Managing our impact on the wider community

CSR: environmental management

Running any business has an impact on the environment. CMS Cameron McKenna is committed to reducing the impact the firm has on our environment.  We believe this makes business sense. Having tackled the issue of waste since the inception of environment campaign in 2002, where we introduced rigorous recycling and reduction at source programmes, the firm’s priorities until 2009 are:

Reducing our energy consumption and carbon emissions by 5%.  The firm commissioned a Carbon Neutral study in 2006, the results indicated that we emitted 8,500 tonnes of CO2 annually worldwide. 79% of these emissions come from our buildings and we therefore are focusing on the energy consumption within our properties worldwide and aim to reduce this by 5% by end of 2009.

Have a 100% recycling programme within Mitre House in place.  All of our offices have recycling programmes in place. We already recycle the vast proportion of our waste, but by introducing new processes such as composting food waste and waste to energy for general waste, we aim to have a 100% recycling programme, for Mitre House, by end of 2009.

Ensure 50% of our top 50 suppliers have the same environmental ethics as us. Part of our procurement processes when re-tendering for any contract includes an audit and review of our suppliers’ environmental policies. We aim to ensure 50% of our top 50 suppliers have the same environmental ethics as us by end 2009.

What does this mean for me? If you are a new joiner to the firm, you will receive a starter pack on your first day, which will include:

• a cardboard paper recycling bin 
• a glass 
• a thermos mug 

CMCK does not provide any disposable drinking containers and is working to reduce is disposables used within the staff restaurant. At present 90% of the disposables used are biodegradable.

• The biggest consumption of energy within Mitre House is the mechanical plant that makes the building run. Of this, 69% of the energy consumption is from the heating and cooling systems.
• Therefore, our engineers closely monitor and adjust run times to ensure we are reducing our energy consumption where possible. 
• All cleaning/sanitary products are environmentally friendly or made from recycled materials; napkins, paper towels, kitchen roll, branded pads on 7 th floor. 
• All old IT equipment is donated to charity, including mobile phones. 
• We purchase renewable energy within our London and Bristol offices. 
• Our paper supplier sources pulp from sustainable managed woodlands. 
• All furniture is recycled via our contractor, London Recycling. 
• Fairtrade products and rainforest alliance coffee are sold in the staff restaurant of Mitre House. 

Awards

The firm has been part of the Corporation of London’s Clean City Awards Scheme for the past three years and has seen its continual improvement and commitment to the environmental rewarded:

• 2005 won Gold category 
• 2006 won Platinum category 
• 2007 won Platinum category
• 2008 won Platinum category 
  

firm wins platinum award for its environmental management programme