Simmons & Simmons is to spend £114,000 per year to lower its pollution levels, as it becomes the first law firm to achieve carbon-neutral status.
The top 15 City firm has decided to do its bit to save the environment by working with The CarbonNeutral Company to reduce the amount of carbon it produces and offset its emissions across its 20 offices.
The CarbonNeutral Company has estimated that 80% of Simmons’ carbon emissions can be accounted for by direct energy use, while a further 13% can be attributed to air travel. The firm has calculated it must spend £114,000 a year to reach carbon-neutral status. Plans mooted include supporting energy efficiency or renewable energy initiatives in developing countries that aim to reduce the consumption of wood used as fuel.
In a bid to cut down air travel, the firm is investing in video-conferencing facilities. It hopes that this, coupled with turning off lights and computers, will help it cut firm-wide natural resource consumption by 7.5% by April 2007.
Simmons managing partner Mark Dawkins commented: "It is increasingly critical for businesses to take a responsible approach to their impact on the environment. This is a long-term, ongoing project, during which we will significantly reduce the firm’s overall impact on the environment."
See legalweek.com/editorsblog (17 November).
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Simmons greenlights initiative to become first carbon-neutral firm
Published: 23/11/2006 00:00
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