How it works
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Reporting Boundary: 8 Sites (Bristol, Edinburgh,
Leeds, London, Newcastle St Anns, Newcastle Trinity, Plymouth, Southampton)
Emission Sources: Electricity, T&D Losses, Natural
Gas, Water, Fleet, Business Travel, Paper, homeworking (not included in total footprint)
Reporting Period: 01 May 2021 to 30 Apr 2022
We engage our employees and wider stakeholders to unlock their talent and knowledge to drive year on year progress in sustainability.
We recognise that transparent communication is essential for transformational change and we quantifiably contribute to 7 SDG.
Womble Bond Dickinson, a transatlantic law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers based in 28 US and UK offices, has achieved certification to Planet Mark.
Achieving the Planet Mark is based on the commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability in its business operations by measuring and reducing its carbon footprint and engaging its stakeholders.
Womble Bond Dickinson aims to minimise the impact the firm has on the environment and is committed to enhancing its environmental performance and finding sustainable ways to improve its environmental management system. In addition to its carbon reduction emissions with Planet Mark, the firm is a founding member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance. To achieve its sustainability goals, the firm has taken a number of practical measures, such as installing LED lighting, reducing printing volumes, encouraging the use of video conferencing, re-filtering mains water for consumption, as well as reducing the amount of food waste and energy consumption across its offices.
“I’m so pleased to see the progress made by Womble Bond Dickinson. Through its international influence and its huge range of stakeholders, the change the team is able to make will be felt far and wide. Its reduction in carbon emissions is no small feat, and it has demonstrated actions that complement the firm’s sustainable commitments. Womble Bond Dickinson is truly walking the walk on sustainability, and we at Planet Mark are happy to be a part of the firm’s sustainability journey.”
“We’re proud to have been awarded Planet Mark certification for the sixth year running, on the back of our firm-wide efforts to reduce carbon emissions. We care deeply about the impact of our actions on our people, our local communities and the environment; and strive to be a socially aware and ethical business. With eight offices in the UK and over 1000 employees, gathering our emissions data can be challenging but Planet Mark enables us to track our continuous improvement, providing helpful tools and guidance so we can report accurately, reduce our carbon footprint; and minimise the negative impact it has on the environment.”
Over the few years, the company will continue towards reducing its carbon emissions and sharing its journey with its community to inspire others. By being more strategic about its environmental responsibility, it will be able to significantly increase its positive impact and hope to encourage continual improvements within its community.
The legal industry has an opportunity to thrive in a sustainable future. The environment has become central to so many areas of life, and boardrooms and policymakers alike are taking note. The legal industry must be responsive to this shift. This can be achieved by a renewed focus on environmental law itself, but also in the way law firms conduct their own business and engage with their supply chains. An all-encompassing approach to sustainability is vital to success in the modern world.
Off the back of discussions with like-minded organisations, Womble Bond Dickinson is engaging with Planet Mark to enhance its social value reporting, providing a holistic view of its positive impact on the planet and society. Planet Mark has also helped Womble Bond Dickinson with their SECR work; helping to align its environmental reporting year with its financial year.
Environmental representatives at each of Womble Bond Dickinson’s offices have helped to champion sustainability and bring to life the targets and goals set throughout the organisation. The company has created initiatives such as the community challenge at their Plymouth office which resulted in a reduction of 110kg Co2, as well as the drive towards making its cafes free from single-use plastics. These initiatives mean that the entire team at Womble Bond Dickinson are challenging their own behaviour to help push for improvements in sustainability.
Womble Bond Dickinson encourages open discussions about its sustainability initiatives through their Responsible Business Report, which is shared on its website and distributed to clients and external stakeholders including suppliers. From challenging its supply chain to embrace more sustainable products and services to switching to virtual client meetings where possible, Womble Bond Dickinson is bringing their entire community along on its journey.
To recertify next year Womble Bond Dickinson must reduce emissions by 2.5%.
A 5% year-on-year reduction is the target reduction recommended by Planet Mark.
