DuPont Sustainable Options buys sustainability consultancy Sofies
Within three months of taking over the US-based KKS Advisors, DuPont Sustainable Solutions concluded another deal with the Sofies Group in the area of sustainability and ESG.
The Sofies Group, headquartered in Switzerland, is expanding its team with a team of around 50 consultants (most of whom are senior experts) and raising the workforce of DuPont Sustainable Solutions above the “magic” limit of 1,000 employees.
The Sofies Group, founded in 2008, specializes in helping customers achieve their sustainability goals by helping to develop strategies, integrating sustainability into governance and operations, and implementing sustainability projects – while at the same time ensuring alignment with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
The consultancy works for both public and private clients. For example, the Sofies Group recently supported the city of Lausanne in developing a business model for horticulture, CERN in preparing its first public environmental report and Nespresso in complying with the GRI guidelines on sustainability reporting.
“The acquisition of Sofies Group enables DuPont Sustainable Solutions to offer its customers deeper insights, strategic know-how and integrated skills to develop and execute their sustainability plans so that they can successfully protect people, improve operations and create a sustainable future”, said Davide Vassallo, the chief executive officer of DuPont Sustainable Solutions.
He added that the purchase will also strengthen the company’s operational advisory backbone while adding an integrated approach to both services – from strategy to execution. “We believe that improving operations and managing risks are fundamentally linked to sustainability and societal impact.”
The transaction takes place shortly after the takeover of KKS Advisors, a specialist in ESG financing and investments, and thus expands the company’s already leading position in the sustainability advisory scene. Last month, executives named DuPont Sustainable Solutions the world’s leading consultancy for the environment, health and safety for the fifth time in a row in an independent survey conducted by an analyst firm.
For Vassallo, the Sofies Group is the “next piece of the puzzle” in their quest to stay at the top of the landscape. “We continue to invest in our ESG and sustainability capabilities so that we can support our clients with investment decisions, strategy development, implementation and reporting.”
The integration will transform the Sofies Group’s teams in Zurich, London and Bangalore into DuPont Sustainable Solutions. Commenting on joining forces, David Rochat, CEO of Sofies Group, said: “DuPont Sustainable Solutions is a leader in creating safer workplaces, reducing risk and achieving operational excellence. We look forward to joining your team and adding value to customers and communities. “
The Sofies Group is the third acquisition by DuPont Sustainable Solutions since it became independent. In March 2020, the Canadian-based company acquired Lodestone Partners.
