Comments on: Emerging Careers: Sustainability Consulting

By: ProBorea

ProBorea — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:56:29 +0000

The trend in sustainability consulting has been toward the market issues involved such as carbon trading and resource reductions. This is great for trimming the fat, but ten years down the line there will be a wall. Energy reductions are not energy solutions. As more traditional consulting firms jump on the bandwagon, expect to see a further emphasis of the man-made side of business – insurance and investment vehicles, cleantech investments, carbon trading, energy efficiency.
What we will see after that, however, is a move toward more holistic, cultural changes. Adaptability to environmental pressures, cradle-to-cradle production cycles, relocation of operations due to climate change issues, and business opportunities which take advantages of geographic alterations in agriculture, disease, migration, and seawater. The consulting firms that begin to attack these issues will stand out from the mass of business consultancies.
ProBorea is a sustainability and climate change consulting firm in New York. We are most interested in the non-anthropogenic (read non-market)business opportunities present in a changing climate.
ProBorea
We look forward.
445 Park Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10022
info@proborea.com
http://www.proborea.com

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:32:51 +0000

Michael, great question. The answer depends on your experience and where you are in your career, as well as what type of firm you’re targeting. The path into a boutique sustianability consultancy and a larger one with a sustainability practice will be different. One tactic would be to approach some target consulting firms about an internship. This gives you experience and contacts. The path into general management consulting jobs offer clues, too; these often involve an MBA or expertise in a specific industry or function, and gathering experience on business processes related to sustainability–such as supply chain, carbon, etc.–will provide valuable experience. The best thing you can do now is to start networking. Find firms you’re interested in, call them up, explain your interest, and ask for an informational interview. Good luck!

By: Michael Strom

Michael Strom — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:28:59 +0000

Very informative article and comments. My question is how does one go about becoming a sustainability consultant? What education and experience would be required and how would one begin acquiring the experience transferring from a separate industry?

By: Sajid Khan

Sajid Khan — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:32:56 +0000

This is a very informative article.
At MicroAgility, our agile, passionate, and experienced consultants work together with organizations nationwide manage their Program Office for the Sustainability and/or Green Initiatives.
Sajid Khan, Your Business Partner
212-731-2248 Ext 30
MicroAgility, Inc.
Washington, DC | New York, NY | Priceton, NJ http://www.microagility.com

By: Jonathan Shaun

Jonathan Shaun — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:29:19 +0000

We have been working with creative agencies, retail, and event companies for some time now. Innovation through Sustainability is vital. Business leaders need to understand that this "blue-green" model will NOT fade away. Much like the internet was at the "DIRT ROAD" stages. Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship is a new ground layer to the foundation of 21st century business.

Enter:

3.ZERO is a Chicago-based Sustainability Consultancy. Our collective utilizes "green" methods not just as an environmentally conscious tool. We also provide ways to develop competitive advantages in your everyday business practices through innovation. Sustainability is a competitive advantage, which can help you "out behave" your competition. 3.ZERO will deliver an environmental and socially responsible business model, which will be a positive changing program for business internally and externally. This will help the planet, help people from all around the world, and bring new revenue streams to your business, which will maximize your Return On Investment.

By: Frank Marquardt

Frank Marquardt — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:17:23 +0000

Scott, thank you for your excellent insight and breakdown of the types of opportunities within the E&C sector. As you know, the consulting industry represents a broad range of different types of practice areas–from strategy to engineering services and beyond. To the opportunities you highlight I’d add carbon management/strategy services, which intersect with the work of the E&Cs, though seems to me a distinct (and rapidly growing) area of opportunity. /Frank

By: Scott Boutwell

Scott Boutwell — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:37:50 +0000

Both management consulting and engineering services firms (or engineering & construction firms; ‘E&C’s) are investing in sustainability practices. Management firms are building practices in environmental risk management, sustainability strategy (including organizational design, change management, as well as process design).
The global E&Cs, such as Bechtel, CH2M, URS Corp, have some type of ’sustainability’ practice. In many cases, this service offering is focused more on CSR reporting and strategy development; both growing segments.
I work with the global E&Cs as part of my practice, and I believe the bigger opportunity for ‘talent’ to enter this field is to focus on specific segments such as: buildings / facilities, energy development, water, transportation, and environmental. ‘Sustainability’ is being incorporated into many of these markets; with most of the interest coming from clients who want to manage their energy costs, minimize use (and costs) associated with resources such as building materials and water; and also manage environmental risks associated with past and current practices.
I actually think there is more potential for professionals who focus on these specific market opportunities in the short term, as industries such as process mfg, discrete mfg, energy development, retail, and real estate, for examples, are all turning to E&Cs for solution development and deployment.

By: Nick Aster

Nick Aster — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:49:37 +0000

Spam comments will be deleted. If you guys want to contribute something to the site, please email me or Frank. Thanks!

By: Shawn Wright

Shawn Wright — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:05:15 +0000

We have found a lot of excitement about the emerging green market place. The biggest part of the job for any sustainability consultant is in education. Educating our clients, the public and potential clients. This may not be the case on the east and west coast but definitely in the south and midwest.

Green is coming at business from all sides. They hear they should be green and they want to be green but they don't know why or how. ReSolutions is a business sustainability consulting firm that was formed to help businesses cut through green clutter.

We know there is economic and social value in going green and we help businesses find it. With our ReSolutions Process we help companies large and small by starting with green business practices and building sustainability into their business strategy. We work with a variety of other companies and individuals to help our clients reach their goals. ReSolutions also offers offers green marketing programs through its subsidiary, Atticus Communications.

ReSolutions
1740 Oxmoor Road, Suite 120
Birmingham, AL 35209
205.871.5011
www.thinkresolutions.com
info@thinkresolutions.com

By: A. Mitra

A. Mitra — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:28:40 +0000

CREA Affiliates, LLC provides sustainability planning, design and research at the municipal level. We take a whole-system approach to city building and design, and apply sustainability principles to governance and service delivery to determine opportunities for carbon neutrality, greater efficiency, reduced waste, social equity and environmental stewardship.
Our mission is educate, inspire and enable cities to reduce their carbon footprint; enhance their food systems linkages; develop infrastructure that allows for alternate energy generation, and more sustainable water and waste treatment; redistribute density to support transit; and establish services and infrastructure to promote greater equity.
CREA Affiliates, LLC
Seattle and Spokane, Washington
wesbite:www.crea-affiliates.com
Contact: tjones@crea-affiliates.com
Phone: 509 484 7251

By: Tammy

Tammy — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:10:57 +0000

As the previous author states, the practices at large consulting firms are part of much broader industry and service-based offerings, with the priority these firms place on sustainability shifting along with business trends.
Boutique firms,such as Waste Savings, Inc. (WSI), on the other hand, tend to have consulting services focused squarely on sustainability work that tend to be offshoots of the founders’ passion and philosophy. In the case of firm’s like Waste Savings, Inc., it hires subcontractors with experience in the environmetnal services arena such as as waste management and or recycling. The job titles are typically “Senior Associate of Client Services”.
As background, Waste Savings, Inc. (WSI), is a company affiliated with WIH Resource Group in Phoenix, Arizona. WSI specializes in providing solid waste collection cost reduction, sustainable recycling program development and / or improvement, waste disposal auditing and related cost reduction analysis for various types of clients that generate waste.
Their clients include: multi-family property management companies, apartment complex owners, retail strip malls, hospitals, schools, commercial businesses, grocery stores as well as industrial manufacturers. They also provide “bundled” solutions to municipalities (Cities, Counties and other Jurisdictions) to assist them in developing sustainable recycling and waste management programs and resources for their local businesses and industrial waste generators. Their Senior Associates of Client Solutions, have developed a multi-step process for evaluating and improving our client’s waste management costs and improving or implementing sustainable recycling programs for them.
They utilze a general approach and process that we evaluates and improves their client’s waste and recycling programs, focusing on reducing costs. Their team work with their clients in reaching or developing recycling and waste diversion goals, something not just any large consulting firm has the experties in. The Senior Associates are a resource in reducing solid waste collection costs and assisting clients in either developing or improving existing recycling programs.
Waste Savings, Inc. (WSI)
34975 N. North Valley Parkway, Suite 152
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Website:www.wastesavings.net
E-mail: bwallace@wastesavings.net
Phone: 480-241-9994
Fax: 623-505-2634