The Environmental Delivery Group
Delivering on our science-based targets and broader environmental agenda
In January 2023, Freshfields announced near-term science-based targets on emissions reductions, delivering ambitious progress three years ahead of its closest peers. Freshfields established an Environmental Delivery Group (EDG) to deliver on these targets, alongside the firm’s broader environmental agenda.
The EDG is overseen by regional COOs, functional specialists (eg procurement) and representatives from our Global Green Group of environmental champions. Meeting quarterly, it reviews progress and identifies areas for increased focus. It is chaired by our Environment team and reports to the firm's Senior Partner and Global Leadership Team (GLT).
Among the first tasks to be tackled by the EDG was a Delivery Plan comprising more than 40 actions across workplace, travel, procurement, catering and waste. Successes include:
- publication of a Global Environment Policy, outlining our priorities, targets and commitments to help continually improve our environmental performance
- increasing the supply of renewable power to our offices such that it makes up 78% of our total global electricity consumption
- publication of our Green Office Guidelines (a set of behaviours for colleagues across the global network to deliver environmental improvement)
- refreshed Global Travel Policy (to support our 35% reduction target of business travel emissions), which includes boundaries/triggers for rail and air travel based on journey duration
- continued progress towards eliminating waste to landfill (down from 44% of global waste in 2019 to 5% in 2024)
- publication of Green Building Guidelines for new offices, moves and refits
- development of the firm’s first climate-related financial disclosure for our 2023 accounts
- development of a global environmental training module and related colleague engagement projects.
‘Internal environmental practices and our client work are closely connected,’ says Head of Client Sustainability and Environment Dr Jake Reynolds. ‘By enhancing our internal performance, we add client value, both directly through reducing the impact of our services, and indirectly through the learning we generate among our colleagues and business partners.’
A number of clients have expressed interest in our approach, providing an opportunity for us to share our ambition, targets and results. This is not surprising, of course: our emissions are their emissions, and we have a common interest in improvement.
The work of the EDG saw us win ‘Sustainability Initiative of the Year’ at The Lawyer Awards 2024, which is a fantastic recognition of our achievements. The EDG’s focus for 2024 onwards will be to make further headway towards achieving our science-based targets; most notably through deployment of a supplier engagement strategy on climate, and by smarter travel choices to reduce both cost and emissions.
