Description
Innovation in Services & New Practice Areas in the Environmental Industry in the 2020s
Innovation in the environmental industry has most frequently been associated with science and technology, but the role of innovation in services is increasingly critical to competing across the business spectrum.
Much of the innovation in the environmental industry since the 1970s has been focused on industries and processes that may soon be rendered obsolete, but most of innovation of the 2020s has shifted to a new breed of services centered around information, data management, technology, resource conservation, restoration, energy transition, de-carbonization and to all of the impacts and drivers of climate change.
This edition of EBJ analyzes new practice introductions of more than 70 firms over the last decade. Feature profiles of 10 firms reveal their strategy to continue to stay ahead of market demand and the competition. New practices in PFAS, COVID, resilience, energy, sustainability natural capital and digital innovation are just a few of the examples of service innovations taking hold in a variety of client markets.
Table of Contents
Innovation in Services & New Practice Areas are not new themes in the environmental industry but it has taken on heightened importance in 2021 as societal pressures, resource transformation and climate change conspire to change the foundation of commerce and industry. An EBJ survey highlights the increased activity in services innovation with an abundance of new practice introductions ….. 1-5
Pace Analytical grows through innovation in air, PFAS and wastewater COVID surveillance — expands its national network with 21 new locations in 2020 ….. 6
Stantec expands Natural Capital practice, building resilience & unlocking value in clients’ ecosystems; Quantitative Mitigation Analysis gains traction ….. 9
AEI Consultants grows from 20 to 350 people in the last 20 years, depending on a consistent culture and growing organically in commercial real estate markets ….. 13
AECOM transforms into professional services firm; Global reorganization simplifies structure and reduces risk, focusing on people & digital innovation ….. 15
Antea Group accelerates leadership in sustainability; Builds on market focus with technical & regulatory support for key sectors ….. 19
ERM’s 3R strategy of Resilience, Rebound and Reimagine jumps on COVID reset; doubles down on decarbonization, digitalization & sustainability ….. 23
INTERA leverages specialty expertise in risk management, technical proficiency & an employee ownership culture to sustain business performance ….. 28
VHB grows in transportation & environmental markets with emphasis on resilience, energy & sustainability ….. 31
Parametrix expands northwest footprint in water, recycling, stormwater and adds expertise in 3D visualization ….. 34
Innovation is at the core of WSP ‘Future Ready’ identity; AirWatch system demonstrates the acceleration of automation in monitoring; WSP+Golder equals a new global environmental consulting leader ….. 36
For more information on the Environmental Industry, click here to visit the EBJ homepage.