How EcoEngineers’ Environmental Expertise will Help LRQA
LRQA, a global assurance provider, has acquired energy transition-focused consultancy EcoEngineers to bolster its capabilities in offering sustainable solutions.
As sustainability regulations and stakeholder expectations evolve, the demand for advanced skillsets in this area grows.
By integrating EcoEngineers, LRQA enhances its expertise in low-carbon production, carbon markets, climate regulations and innovative technologies.
Ian Spaulding, CEO at LRQA, says: “This acquisition is a truly exciting expansion of LRQA’s existing capabilities in carbon accounting, greenhouse gas verification and sustainability strategy and we’re thrilled to welcome EcoEngineers to the team and to continue driving real impact for our clients, people and planet.
“The regulatory landscape remains complex, with shifting state and international policies influencing corporate sustainability strategies.
“That’s why, together with EcoEngineers, we’re here to help clients navigate that landscape.”
Meet EcoEngineers
Based in Iowa in the US, EcoEngineers specialises in the energy transition, offering services like asset development, lifecycle analysis, compliance management and regulatory engagement.
When CEO Shashi Menon was made redundant in 2009 he contemplated the twin faces of scarcity and abundance, which led him to founding EcoEngineers.
Shashi told Sustainability Magazine: “We've been leading a sustainability advisory and risk management practice in North America for the past 15 years.
“It has become increasingly obvious to us that what we are doing in North America is really in high demand across the globe, in Europe and Asia and the Middle East – everywhere.
“For us to organically grow presence across the world would have been a long and arduous task, so this acquisition by LRQA is perfect.”
About LRQA
LRQA is a global assurance leader, providing assessment, advisory, inspection and cybersecurity services.
Operating in more than 150 countries with a workforce exceeding 5,000, LRQA supports more than 61,000 clients across various sectors, focusing on risk management.
This acquisition is LRQA’s fifth in a span of five months as it looks to expand to support changing client demands.
Ian Spaulding, CEO at LRQA, told Sustainability Magazine: “What I loved about the EcoEngineers business was that they're incredibly technical, to the point where this is an engineering company.
“They are really technical people helping companies navigate the standards, whether those be federal, state level or local on issues like fuel, biofuels and carbon.
“It’s important from a net zero perspective, but also on the issue of energy independence.”
Why LRQA chose EcoEngineers
Ian explains: “I was talking to Shashi about Iowa where the business is headquartered and the agricultural community there.
“It’s been fun to see the intersection between the farming community and how they are changing practices alongside supporting greener energy sources.”
US demand for biofuels is increasing, often made from crops like corn, soybeans or perennial grasses.
US President Donald Trump’s focus on energy independence for the nation could be supported by these fuels.
“Even though the regulatory environment is changing, the reality is it’s not going to change in this area,” he says.
“You’re going to need farmers to produce crops in order to have an alternative energy source. In the context of the trade debate, it becomes even more important for all energy sources to be pursued to support the economy.
Shashi says: “With EcoEngineers and LRQA, I feel like I just met my long lost family across the whole world.”
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