Final ASTRAIOS ESG Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop: Insights, Impact & Next steps

On 28 May 2025, the final ASTRAIOS ESG Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Learning Workshop took place, concluding a successful series of three workshops focused on sharing best Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, challenges, opportunities, trends and actionable solutions around space sector´s companies´ modus operandi.

The ESG P2P Learning workshop series was launched in December 2023 as part of the ASTRAIOS project's mission to understand space workforce development and needs, targeting the adequacy between curricula and sector needs. Each workshop brought together participants from startups, scaleups, and established players in the sector to build a shared understanding of how ESG can support growth, resilience, sustainability and ethical business practices.

• Workshop 1 (11 December 2023): Focused on introducing ESG fundamentals and identifying common challenges faced by space companies. Participants shared early-stage strategies, discussed the benefits of integrated ESG approaches, and helped set the tone for collaborative knowledge exchange.

• Workshop 2 (25 April 2024): Expanded on the initial discussions with a deeper dive into ESG maturity across sectors, revealing the diversity of sustainability reporting experiences and sector-specific priorities. A  shared insight was how educational gaps, diversity, and skills development link to ESG objectives.

• Workshop 3 (28 May 2025): Brought the learning journey to a close with concrete use cases, critical reflections, and forward-looking solutions. Participants openly discussed key implementation barriers, such as lack of data, inconsistent standards, and limited internal engagement, and shared common practical approaches to overcoming them.

  
  

Key Takeaways from the Final Workshop

Participants engaged in collaborative polls, company presentations, and interactive dialogue by means of a Miro Board. Among the top challenges identified were:

• Lack of consistent, quality ESG data

• Resource constraints and internal resistance

• Difficulty aligning ESG with business Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Market prioritisation of cost over sustainability

Despite these challenges, companies presented impactful opportunities and solutions:

• Development of internal ESG data management tools

• Integration of ESG goals into core business strategy

• Targeted KPIs focused on a limited number of high-impact objectives

• Cross-departmental collaboration to increase ownership

The discussion also revealed successful practices in:

• Increasing employee retention through well-being initiatives

• Expanding access to underserved regions via tech solutions

• Reducing emissions through responsible procurement and green energy

Emerging Trends and Lessons Learned

The final workshop identified several emerging trends gaining relevance:

• Ethical AI and its environmental impact

• Global ESG accountability across offices

• Bridging the digital divide through socially focused projects

• The growing visibility of DEI in conference and organisational planning

Amongst the variety of lessons learned, some companies highlighted the importance of starting small with clear KPIs, aligning ESG goals with business objectives, and the need for a global—not just local—perspective on ESG impact and implementation.

What Comes Next?

Insights from the three workshops are being consolidated into the upcoming ASTRAIOS ESG Best Practices Book:

"Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Best Practices in the Space Ecosystem: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities."

This book will feature contributions from participating companies, quotes from the sessions, quizzes, and concrete plus actionable examples of how and why ESG can be integrated into daily operations across the space sector.

A warm thank you to all the contributors, participants, and partners who supported the workshops and shared ESG knowledge and experiences in the project. ASTRAIOS will continue to support capacity-building and dialogue around sustainability and workforce development in the European space sector with the aim of aligning academia´s skills with industry´s needs.

Stay tuned for the release of the final Book!