Sustainability at SWCA

To us, sustainability means balancing humanity’s social, economic, and environmental needs to provide a healthy planet for future generations.

We believe our sustainability efforts in our project work, our partnerships, and our operations create a stronger company and will help ensure a more prosperous future for our people and our planet. Two notable partnerships are with The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and The Water Resilience Coalition. Collaborating with WBCSD allows us to work with businesses across the globe who are focused on tackling corporate sustainability issues, while our partnership with the Water Resilience Coalition focuses on addressing the global water crisis.

Through aligning our sustainability goals with the internationally recognized United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) we strive to be innovative and proactive leaders in sustainable business practices. Learn more about SWCA’s Positive Impact Areas, our Human Rights Policy, and our commitment to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.

Our suppliers are an important part of our sustainability plan. We rely on them to adhere to the same standards we commit to regarding social and environmental practices, and governance. These standards are detailed in our Supplier Code of Conduct.

For more information on our sustainability efforts, please read our Sustainability Policy or browse our 2024 Sustainability Report below.

People

Employee Safety

Our SWCA core value Never Settle is demonstrated best in our Safety Program. Our Safety Team is continuously improving our program and tools.

.36 Total Recordable Incident Rate

0.22 Days Away Restricted Time

55% Women in leadership

Our first step was to create a culture that would attract women, a culture of inclusion, belonging, and equality where women feel valued and heard.

83% of total costs covered for all medical plans

SWCA’s Benefits package maintains internal fairness and external competitiveness.

Benefits →

Engagement

Every 18 months, SWCA carries out comprehensive engagement surveys across the company, offering employees a formal and confidential avenue to share their feedback and suggestions.

86% Overall satisfaction with SWCA

75% Overall engagement score

Recruitment and Retention

In 2024, SWCA experienced exceptional growth. With this growth, we continued to make significant investments in the development of our people.

83% 2024 Retention Rate

84% Retention rate of women

100% employee-owned

Being an ESOP-based organization is a fundamental element of SWCA’s culture and offers financial and retirement advantages for our staff.

ESOP →

Partnerships

SWCA Gives Back

In 2024, SWCA’s commitment to giving reached unprecedented levels, breaking records for employee volunteer hours, and the overall impact, marking it as the most impactful year in company history.

4,143 Volunteer Hours

$235K Total impact

SWCA Gives Back →

2024 Have a Heart Award

The Austin office held more than 12 Gives Back events and volunteered over 488 hours. They had a financial impact of over $13,896.

$15,424 Raised for disadvantaged youth

Thanks to SWCA’s matching donation to the Boys and Girls Club of America, making a significant difference in their lives.

Matt Petersen teaching a NEPA Process course to internal SWCA staff in Phoenix, AZ.

Science Leadership

For SWCA, Sound Science Creative Solutions is more than just a tagline—it’s the foundation of how we approach our work.

32 Client Training Classes

35 Conference Presentations

Client Feedback

SWCA’s partnerships with clients are core to our business. We take great care to ensure that all clients’ expectations are met, from the private homeowner to the Fortune 100 client.

97% Satisfaction rate

86 Net Promoter Score

24 Spreading the Science Events in 2024

We volunteer our time at schools, environmental education events, science fairs, nature festivals, and science-based nonprofits.

Planet

Sustainability Badges

This program establishes a transparent and efficient framework for motivating, monitoring, and evaluating environmental sustainability accomplishments at the office level.

80% Office Participation Rate

20 Offices Participating in 2024

2024 Daring to be Greener award

The San Antonio office won the Daring to be greener award, earning a total of 8 badges in 2024.

9,462 Pounds of equpiment recycled

We partner with two recycling non-profits: PCs for People and Human I-T.

Energy Use

At SWCA, we are always looking for ways to reduce the energy use that is within our control and encourage our employees to consider their actions.

24.24 EUI (kBTU/square foot)

1,315 RECs Purchased

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In 2024, Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions were calculated in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard. Both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions decreased in 2024 from 2023.

3.28 mt CO2e / employee

5,437 Total emissions (mt CO2e)

GHG Reporting →

970 Clean Energy Projects

SWCA has extensive experience supporting clean energy generation projects, including wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower and is committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions.

Connect with SWCA

Click below to learn more about our Sustainability and Management Consulting services and how SWCA can support your efforts in sustainability/ESG reporting.

Learn More →