Getting to know Ross Malton, Principal Sustainability Consultant

Meet the people behind our success as we unveil the stories, passions, and expertise of our dedicated team. Discover how their experience enables us to become a trusted environmental services partner for clients across the UK. This time, let's get to know Ross Malton, Principal Sustainability Consultant.

What was your background before joining Adler & Allan?

Before joining Adler & Allan, I worked for a technical environmental consultancy working with clients throughout the UK, Europe and USA.

The focus of my work was delivering projects within the carbon and renewable energy sector; I helped my clients remain compliant with the various sustainability criteria of different renewable energy subsidy schemes, such as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), Renewable Obligation (RO), Feed-in Tariffs (FIT), and International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).

This involved completing life cycle calculations to ensure the carbon intensity of the energy they produced delivered environmental betterment and remained below the regulatory threshold. I also helped clients deliver against their net-zero commitments in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and conducted audits internationally for system users on the ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS schemes.

What made Adler & Allan stand out to you?

I have been aware of Adler & Allan’s work within the environmental risk reduction field for some time and watched with interest in recent years as the sustainability arm of the business has grown and developed. The breadth of the work delivered and the range of clients really stood out to me.

I was specifically interested in the innovative range of projects, particularly those focused on demonstrating the benefits of blue carbon to organisations who manage aquatic environments. This work can be used to demonstrate carbon sequestration savings against net-zero commitments or to commercialise and sell certified carbon offsets.

What is the biggest change you've seen in the industry?

Since I first entered the sustainability industry, I have seen a shift in what drives the type of projects which come across my desk.

Traditionally, the main motivation for my clients was to comply with the mandatory regulatory schemes that they qualified for. Although this type of work is still present in large volumes, I have seen a shift away from mandatory compliance projects towards work driven by an organisation's desires to understand and improve the environmental impacts of their business. I think we will see this shift continue as we see matters relating to sustainability continue to climb up the agenda.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

In my previous role, I helped a particularly innovative client to achieve ISCC PLUS certification for their polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-based products. The client, based out of California, captured waste methane gas from disused mines and converted it into a biomaterial called PHB. The process harnesses microorganisms found in nature to pull carbon out of greenhouse gases and turn them into a completely biodegradable resource.

The scope of the audit and materials used were the first of their kind to be certified under ISCC and I worked closely with them to develop a pilot audit and demonstrate the material's sustainable credentials. The project was also my first taste of travelling and working with clients based in the USA, which was an enjoyable experience.

What excites you about coming to work?

The opportunity to work with a team of colleagues and clients who are passionate about providing innovative solutions to environmental issues and achieving environmental betterment.

What’s next for Ross in 2024?

In the year ahead, I am excited about working with the sustainability team to continue to deliver high-quality advice to our existing client base. I also look forward to expanding our list of services to meet the ever-evolving ESG needs of our customers.