From strategy to implementation: helping large businesses deliver real decarbonization results

Many organizations have ambitious net-zero goals, but translating those into measurable, real-world outcomes is where the challenge begins. For companies further along in their decarbonization journey—particularly those with a reputation to uphold—their decarbonization strategies need to be more targeted, more actionable and more tailored to their specific business context.

At Arcadis, we help clients bridge the gap between strategy and implementation by combining deep technical knowledge with on-the-ground expertise. Whether you’re optimizing energy use, planning capital investments or rethinking lifecycle emissions, our approach is built around what works best for your business and your sustainability goals—while addressing the sustainability challenges in business that often emerge during implementation.

A collaborative approach from boardroom to boiler room

No two organizations are the same, which means no two decarbonization strategies should be either. Understanding a client’s business—how it operates, what drives it and where the biggest impact can be made—is the essential first step.

Wherever our clients are in their decarbonization journey—from the boardroom to the boiler room—we listen. And by that, I mean we really do a deep dive into understanding your business, your needs and what drives it. From there, we'll tailor our team and our services to support clients’ business by creating a measurable solution that’s best for the environment, for their business to grow and that makes financial sense.

From boardroom to the boiler room

This collaborative approach ensures that what’s implemented on the ground directly supports the broader goals for a wholistic decarbonization strategy set at the top. Our support often includes:

• Custom-built teams based on sector, location or complexity
• Partnerships with implementation specialists, s uch as Mission Zero 
• Integration of decarbonization strategy into business growth planning
• Connection with wider sustainable design teams positioned under the five sustainability pillars:

Setting baselines and measuring what matters

For implementation to be effective, it has to be measurable. Many businesses—whether they operate in industrial manufacturing, life sciences or almost any other sector—struggle not because they lack ambition, but because they haven’t established clear baselines or a method for tracking progress related to their business's sustainability challenges. That’s where we come in.

We establish a baseline and measure progress to highlight the impact of your CapEx investments compared to OpEx savings, including energy, water and emissions reductions. This is mapped over a timeline aligned with your sustainability strategy. A key part of this process is understanding where financial investments originate—whether from CapEx (typically funded by corporate) or OpEx (often covered by the site). To identify the best solutions, we use metrics like Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Net Present Value (NPV). By combining TCO with carbon reduction (€ per tCO2 reduced), we provide valuable insights into cost efficiency. This approach allows us to calculate the Marginal Abatement Cost (MAC), helping you identify the most cost-effective pathways to achieve both short-term and long-term carbon reduction goals.

The following are just a few of the items that we help our clients keep tabs on:

• Capital expenditure (CapEx) vs. long-term operational savings (OpEx)
• Energy use, broken down by source
• Water usage and savings potential
• Emissions reductions in line with sustainability targets

Setting a baseline and mapping key metrics is a game-changer for businesses looking to drive sustainability. It not only makes it easier to justify investments and confidently report progress; it also helps uncover new opportunities for improvement. By using the metrics noted above to create a tailored roadmap, businesses can clearly see the cost of inaction over time and take strategic steps toward a more sustainable and financially prosperous future.

Boots on the ground: delivering real-world results

Technical excellence only goes so far without the operational expertise to back it up. Arcadis brings together strategists, engineers and project delivery teams who know how to get things done—on site, under pressure and at scale.

Take these two completed projects delivered from concept through to completion on site for two multinational pharmaceutical companies:

1. We were responsible for the design and construction of a major site expansion where one of the primary project goals was to put sustainability, operational excellence and future-proofing front and center.

Challenge: