Partnerships

Tackling global priorities

We can only meaningfully contribute to sustainable development if we work in partnership with others. Arup collaborates with globally influential bodies and institutions to push for step-change outcomes in issues like climate resilience, energy efficiency, the circular economy agenda and the push for greater infrastructure resilience.

These partnerships address systemic challenges, creating connections between commercial experts, government representatives, policy makers, civil society and the wider public. In many different ways, they allow progressive ideas to gain credibility and momentum, moving our industry forward.   

Explore some of the outcomes our partners are working towards below:

Transition to a low and zero carbon emission economy

Our aim to decarbonise the built environment means working with partners at different scales. For example, our work with C40, WBCSD and EMF enables us to collaborate with city decision makers, business leaders and others to help shape a more sustainable approach to the use of materials and resources. 

We collaborate with partners on major initiatives in both the built environment and urban mobility sectors, exploring how more sustainable methods of production and design can be implemented and commercialised. Our July 2021 joint report with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development explores how net zero buildings can be achieved.

Achieving a circular economy

Today, businesses in every sector are waking up to the fact that we need to become much better stewards of our planet’s diminishing resources. Arup is a long time knowledge partner to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, helping to bring built environment perspectives to its pioneering work on the circular economy. Our partnership is currently focusing on how to speed up implementation of circular principles in the property sector. This work is a combination of advisory and technical insights, aimed at bringing greater sustainability to investor decision making. We’re also exploring ways to make circular economy practices easier to adopt throughout the property value chain. 

Enhancing resilience

The global pandemic and increasing effects of climate change have both illustrated the importance of resilience, to businesses, cities and nations alike. To advance this vital agenda we are collaborating with leading resilience-focused organisations. 

Resilience Rising is a new global non-profit consortium innovating to make systemic resilience the norm as society transforms toward a net-zero future. Following five successful years, our collaboration with the Lloyd’s Register Foundation to deliver the flagship resilience platform, The Resilience Shift, has now transitioned to an independent NGO, which convenes essential communities of practice to drive systemic change by building capability, advancing thought leadership, and advocating for change.

Our work with Resilient Cities Network - the world's leading urban resilience network ensures a safe and equitable world for all. 

Creating socially valuable outcomes

As practitioners of architecture, planning, engineering and urban design, the social implications of our work are an ever-present issue. In recent years, we have carried out research into how cities are used, finding ways to improve the equality of experience in public spaces and on transport systems. 

Respecting the planet's natural boundaries

A key tenet of sustainable development is that any choice we make mustn’t exceed what the planet can naturally withstand. Establishing guidelines and guardrails in this regard requires a robust science-based approach.

Science-based Targets Network (SBTN) is an organisation bringing rigour and credibility to sustainable development outcomes, helping businesses and cities to make nature-positive decisions according to proven standards. Arup is a member of SBTN and we are collaborating on nature-based reporting for cities and companies, something that is both shaping future policy and reshaping investor thinking.

Arup has also joined an unprecedented network of organisations worldwide which share the ambition of the Earthshot Prize to incentivise change and help to repair our planet over the next ten years. Arup – as the only built environment firm currently taking part – is helping the Finalists develop their solutions faster to have the greatest possible impact, lending our engineering and consultancy expertise to supercharge their work to restore the planet.  This year we have supported The Pole Pole Foundation (Finalist – Protect and Restore Nature) in building an innovative sustainable operations and tourist base, which will provide an important space for community engagement and education work.

Meet our partners