Arcadis: Delivering Positive Impact With Measurable Outcomes

The built environment accounts for approximately 39% of annual carbon emissions worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum.

Global design and consultancy firm Arcadis is aiming to tackle this, focusing on sustainable infrastructure, water management and environmental consulting.

Arcadis has published its inaugural 2025 Impact Report, discussing how it provides environmental and financial benefits to its clients and communities.

Mark McKenna, Global Sustainability Director at Arcadis, says: “This inaugural Arcadis Impact Report reaffirms our legacy and renewed focus on delivering high-performing, sustainable projects, while continuing to act as a responsible business, partnering to advance industries and support communities across the globe.

“The challenges facing our clients today are highly complex, with compounding economic, environmental and societal pressures dominating decision making and investment.

“Our world-leading design and engineering expertise, coupled with innovative data intelligence capabilities, supports our clients to navigate a clear path forward – helping manage their short-term risks while leveraging long-term value creation.”

Arcadis’ future impact

The Arcadis Future IMPACT+™ initiative helps clients measure and manage sustainability performance across the full project lifestyle.

It addresses the challenges of climate adaptation, rising energy costs, freshwater use and supply chain disruption that businesses are increasingly facing.

Arcadis Future IMPACT+™ provides a framework with methodology for quantifying sustainability impact across carbon, nature, water, circularity and social impact.

It helps customers use sustainability as a competitive advantage instead of a regulatory burden.

Steve Cook, Program Director at Arcadis Future IMPACT+™, says: “By embracing this framework across our teams, we can quantify the value of our projects in a comprehensive way and aggregate those results globally, demonstrating the true scale of environmental, social and financial benefits Arcadis delivers for our clients, communities and the planet.”

The framework, which allows Arcadis to aggregate avoided carbon emissions across its major global projects, has already delivered impressive results. 

In the last 12 months alone, Arcadis has assessed more than €100bn (US$114bn) in client project capital for whole life carbon impact containing an initial estimated 7,665,000 tCO2e, helping projects deliver an estimated 2,857,000 tCO2e in avoided emissions. Predicted carbon reductions for individual projects averaged 37% across the portfolio.

Community impact

For 15 years, Arcadis has delivered the Shelter Program, in partnership with UN-Habitat.

Through this program, Arcadis has supported 149 projects in 44 countries helping to strengthen communities and improve quality of life for more than 26 million people.

It uses its strengths in infrastructure, water, environment and urban planning to bring about positive change for communities in regions where resources are most constrained.

Since 2019, the company’s Local Sparks Program has allowed team members from more than 250 global offices to lead locally-driven initiatives.

Through this scheme, employees can translate their skills directly into practical solutions that respond to community needs where Arcadis operates.

In its home country of the Netherlands, Arcadis works alongside its philanthropic partner Katalys to drive community impact.

Katalys provides advisory services, connects local initiatives to networks, offers technical expertise and delivers comprehensive project support.

This enables community-led projects to achieve meaningful, measurable results, building more resilient communities across the Netherlands.

Inspiring industry change

Arcadis aims to act as an industry leader, focusing on engaging with industry players to achieve long-term sustainable outcomes.

It works on influencing and collaborating across the value chain, aiming to change business landscapes.

Arcadis’ industry impact strategy is centred around setting the standards for businesses, innovating and scaling solutions and advocating for new benchmarks.

It is collaborating with clients, industry peers and technology partners to design, test and scale solutions, including adaptation strategies and zero-emission mobility.

The company is advocating for measurable and deliverable sustainability advancements, aiming to deliver sustainable solutions through partnerships across the industry.

In collaboration with WBCSD, Arcadis has contributed to multiple industry leading projects and publications.

This includes its active partnership in the 50L Home Coalition, which aims to significantly reduce domestic water use through system innovation, technology and behavioural change.

Arcadis’ net zero strategy

In 2025, Arcadis’ adoption of low-carbon practices delivered progress towards reaching net zero, including its reduced workplace energy use, increased fleet electrification and improved resource efficiency.

Arcadis reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 66% from its 2019 baseline, almost reaching its 2026 target of 70%.

It also transitioned 43% of its fleet vehicles to electric, delivering approximately €1m (US$1.14m) in savings in 2025.

This is working towards its goal to reach 100% fleet electrification by 2030.

Mark McKenna explains as the world continues to evolve and shift gears, the business remains committed to innovating and delivering positive impact for all its stakeholders and value chain. 

“At Arcadis, we’re relentless in our efforts to deliver positive outcomes for our clients. By harnessing our digital intelligence capabilities and innovative solutions, we’re able to deliver long-term value for clients, helping them thrive in a complex world.

“We also own our responsibility to operate with integrity as a global corporate citizen, utilising our world-leading expertise to support communities worldwide – improving quality of life,” McKenna said.

Read more in Arcadis’ 2025 Impact Report.