environmental policy

We are conscious of our corporate responsibility as legal adviser, employer, and consumer to operate in a way which protects the environment for current and future generations. We recognise that our business activities have direct and indirect environmental impact and endeavour to manage these in a responsible manner. As a result, we are committed to a programme of continuous improvement to minimise our impact on the environment and will also encourage our business partners, clients and suppliers, and members of the wider community, of which we are a part, to reduce theirs.

All our offices seek to apply and promote best practice in environmental management and comply with all statutory and regulatory environmental requirements.

Each office is responsible for the development of a local programme under the guidance of the Director of HR and Administration in order to ensure that it fulfils the objectives of this policy.

We aim to promote awareness of our environmental policy to all employees. Our employees are actively involved. In 2007 employees were asked to participate in an employee survey putting forward their ideas for improvement. We also encourage suggestions in new ways of working to minimise harm caused to the environment by the firm’s activities and help improve environmental awareness.

We also aim to work with our clients and suppliers to promote awareness of environmental issues.

Our environmental policy covers:

Recycling

We aim to minimise waste through reuse and recycling. We currently recycle confidential and non-confidential paper, glass bottles, furniture, printer cartridges, toners and mobile phones.

Computer hardware and other electronic equipment

We understand that the sourcing, use and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment is one of the more significant environmental impacts of a modern legal practice. We are often therefore looking to limit the adverse environmental impact of our business by purchasing new equipment from suppliers who provide information regarding the energy efficiency of equipment and the ease with which components and materials can be recycled. Equipment that is no longer required is either resold or offered to staff and/or to charitable organisations through reputable recycling organisations who can provide proof of equipment re-use. Where no alternative user can be found, this equipment is only disposed of through firms which can provide verifiable information about their means of disposal and preferably organisations that re-use components from decommissioned equipment.

Travel

We seek to minimise the amount of travel that we undertake and actively encourage the use of public transport, cycling to work and video conferencing. Video conferencing facilities are available in each of our offices.

We operate a loan scheme for the purchase of annual travel passes, provide storage facilities for bicycles and showers for those employees who wish to cycle to work. Cycle couriers are used wherever possible and we encourage car-sharing. The firm participates in events to promote, encourage and raise awareness of healthy and sustainable travel alternatives to improve the way transport is planned and managed.

Office utilities

We seek to minimise energy and water consumption through the efficient use of electrical appliances, air conditioning systems and hot water systems and promote efficient use of resources.

Through the firms Insight news updates employees are reminded of the firm’s strategies for improving energy efficiency and reducing our environmental impact. This includes switching off lighting, computers, screen monitors, fans and heating when not in use. Photocopiers and printers go into power save mode when not in use . The firm uses energy efficient lighting and we regularly review our use of energy with a view to improve efficiency.

Printing/Paper

We recognise that, by the nature of our business, we are relatively high users of paper and so we have taken steps to minimise paper usage and wastage. These include encouraging verbal and electronic communications rather than by email, only printing documents when it is absolutely essential, duplex printing facilities are available on all our printers and photocopiers, and recycling all paper products as much as possible.

We aim to communicate our environmental policy and future updates to employees, clients, suppliers and the public and provide the necessary training and resources to support the implementation and compliance of our policy. The information is available on the Intranet for information to clients.

This policy will be reviewed annually.