Our progress on the pathway to net zero
Environmental performance is critical to the successful operation of our Firm and so we continue to take important steps to try to reduce our environmental impact as well as engaging with our clients and our people on the subject.
We recognise the importance of leading the way in adopting best environmental practice, taking responsibility for our actions and striving to achieve challenging reductions in emissions and consumption.
Having made significant progress in gathering data and understanding our impact, we are currently reviewing our near and long-term carbon reduction targets and baseline year.
In 2021, we committed to achieve a 50% reduction in our absolute UK greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 2019/20 baseline. We have reported our absolute emissions annually since 2020, and our data and progress for the last complete financial year (2023/24) is set out below.
Total carbon emissions
UK emissions for the year reporting 1 May 2023 – 30 April 2024
Scope 1
2023/24 emissions (tCO2e)
Scope 2 (location-based)
2023/24 emissions (tCO2e)
Scope 2 (market-based)
2023/24 emissions (tCO2e)
Scope 3
2023/24 emissions (tCO2e)
Total carbon emissions
Reducing our direct emissions
We have continued to achieve reductions in our Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2023/24 by:
- Enhancing the energy efficiency of our Cheltenham office by replacing 80 single-glazed windows with double-glazed alternatives, substantially improving the u-value and reducing heat loss.
- Upgrading to LED lighting equipped with PIR sensors within all common areas of our London office, ensuring energy consumption is optimised by only providing light when it is needed.
- Commencing the refurbishment of office space in London that will transform a cellular layout into an open plan, incorporating an upgrade to energy-saving LED lighting.
- Implementing a standardised process for temperature adjustments and changes in the London office, streamlining energy management and reinforcing our commitment to creating a sustainable working environment.
- Introducing lever arch files made from recycled grey board covered in paper that has a cellulose lamination to give them a glossy effect. The folders have been designed specifically for us to meet business requirements but also be completely recyclable.
Our progress in 2024
Beef is off the menu
A significant amount of carbon emissions is associated with the food we consume. Over the last year, we have worked with our catering provider in the London office to reduce the amount of beef on the menu in our staff restaurant. The focus remains on fresh, seasonal ingredients but removing the beef has meant that the team have found creative alternatives to traditional dishes, which have been well received. Alongside educating and engaging our people on the environmental benefits of other meat and plant-based alternatives, the initiative has also resulted in a reduction in carbon emissions.
Closing the loop on paper towels
Paper towels are often difficult to recycle as they become contaminated with food waste and other materials. In our London office we are working with our paper towel provider to separate paper towels from our catering and washroom areas into a clean waste stream. The towels are then collected, taken to the mill and turned back into new hand towels or tissue products, therefore utilising the towels not as waste items but as a resource that can be used again. As part of this initiative in 2024 we recycled one tonne of paper towels, reducing our raw material consumption and therefore our environmental impact.
Looking ahead
We have made significant progress over the last year in gathering environmental data and understanding our impact. We are actively reviewing our near and long-term carbon reduction targets and baseline year. Work is underway for the upcoming year to include:
- Implementing a targeted supplier engagement programme to work with the suppliers / services that we have identified as having the largest environmental impact.
- Continuing to raise awareness of the effects of business travel across our business.
- Supporting cross sector collaborations through our membership of organisations such as the Legal Sustainability Alliance and as a Dialogue Partner of Legal Charter 1.5.
- Developing additional training to support our people who have operational responsibility for managing our environmental impact.
- Continuing to make incremental reductions in the energy use in our UK offices.
- Enhancing our ability to collect, analyse and report on our environmental impact by introducing new carbon emission accounting software.
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