Sustainable growth for businesses through management consultancy

At Sweco, management consultancy means reinforcing our clients’ sustainable growth and responsibility, which are crucial aspects of business activities in the future. We help our clients identify megatrends and silent signals in markets, as well as various societal scenarios that are important in the development of strategies and efforts towards responsible growth. In the fields of the built environment and industry, we are able to utilise the financial growth opportunities brought about by the green transition by taking into account natural resources, biodiversity, climate change, the energy transition, digitalisation and demographic changes in society. Together with our subsidiary Gaia Consulting, we are committed to steering strategies and investments towards responsibility and integrating business activities to make them follow the principles of sustainable development in a profitable manner. Our services also include customer experience consulting.

Responsibility to the centre of strategies and projects through management consultancy

Sweco and Gaia provide their clients with a comprehensive service package in the field of sustainable development – from early-stage strategic sustainability consultancy all the way to operative implementation and detail planning. Our objective is to prove the profitability of sustainable business activities.

Our aim is for our client businesses to establish sustainability as a key aspect of their strategy and the operation of their entire value chain – as well as the implementation and lifecycle of projects being planned. We start every project by identifying key responsibility aspects. Next, we set objectives for them and connect them to financial results and aspects such as the carbon footprint of the building to be constructed. This way, we integrate responsibility aspects not only into business activities, but also into the planning and implementation of the built environment, cities, infrastructure and industry.

Our experts are actively seeking new business opportunities through the climate, circular economy, biodiversity and social responsibility. Our real estate development services  also include placement planning for businesses and industry. We seek suitable real estates, blocks and land areas, of which Sweco’s architects and industry experts then draw up a concept description. We determine investees that are viable in terms of geography, geopolitics and the availability of labour. Another aspect closely related to placement planning and regional development is biodiversity consultancy, which ensures the preservation of biodiversity.

Our legal experts analyse the impacts of future changes in legislation on the company’s cost structure and operating environment, and identify potential needs to change operations. Additionally, our experts in environmental law are specialised in both national and EU-level environmental legislation. They provide support in project-related legal advice, permit processes and legal surveys.

We serve actively as a builder of development entities and networks, e.g. in the tourism sector. Sustainable tourism is based on energy efficiency, innovations and comprehensive development of areas, as well as stakeholders’ communal vision and cooperation with regard to the development of areas. Our consultants plan new tourism destinations, taking resource efficiency, the functionality of transport and travel chains and energy-efficient lifecycle solutions into account.

We are constantly seeking new development projects that will take the field of sustainable development forward in everyday living environments and industry alike. For example, we have been involved in industrial symbioses, forms of cooperation that promote circular economy and involve utilising another company’s effluents or waste heat in the operator’s own process. This reduces the amount of waste and conserves energy.

Leading the way in strategic sustainability consultancy

Having operated as a leader in environmental and business consultancy for 30 years, Gaia Consulting collaborates with Sweco to provide comprehensive sustainable development solutions and strategic advice to companies seeking to develop their business activities in a responsible manner. Gaia’s robust multidisciplinary team consists of more than 80 professionals, who help their clients achieve their environmental, social and financial objectives innovatively and profitably. Their expertise covers a wide range of segments, such as sustainable development solutions; environmental, energy and climate aspects; water reserves; responsible business services; and economic and financing solutions.

Gaia’s experts analyse societal phenomena and political developments and predict sustainability trends based on the aforementioned. This information helps companies operate responsibly and thrive in a rapidly changing business environment.

Gaia has helped  its clients achieve success in several projects, e.g. by renewing the Nefco brand to distinguish itself in the green financial market; chairing the Team Renewable Arctic Finland project to promote sustainable energy and offshore wind power and strengthen Finland’s Arctic know-how; and helping Vantaan Valo Ky implement circular economy solutions and develop a resource-wise energy system.