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We monitor operations which impact our carbon footprint ensuring sustainability extends to our staff, suppliers, travel, energy usage and waste.

Reducing our environmental impact is central to our ambitions and embedded in our overarching strategy. Being a responsible business is at the heart of our commitment to becoming a lasting sustainable and progressive firm.

Our aim is to reach net zero as a business by 2040.

We are net zero carbon on our Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This is a great achievement and ensures that we do not impact our supply chain. Our suppliers can therefore feel confident when instructing us that our carbon footprint will not impact on their carbon reporting.

We will continue to annually measure our full Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, verifying through Green Element.  We have committed to reporting on Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in line with the Paris Agreement and will commence the process in August 2025. We are also continuing to contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals as we believe it is important, more than ever, to do better and create a sustainable future.

View our Carbon Reduction Plan

Why Net Zero matters

Net Zero is a commitment by the UK government to ensure that by 2050 the amount of greenhouse gases the UK produces as a whole is less than the amount it takes out of the atmosphere.

Whilst the environmental impact of our firm is relatively small when compared to other firms and industries, we must all work together to embrace sustainability. Acting in a socially responsible manner is core to our values as a firm.

Sustainability and Net Zero practices are no longer a choice, they are essential.

Our current emissions for Scopes 1, 2 and 3 (reporting year 2023/2024)

Scope 1 emissions

Our Scope 1 footprint is 0.  We have zero Scope 1 emissions as our London office is a fully electric building, we have no fleet vehicles and use no natural gas or other fuels.

Scope 2 emissions

We have reduced our Scope 2 emissions to zero by procuring 100% REGO-backed renewable electricity.

Scope 3 reporting

In relation to Scope 3 emissions we measure and report on the following Scope 3 categories:

• Purchased Goods & Services
• Fuel and energy related emissions
• Upstream transportation and distribution
• Waste
• Business travel
• Employee commuting

Our work

Reducing our environmental impact is central to our ambitions and embedded in our ethos. We are targeting net-zero and our current footprint is significantly below the national average – we are well on our way!

Our work is broadly two-fold. We not only look at how we can reduce our own carbon footprint but also how we can support our clients through our legal advice and expertise in environmental projects and infrastructure as well as weaving sustainability and environmental considerations into their business as usual.

We will continue to engage with our supply chain to ensure that our suppliers’ environmental values and actions align with ours.  If you are interested attending our next supplier events please email adavis@sharpeperitchard.co.uk.  Further details will be published on our social media channels.

Our work for clients

Green Goals was setup to highlight the legal support we can offer to clients in incorporating green goals in business-as-usual work as well as green infrastructure projects. Part of this project is to demystify the net zero and environmental language alongside the government’s aims and expectations. We’re proud to help our clients have a positive impact, drawing on our deep expertise to assess potential opportunities.

Steve Gummer, Partner was named Environment/Sustainability Champion of the Year on 26 March 2025 at the Legal 500 ESG Awards.  This prestigious win reflects both Steve’s incredible leadership and the support, effort and dedication of the wider team.

Read more Read our Green Steves articles

Our work within our firm

  • Submission of an SBTi (Science Based Targets Initiative) target for validation in 2025
  • Applied for ISO14001 certification to ensure continuous environmental commitment and performance improvement to be achieved before September 2025
  • Investing in video conferencing facilities and upgrades to ensure we support enhanced remote working technologies to help further reduce the requirement for travel
  • Annual supplier audits to engaged and encourage our supply chain to invest in reducing their carbon footprint
  • Annual net zero supplier audit to be held in September 2025 following the success of our 2024 conference
  • Our Senior Leadership team are committed to driving our ambitions forward and we have a Sustainability Task force to ensure we continue to enhance and deliver responsible business activity. See environmental organisation chart
  • Annual review of our environmental policy
  • Signatory to the Greener Litigation Pledge committing to take active steps to reduce, minimise the environmental footprint and GHG emissions of our dispute resolution practice including litigation
  • B-Corp certification planned for 2025 to enhance and reinforce our commitment to environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
  • Continued paper reduction and monitoring which complements our Print Releaf scheme which reforests trees on our behalf based on our printing reports and aligned with the following UN SDGs 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 17
  • All office supplies are delivered by electric delivery vehicles
  • Wherever possible, we purchase Fairtrade products
  • We offer a cycle scheme to all staff with secure bicycle storageAn electric vehicle scheme for employees in conjunction with Octopus Energy
  • We are based in a fully electric building and use wholly renewable energy sources
  • We power down equipment to save on energy consumption
  • Joined a peer network with our landlord as a platform for us and members to help identify where we can cut our energy consumption as a building and support each other in achieving net zero
  • Reduced landfill through donations of useable equipment
  • Recycling bins are placed throughout the building to encourage recycling

To find our how we can help you, please contact us today