstances differ. For many, current responsibilities leave little space for additional commitments.

Still, for those willing to join us, we have two requests to better understand your expectations.

Two weeks ago, I connected with our 40 newest members of the PLM Green Global Alliance. We are now close to 1,600 members — up from around 1,500 in September 2025, as mentioned in Working on the Long Term.

That post was a gentle call to action. Seeing our PGGA membership continue to grow is encouraging — and naturally raises a question:

1. What motivates people to join the PGGA LinkedIn group?

So far, only a small number of the recent new members have completed a survey that was especially sent to them to explore changing priorities. Due to the low response, we extended the invitation to all members. We are curious about your expectations — and quietly hopeful about your involvement.

If you haven’t filled in the survey yet, please click here and share your feedback. The survey is anonymous unless you choose to leave your details for follow-up. We will share the results in approximately 2 weeks from now.

 

2. Design for Sustainability – your contribution?

Last year, Erik Rieger and Matthew Sullivan launched a new workgroup within the PLM Green Global Alliance focused on Design for Sustainability. While the initial energy was strong, changes in personal priorities meant the team could not continue at the pace they hoped.  Since many new members have joined since last May, we decided to relaunch the initiative.

If you are interested in contributing to the revival of Design for Sustainability, please take five minutes to complete the short survey. Your input will help shape the direction of the DfS working group and frame future discussions.

 

Note: If you are worried about clicking on the links for the survey, you can always contact us directly (in private) to share your ambition

 

Conclusion

The outside world often pushes us to focus only on daily business. In some places, there is even active pressure to avoid long-term sustainability investments. Remember that pressure often comes from those invested in keeping the current system unchanged.

If you care about the future — your generation and those that follow — stay engaged. Small actions by millions of people can create meaningful change.

We look forward to your input and participation.

— says the boomer who still cares 😉