Verdis Group, a sustainability consulting firm that specialises in helping organisations integrate comprehensive climate action plans into their operations, has shared its review of its activities in 2024, a year marked by extraordinary growth and impactful projects.
Last year, the firm also celebrated its 15th anniversary. During this time, it has worked with more than 100 organisations across the US, been awarded B Corp Status, and assisted in setting more than 40 Net Zero and other reduction goals.
A spokesperson from the organisation says: “We were thrilled to celebrate our 15th anniversary last year. Ever since Verdis started as just an idea in a coffee shop in 2009, our mission has been to create a thriving and resilient world through climate action that counts.”
2024 milestones
Last year, Verdis Group welcomed three new members to its team, increasing its capacity and expertise. Erin LeFever joined the organisation as an associate, having previously served as regenerative program manager at the Seattle Aquarium. Chantal Portes was appointed as an analyst on the data team following a successful internship at Verdis Group in 2023, and Grace Whipkey also joined the organisation as an analyst on the data team, and is working on developing greenhouse gas inventories and other tools.
Other key milestones include the announcement of Verdis Group’s Impact Dashboard, which shares the organisation’s progress and demonstrates its commitment to transparency. This interactive tool enables users to explore Verdis Group’s emissions, staff engagement, customer satisfaction, B Corp standing, and community work. In addition, in 2024 the organisation was honoured with a Business Excellence Award in Leadership from the Greater Omaha Chamber.
Nemours Children’s Health (Nemours Children’s) was announced as the 2024 winner of the annual LOVErdis programme. This initiative was founded by Verdis Group in 2019 and provides free support to help a community organisation address some of its most pressing sustainability concerns.
Paul Qvale, manager of integrated facility design, Nemours Children’s Health, says: “Nemours is excited to participate in the LOVErdis project. Our work at Nemours Children’s continues to move Well Beyond Medicine. Our goal is to help children everywhere grow into healthy adults, and to do this we support building healthy communities. Accelerating our sustainable practices and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is right in line with our basic mission.”
Project highlights
During 2024, the organisation has co-created an unprecedented number of climate action plans with partners such as Metro Parks Tacoma, Caretakers of Wonder, Kirkwood Community College, SSA Group, and the City of Lincoln, Nebraska.
“Our journey in the past year has been shaped by meaningful collaborations, client success stories, and a collective effort toward a thriving and resilient world,” says a spokesperson from Verdis Group.
Key projects from 2024 include:
Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)
Verdis Group worked with MAC to develop new feedback loops to inform its Living Systems framework, designed to accelerate its sustainability goals. Verdis Group also supports its Executive Steering Committee, which applies the learnings from the Living Systems framework to advance MAC’s ongoing sustainability work.
SSA Group
More than 85 of SSA Group’s team members took part in the creation of a Climate Action Plan, which defines a shared vision and clear steps to ensure that SSA Group continues to lead and thrive.
Food and agriculture
Verdis Group has partnered with several organisations in the food and agriculture space to enhance its impact.
“We recognize the agriculture space’s huge potential for combating the climate crisis and building resilience,” says a spokesperson from Verdis Group. “Collaboration across the agricultural supply chain is necessary to solve shared challenges and drive a more sustainable future for the entire industry. We’re excited to continue problem-solving and co-creating solutions with our partners!”
Zoos and aquariums
Verdis Group has worked with 45 AZA member zoos and aquariums in North America during 2024. In addition, it has partnered with the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) and SSA Group, to establish industry-wide resources to assist zoos and aquariums in assessing their emissions and implementing sustainable purchasing practices. ACP and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) members can benefit from the ACP Sustainable Procurement Guide and ACP’s aquarium and zoo-specific GHG Inventory Calculator.
See also: Building a sustainable future: the work of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership
The organisation joined the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) as a corporate member this year, building on its existing partnerships with 21 WAZA member zoos and aquariums in North America. Verdis Group also attended the 79th WAZA Conference in Sydney, Australia.
“As we look back on 2024, our team is immensely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the global sustainability movement,” concludes the organisation.
“Our mission is to co-create a thriving and resilient world, and the trust of our clients allows us to do this every single day. The positive impact of our projects fuels our enthusiasm for the challenges ahead. We are excited about the possibilities that 2025 holds and remain committed to climate action that counts!”
