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Rowan: A Sustainability@GEC Company Driving Sustainable Development

In the pursuit of sustainability, mindset plays a crucial role, as reflected in the motto, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right” by Henry Ford. Tom Rowan, the visionary founder of Rowan, embraces this philosophy as he leads his team of 23 experts in providing environmental and sustainability consultancy services. As a Sustainability@GEC company in the Guinness Enterprise Centre, we sat down with Tom Rowan to dive into how Rowan commits to sustainable development, their diverse range of services and their dedication to their own sustainability practices.

Rowan is a prominent sustainability consultancy firm that is both pro-development and pro-sustainability.

They provide three core services:

Environmental Consultancy 💡: Rowan help businesses comply with environmental laws and regulations by providing EPA licensing, environmental planning reports, and comprehensive reviews of environmental liabilities.
Sustainability and ESG Consultancy 🌍: The company helps clients achieve their sustainability goals by offering actionable advice and guidance, carbon footprint calculations and providing suggestions for improvement.
Forensic Engineering 🔍: Rowan provides a detailed site investigation to compile an engineering report before providing independent expert witness testimony at court.

The commitment to Sustainability:

I believe the increasing profile of the environment and sustainability not only benefits society but provides Rowan with a great opportunity to grow our environmental and sustainability business through organic growth, partnerships and acquisition.

Rowan’s focus is to provide practical advice to our clients on how to measure carbon emissions and deliver their sustainability and ESG goals. This typically involves:

Explaining the terminology used within sustainability and ESG.
Assisting clients to measure their baseline Carbon Footprint (Be that Scope 1 and 2, Scope 3 or using Science Based Targets).
Understanding client objectives from reducing energy and carbon footprint to achieving carbon net zero.
Creating a sustainability plan and road map based on the client’s objectives.
Assist our clients to implement a number of standards and certifications including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ISO 14001/50001, Science Based Targets, GHG Protocol, Origin Green, Alliance for Water Stewardship and CDP Science Based Targets).

Where did Tom’s sustainability career begin?

Tom, a farmer’s son from County Meath, was previously an engineer in the meat industry. Tom’s career steered into environmental and sustainability when EPA licenses were brought in for the Food and Drink industry.

As he observes, Rowan’s client motivation has undergone a significant shift, transitioning from a cost-driven compliance approach to a sustainability focus. The primary priority now lies in sustainability, circular economy, energy reduction and recycling. The new generation of conscious consumers have developed a strong sense of demand for sustainability, compelling suppliers and industries to adapt.

At Rowan, the pursuit of sustainability is not limited to their clients but extends to their own practices. Founder, Tom Rowan, emphasises the importance of assembling a knowledgeable team to tackle sustainability challenges. The company prioritises building the right team, fostering an environment for optimal performance, and carefully selecting clients who align with their culture.

We have to ensure that we are doing what we are advising other people to do.

Sustainability@GEC

Rowan, is part of the Guinness Enterprise Centre’s Sustainability@GEC, which consists of 15 companies driving sustainability innovation. This was launched with Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for the Environment and Climate, at the GEC on February 24, 2023.

I think the GEC sustainability cluster is a great way to meet other people that are interested in sustainability. The monthly meetings also provide us with a forum to discuss relevant issues as well as potential synergies and opportunities between the various companies.

The sustainability cluster was launched in partnership with Techies Go Green, which supports tech-oriented companies committed to decarbonising their businesses and helping every signatory become carbon neutral by 2030. Rowan has joined Techies Go Green to keep some internal focus on themselves.

GEC launches Sustainability@GEC with 14 cluster companies and Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for the Environment and Climate

What exciting projects are in the works for Rowan?

“Our environmental team are involved in some really exciting renewable energy projects including wind turbines, solar farms, battery storage and anaerobic digestion (AD).

Our sustainability team are inundated with clients looking to genuinely improve the sustainability of their companies. Grants from Enterprise Ireland and SEAI are supporting these clients in beginning and advancing their sustainability journey.

We are also delighted to be involved in a ‘Woodland Environmental Fund’ forestry project with a local Trim farmer, in developing 17 acres of native Irish woodland. The woodland was planted in 2021 and there is a future plan to create a walking trail that would significantly benefit the local community.”

Rowan’s commitment to support sustainable development is making a positive impact on the environment and amongst the GEC sustainability mission. Rowan is driving change and inspiring others to embrace sustainable practices, and a valued member in the GEC community.

Learn more about Rowan: https://rec.ie/

Want more information about the innovation in sustainability in the Guinness Enterprise Centre? Check out Sustainability@GEC and contact us to find out more about the community, office space, events and corporate partnerships.

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Rowan: A Sustainability@GEC Company Driving Sustainable Development

Where did Tom’s sustainability career begin?

Sustainability@GEC

What exciting projects are in the works for Rowan?

Start your story at the GEC

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