Eunomia Research & Consulting has announced the opening of its first office in North America, as it seeks to continue its international expansion with a new New York office.

The Bristol-based consultancy, which also has offices in Brussels, Copenhagen and New Zealand, says that growing demand for expertise in resources policy, strategy and operations has led to the expansion.

In the United States, which Resource took a close look at earlier this year, around 254 million tonnes of waste are generated each year, while it is estimated that 50 per cent of all US produce, worth $160 billion) is thrown away annually.

Eunomia hopes to be able to help companies adopt more sustainable practices through its experience on waste, recycling and environmental policy.

The office, which will be headed by Sarah Edwards, who has been a Senior Consultant at the company since January 2016, has already begun a project with ReFED, a multi-stakeholder not-for-profit network of businesses and government leaders working to reduce food waste across the US by 20 per cent, and is expected to produce a set of guidelines next month.

Edwards, the CEO of the new office said: “This is both an exciting and challenging time to start trading in the USA. Despite federal government inaction, states, cities, businesses and grassroots organisations will continue to drive positive environmental change. We look forward to working with them to deliver sustainable long term solutions.”

Eunomia Founder and Chairman Dominic Hogg, in New York for the UN’s Ocean Conference this week, added: “Over time, we’ve developed a range of tools and methods that have proven their worth in a number of different countries. Our approach has always been to transfer lessons from our experiences and apply them to each new situation we encounter.

“The US is a new market for us, and we’re excited at the prospect of bringing our novel perspectives to bear on new challenges.”