We recognise our responsibility to minimise the impact of our operations and services on the environment, and we are making real progress as we work to develop a fully integrated approach to environmental management. This year we focused our efforts on improving our recycling, waste management, energy procurement and consumption, and greening our supply chain.

Procurement

Over the year our environment manager has worked with our primary procurement teams for staff services, vehicles, IT and electrical equipment, and paper to engage them with environmental issues as they apply to the products and services we purchase. We have ethical and environmental guidelines for procurement activities and it is our priority to work in partnership with our suppliers to enhance and sustain environmental standards, providing greatest benefit to the firm, our suppliers and the environment.

Energy procurement and conservation

After a competitive tender process we selected a new energy broker and conservation consultant. 100% of our purchased energy is now classified as green and we have set a further target of a minimum 10% from ‘dark’ green sources (from wind, solar or other renewable sources). We will also consider carbon off-setting of any residual carbon impacts with the aim to make the firm carbon neutral.

Waste and recycling

A new office waste recycling programme and a staff awareness campaign has been launched. The new processes helps us monitor waste data, set quantitative targets, target high impact areas and give clearer ownership to our people.

Other initiatives

We now provide Fairtrade coffee in client hospitality and meeting rooms. The drinking water bottles are now provided in client hospitality and meeting rooms, with the water purified on site and served in re-usable bottles.