Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has once again been recognised for its commitment to sustainability, winning two awards at The Planet Mark Awards 2022. The event recognises organisations and individuals that have gone above and beyond to maximise their impact in three key areas of carbon reduction and sustainability – measure, engage and communicate.
WBD won the Data Quality and Collection Award for efficiently managing, collecting and reporting carbon emissions data across its seven UK offices and receiving a data quality score of 95%. The firm also received The Planet Mark's Milestone Award in recognition of the firm reaching five consecutive years of certification with The Planet Mark. The certification is based on WBD's commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability and in engaging with stakeholders to reduce emissions across its business operations.
Carbon reduction is a key pillar in WBD's ESG strategy with firmwide endeavours to reduce emissions and lead action on a sustainable transition in the industry. The firm, which was amongst the first in the UK legal profession to announce its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2030, procures renewable energy in four of its seven UK offices, with nearly 80% of the electricity used coming from renewable sources. A founding and executive member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance, WBD received a gold rating from EcoVadis, the world’s largest provider of business sustainability ratings, and recently was included in the inaugural The Legal 500 Green Guide as one of the top law firms leading the way on climate change.
The firm also recently unveiled its new eco-friendly Leeds office with significant updates to lighting and air conditioning to align with WBD's carbon reduction targets. Existing furniture was recycled and re-used where possible, with all other materials and new furniture specified from accredited sustainable suppliers. In Newcastle, the firm relocated to new premises at The Spark, part of The Helix development, a BREEAM Excellent building powered by the District Energy Centre.
Martin Hall, Head of Facilities Management at WBD, comments:
"With seven offices across the UK, many multi-tenanted buildings, recording quality and reliable emissions data can be a logistical feat. Being recognised by The Planet Mark and achieving such a high data quality score is an exceptional result – a tribute to all our people and sustainability representatives across the UK and also to The Planet Mark for providing us with the right recording tools and guidance.
WBD is a socially aware and ethical business, and this includes minimising the negative impact of our firm on the environment. We work collaboratively with our people, clients, suppliers and other organisations to take positive action on climate change, aligning our environmental strategies for maximum impact and encouraging third parties to adopt similar environmentally sustainable practices.
We'd also like to extend our congratulations to CH&CO, a longstanding partner and supplier, on winning the sustainability reporting award."
For more information about Responsible Business at Womble Bond Dickinson, click here.
