Turning Technical Integrity Into Credible Sustainability Communication.

For engineering consultancies, sustainability is not just a message. It is part of design, materials, calculations, and long-term impact.

For Perega, joining The Anti-Greenwash Charter was about making sure its sustainability communication is as robust as its engineering work.

Sustainability is built into the work

Perega is a civil and structural engineering consultancy, founded in 1947 and operating across the UK. The business is employee owned, which brings a strong focus on long-term thinking and shared responsibility.

Sustainability is part of that approach.

“In the built environment, structural elements carry a lot of embodied carbon,” says Monika Rogers, Associate and Net Zero Carbon Lead. “That means early design decisions really matter.”

Perega set up its Net Zero Carbon working group in 2021. Since then, the team has been building capability around embodied carbon, net zero design principles, refurbishment, and reuse.

As this work developed, the need to communicate it clearly became more important.

When communication became more exposed

That need became clear when Perega began sharing more about sustainable design publicly, including the launch of its embodied carbon calculator.

“We realised how exposed you become when you start talking more about sustainability,” says Emma Neal, Head of Marketing. “Every claim can be questioned, and that is the right thing.”

For Perega, trust is essential.

“If claims are not accurate or properly backed up, trust is lost,” Emma explains. “And in engineering, trust underpins everything.”

The real issue was confidence

Perega did not see deliberate greenwashing as a major problem in the sector. Instead, they saw uncertainty.

“People want to talk about sustainability, but they worry about getting it wrong,” says Emma. “That can lead to vague claims, or to saying nothing at all.”

From a technical point of view, Monika sees this often.

“Terms like ‘low carbon’ sound simple, but they are not,” she says. “If you do not explain what sits behind a claim, it can be misleading without meaning to be.”

Perega wanted a way to communicate clearly, without overclaiming or oversimplifying.

Why Perega joined the Charter

When Emma discovered the Anti-Greenwash Charter, the value was clear.

“We did not have specialist expertise in anti-greenwashing,” she says. “The Charter offered structure, support, and an independent benchmark.”

As part of becoming a signatory, Perega created a Green Claims Policy. The policy reflects how the business works, where its data comes from, and how claims are checked.

“It gave us clarity,” Emma explains. “It showed us what good practice looks like.”

What changed in practice

The impact was practical and day to day.

Within the marketing team:

• Sustainability claims now need clearer evidence

• Review and approval processes are more formal

• Language is more specific and less general

• Imagery and colour choices are considered more carefully

“We are not more cautious because we are scared,” says Emma. “We are more confident because we understand what we are doing.”

The Charter training also helped the team see risk more clearly.

“The real examples made a big difference,” Emma says. “They helped us spot issues we would not have noticed before.”

For Monika, reviewing the Green Claims Policy alongside technical processes was reassuring.

“It confirmed that we were moving in the right direction,” she says. “And it showed where we could explain our work more clearly.”

Confidence over perfection

One of the biggest takeaways was that the process was supportive.

“I expected it to feel quite exposing,” Emma admits. “Instead, it felt constructive and educational.”

The focus was not on being perfect.

“It is about being honest, transparent, and willing to improve,” she says.

Looking beyond Perega

Perega also sees responsible communication as something that affects clients and collaborators.

“We rely on information from others,” says Monika. “If that information is not communicated clearly, it becomes a risk for everyone.”

The business hopes to use its experience to raise awareness and standards across projects and partnerships.

Why independent validation matters

For Perega, being a Charter signatory sends a clear signal.

“It shows that we have taken the time to put proper processes in place,” Emma explains. “It tells people that we take sustainability communication seriously.”

In a sector built on credibility, that matters.

Be Recognised for Your Commitment to Responsible Communications

Join The Anti-Greenwash Charter and position your organisation as a leader in responsible, transparent communications. Take the next step today and start your journey toward greater accountability and trust.

👉 Apply to become a signatory now