Anthesis buys leading ‘green’ chemistry specialist
Green business news – by GreenWise staff
28th February 2014
Anthesis, the start-up sustainability and environmental advisor, has acquired chemical regulation specialist Caleb.
The acquisition brings Anthesis’ staff to 90-strong across three continents. It marks the third such deal in less than six months by the group, which launched in September 2013 and has ambitions to become the leading global player in sustainability consultancy services. The company bought leading UK sustainability consultants Best Foot Forward (BFF) at the end of last year and acquired Germany’s UMR, a specialist in environmental risk and liability assessment, in January.
Stuart McLachlan, chief executive officer of Anthesis, said the acquisition of Caleb Management Services meant the start-up was on course to become the world’s leading provider of specialist sustainability services “by the end of next year”.
“Deep expertise”
“The sustainability agenda is moving away from talking about ‘what’s possible’ to clients demanding real, tangible business outcomes. Caleb’s hands-on experience of assessing chemical risk and managing substitution will be a critical component as many clients review their products and supply chain in order to deliver demonstrable environmental and social benefit.”
Caleb, based in Bristol, has a client base of over 75 blue-chip companies and a long-established expertise in chemical regulation and chemical risks assessment, including REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). It manages over 700 substances under various regulatory frameworks and is led by Paul Ashford, a member of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change.
Stuart McLachlan, chief executive officer of Anthesis, said the acquisition of Caleb Management Services meant the start-up was on course to become the world’s leading provider of specialist sustainability services “by the end of next year”.
“Deep expertise”
“For Anthesis to become the leading global sustainability specialist in supply chain performance, producer responsibility and related sustainable product design, it is essential for us to gain deep expertise in chemistry,” McLachlan said.
“The sustainability agenda is moving away from talking about ‘what’s possible’ to clients demanding real, tangible business outcomes. Caleb’s hands-on experience of assessing chemical risk and managing substitution will be a critical component as many clients review their products and supply chain in order to deliver demonstrable environmental and social benefit.”
Caleb, based in Bristol, has a client base of over 75 blue-chip companies and a long-established expertise in chemical regulation and chemical risks assessment, including REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). It manages over 700 substances under various regulatory frameworks and is led by Paul Ashford, a member of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change.
Servicing clients better
“The purchase by Anthesis allows Caleb to better serve its growing international client base, much of which is based in the US. In addition, it brings Caleb’s sustainable chemical expertise into the Anthesis’ offering at a time when supply chains are having to respond to calls for greater transparency and hazard assessment.”
“The purchase by Anthesis allows Caleb to better serve its growing international client base, much of which is based in the US. In addition, it brings Caleb’s sustainable chemical expertise into the Anthesis’ offering at a time when supply chains are having to respond to calls for greater transparency and hazard assessment.”
Anthesis’ client base currently includes Coca-Cola, GSK, WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme) and Volkswagen. It is looking to grow through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth and says it has its sights set on expanding into China.
This article was updated at 11.28am on March 3 2014 to say Anthesis was on course to become the world’s leading provider of specialist sustainability services by “the end of next year”. It had previously said Anthesis would become the world’s leading provider of specialist sustainability and environmental services by “next year”.
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Caleb Management Services has expertise in chemical regulation and chemical risks assessment, including REACH
