Overview and key points
Since the launch of our sustainability strategy, we have worked with Alectro, our sustainability partner, to conduct an all company survey to assess our carbon footprint. As a result of this assessment, we have produced our Emissions Profile Statement and Carbon Report. These provide an overview of our current position and insight into what we can do to improve our emissions and overall impact on the environment as a business.
Key takeaways
Challenging the status quo
We aim to set an example to our industry and to our clients of what can be achieved and the impact we can make, if we start on the journey today.
Next steps
The report highlighted three main areas which are contributing to our current emissions profile and if addressed, could make the greatest immediate impact:
- Electronic equipment
- Business travel
- Employee commute
Electronic equipment
We have introduced an Environmentally Preferred Procurement Policy, which outlines our approach to procurement and leans toward purchasing from suppliers who have strong net zero commitments that match our ambition.
Business travel
We have already introduced a meeting policy which encourages people to think before they travel and recommends the principle of three – if you are not meeting with three or more people or have three or more meetings, then reconsider your need to travel and conduct the meeting(s) on teams/zoom. It also recommends public transportation and the use of EVs.
Employee commute
We have recently communicated our office policy which encourages people to attend offices based on a regional hub or branch basis. Whilst we need people to be in the office more, to minimise the impact of travel, we recommend:
- Incentivising car sharing
- Promoting on public transportation rather than individual modes of transport
- Encouraging and supporting the transition to low-carbon modes of transport (including, the introduction of EV charging points at Hub offices)
- Providing employees with a Working from Home Guide to understand the impact of their actions whilst working at home
Property portfolio
As part of our property strategy, we agreed to define and execute our environmental, carbon-reduction and renewables plan across real estate, travel, energy, and recycling practices / policies.
The next steps with regard to property are:
- Ensure our non-serviced offices are supplied by low carbon electricity sources, which ideally includes arranging a single provider (Track savings by using one supplier)
- Procure one office supplier (for coffee, stationery and tea) that has strong ethical ratings who can deliver to all offices (Track savings by using one supplier)
- Standardise recycling practices and policies across all offices (zero to landfill)
- Confirm agreement with First Mile to collect and responsibly recycle
Once these actions are agreed, we will communicate our progress on a monthly basis via our Sustainability Scorecard.