ERM, the world’s largest pure-play sustainability advisory firm, has acquired Sustainalize – a Dutch sustainability consulting firm with offices in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

This new acquisition expands ERM’s sustainability consulting capabilities in continental Europe and further reinforces the company’s position as the global market leader in pure-play sustainability consulting.

Sustainalize works with businesses to measure, disclose and respond to ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues and challenges. The company supports clients on strategy development and execution, implementation, external reporting and impact measurement across a broad range of sustainability topics, including climate change, biodiversity loss, the availability of resources, diversity and equality, human rights and governance.

The strengthening of ERM’s existing sustainability advisory capabilities and capacity through this acquisition will see clients benefitting from enhanced sustainability reporting and disclosure services as well as strategy and impact measurement services in Europe and globally.

Sustainalize employs approximately 30 people mainly in the Netherlands, as well as in Belgium and Germany, who will now join ERM. Justus Koek and Nick de Ruiter, both former PwC consultants, founded the company in 2010 and will join the ERM partnership. Sustainalize has a client base of nearly 200 organizations, across a range of different sectors from technology, banking and finance, to retail, aviation and government.

ERM has significantly extended its strategic corporate sustainability and climate change solutions worldwide in recent years and the acquisition of Sustainalize will build on previous acquisitions including BrownFlynn in 2018, SustainAbility in 2019, Critical Resource in 2020 and Michael J Bradley & Associates in 2020. The creation of the SustainAbility Institute by ERM, also builds on the exceptional thought leadership and convening platform developed by SustainAbility. Launched in 2020, the Institute is ERM’s primary platform for thought leadership on sustainability.

Keryn James, CEO, ERM: “The Covid-19 pandemic and the global movement on racial justice have accelerated and enhanced the focus on ESG risks and opportunities and the need for businesses to be more resilient and sustainable. Boards and executive teams need to become more knowledgeable, proactive and effective on ESG matters, from improving diversity within their companies, to linking executive pay to ESG metrics. We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Sustainalize which further strengthens our capabilities and capacity in being able to support clients in Europe and beyond as they navigate these increasingly complex issues.”

Nick de Ruiter, Co-founder and Partner, Sustainalize: “Since we started our business ten years ago, we have had the pleasure of advising and supporting many clients in translating comprehensive sustainability themes into priorities that truly matter. We are very excited to continue our future with ERM. Sustainalize will benefit from ERM's extensive network, significant global scale, in-depth knowledge and thought leadership on pressing sustainability challenges. Through the acquisition, we will be able to accelerate the growth of our proposition, and bring extended services to our clients.”

About ERM
ERM is the world’s largest pure-play sustainability advisory firm that provides environmental, health, safety, risk, and social consulting services, and sustainability-related services. ERM works with many of the world's leading organizations, delivering innovative solutions and helping them to understand and manage their sustainability challenges. ERM works across a wide range of sectors including: media and telecommunications, technology, oil and gas, mining & metals, power, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

Founded 50 years ago, ERM employs more than 5,500 people in 160 offices across 40 countries and territories. The firm reported gross revenues of over $1 billion in the 2020 financial year (April 2019 to March 2020). ERM has a long history of acquiring companies to help grow and expand its capabilities across different regions and markets, with over 20 acquisitions alone since 2010. Find out more about ERM and its sustainability services. Check out the SustainAbility Institute by ERM, the company’s primary platform for thought leadership on sustainability.

About Sustainalize
Sustainalize is a Dutch sustainability consulting firm with offices in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The company works with businesses to measure, disclose and respond to ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues and challenges. Sustainalize supports strategy development and execution, implementation, external reporting and impact measurement across a broad range of sustainability topics, including climate change, biodiversity loss, the availability of resources, diversity and equality, human rights and governance.

Sustainalize uses its in-house expertise on regulations, integrated reporting and communications to create long-term value creation for nearly 200 organizations. This client base is active across a range of different sectors from technology, banking and finance, to retail, aviation and government. Together with its 30+ professionals, Sustainalize is committed to a transition to a sustainable future. Sustainalize is headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands and has offices in Brussels, Belgium and Cologne, Germany. Find out more on Sustainalize’s brand new website