Sustainability Service Companies Merge

BOULDER, Colo. — Sustainability management software provider PE International and Five Winds International, a sustainability management consultant firm, recently announced a merger aimed at enabling market penetration in North America and bringing Five Winds consulting services to a global audience.

Officials from the firms said the merger addresses a growing demand in the market for solutions that drive improvements in product-level and enterprise-wide sustainability performance.

“Businesses are integrating sustainability principles into their operations to manage supply chain opportunities and risks arising from climate change, water shortages, energy demand and other sustainability issues,” the companies said in a joint statement. “According to research firm Forrester the market is growing at 83 percent per annum and is forecasted to reach $903 million by 2013.”

The combined company plans to provide strategic management advisory services coupled with technology options to the North American market, and roll out Five Winds’ consulting methods and processes throughout all PE International companies worldwide.

“There is a strong demand for integrated consulting services and technology solutions that allow clients to identify cost savings and take advantage of new revenue and growth opportunities,” said Michael Betz, CEO of PE International. “PE International and Five Winds currently share a number of client relationships like Kraft Foods, Carnival Corporation and Johnson & Johnson demonstrating the complementary value that we can now bring to our customers.”

PE International recently announced that it raised $10.8 million in venture capital funding from Siemens Venture Capital and European investment firm Gimv. The investment will fund the growth plans of the combined company and further develop its software plus services platform.

The sustainability solution combines Five Winds’ strategy development and implementation services, benchmarking content product innovation processes and tools.

PE’s solution portfolio includes GaBi software solutions for product sustainability, including life cycle assessment and product footprints, and SoFi software solutions for managing corporate sustainability.

Officials said the merger is the natural progression of a long-term collaboration between the two companies that began with a strategic alliance in 1998.

In 2006, the companies founded joint venture PE Americas to bring PE International’s software to Five Winds consulting services.