Businesses worldwide have begun looking for ways to increase the sustainable components of their companies while decreasing the environmental impact of inefficient buildings, waste and pollution. One Canadian company has stepped in to act as a consultant for businesses looking to make those kinds of changes, and it’s called Vertima. 

Started in 2008 by Josée Lupien and Jean DesRosiers, Vertima is a group of environmental strategies professionals that have the answers companies are looking for regarding everything from building materials to air quality inside the office.

Related: Google’s first retail location earns LEED Platinum certification

The team at Vertima offers expert advice in its collaborations with real estate developers, manufacturers and training organizations. One of its top goals is to support businesses as they seek to achieve LEED® certification. Vertima also guides businesses toward carbon-neutral practices and helps them become more eco-responsible.

The company has analyzed and validated over 1,000 products with environmental properties and features and has completed more than 91 sustainable building certification projects, including LEED, WELL and Green Globes. The team has developed over 250 collaborative workshops on integrated design processes (ICP) and trained over 950 professionals in the construction industry.

To entice businesses to invest time in listening and learning through the training programs, Quebec’s Commission des partenaires du marché du travail has recognized the program in a way that gives training credits to employees who participate. Vertima training is also approved by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) for those maintaining their LEED® specialized professional designation.

According to the Vertima website, “We offer high-quality professional consulting services to meet the needs of our clients and create economic, environmental and social value through each mandate.” 

Most recently, Vertima completed the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management for the Place Ville Marie (PVM) business campus. Ivanhoé Cambridge, the client on the project, is the first company in Canada to obtain the certification. It’s a standard that highlights PVM’s commitment to the highest standards for cleaning and sanitization, emergency preparedness, health service resources and air and water quality management to respond to the pandemic and meet the future needs of PVM’s occupants.

In another recent project, the team offered guidance for the environmental requirements and performance during construction of the new Maison Radio-Canada, owned by Broccolini, and similarly for the Ericsson corporate campus, a LEED® gold-level project of MONTONI.

“We want to make a difference by facilitating the implementation of environmental strategies within companies,” said Lupien, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, President of Vertima. “Through our team of passionate and highly skilled professionals, we create economic value for any company that wants to update its certifications or environmental practices.”

+ Vertima