What is McHugh & Shaw?
McHugh & Shaw is an independent sustainability assurance provider based in Aotearoa New Zealand. As a certified B Corp, environmental sustainability is truly at the core of their operations and the services they offer. They support businesses and organisations on their journey to reduce the environmental impact of their services and products, aiming to protect the planet for future generations. Through their assurance and verification services, clients gain confidence in making credible sustainability claims that resonate with customers and suppliers alike.
The Main Benefits of Their Services
Here’s a quick snapshot of what McHugh & Shaw bring to the table:
- Certified B Corp with a strong commitment to sustainability and integrity
- Expertise in greenhouse gas (carbon) audits across New Zealand
- Services aligned with international standards like ISO 14064-1, ISO 14067, and the GHG Protocol
- New Zealand Carbon Neutral Government Programme Supplier status
- Audits led or overseen by CEP Certified Carbon Auditors
- Comprehensive assurance for organisational, community, event, and product carbon footprints
- Verification services for sustainability-linked loans, GRI reporting, and ESG stakeholder returns
- Independent reviews and second-party audits for smaller footprints or budget-conscious clients
Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Audits
One of the standout offerings is their independent carbon auditing service. McHugh & Shaw provide seamless support from the pre-audit stage right through to delivering the final assurance report. Their expertise covers organisational, community or city, event, and product carbon inventories and footprints. These audits follow rigorous standards like ISO 14064-3 and NZ SAE 1, ensuring credibility and accuracy. While they don’t provide carbon certification themselves, their audits are recognised by established certification providers such as Ekos.
Environmental and Sustainability Assurance Services
Beyond carbon audits, McHugh & Shaw offer a broad range of environmental and sustainability assurance services. These help organisations make credible sustainability claims and confidently report independently reviewed sustainability metrics. Their services include assurance under the Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Standards, Airport Carbon Accreditation verification, Eco Choice Aotearoa Ecolabel assessments, and product stewardship assessments. They also provide verification for biodiversity credit programmes like Ekos SD (BioCredita), ensuring a thorough and trustworthy review process.
Specialised Reporting and Review Services
For organisations looking to enhance their sustainability reporting, McHugh & Shaw offer expert reviews of sustainability reports, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and credibility. They assess the robustness of GRI indicators and provide independent verification for sustainability-linked loans, adding an extra layer of trust to financial products tied to environmental outcomes. Their pre-assurance assessments help clients prepare for third-party audits by identifying gaps early, smoothing the path for successful verification.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – Supporting carbon footprint reduction and energy efficiency
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Assuring community and city-scale carbon inventories
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Product stewardship and sustainability-linked loans
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Comprehensive greenhouse gas audits and climate standards assurance
- SDG 15: Life on Land – Verification of biodiversity credit programmes
Values and Commitment
McHugh & Shaw pride themselves on their core values: independence, integrity, impartiality, and transparency. These principles guide every assurance and verification service they provide, ensuring clients receive objective, trustworthy assessments. Their team of highly qualified carbon auditors brings deep experience and a passion for sustainability, helping organisations across New Zealand build credibility and confidence in their environmental claims. If you’re looking for a partner to help navigate the complexities of sustainability assurance, McHugh & Shaw offer expertise that’s both reliable and approachable.
