Ward Hadaway invites others to join its ambitious net zero targets

In addition, the UK top 100 law firm which is based in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, further committed to achieve net zero status by 2030, twenty years before the Government’s proposed 2050 deadline.

Net zero is when a business achieves an overall balance between the amount of carbon it is emitting and the carbon that it is removing from the atmosphere.

The firm will annually publish its reduction plans to describe its ambitions, targets and progress to net zero, including a rolling tally of its tCO2e – the CO2 it emits as a result of its operations.

Ward Hadaway implemented a move to a paperless office in 2019, and some areas of the business, such as its healthcare teams, have already changed their working practices to achieve this.  However as part of its plans, the firm has given a commitment to achieve a virtually paperless office by 2025 and as part of that has reduced its printing capability substantially.

The firm which is an established member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance  has also recently signed up to the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance, a growing group of businesses who have signed up to “review, reduce and report” on its early talent recruitment.  Historically a process involving travel across the country to university recruitment fairs, with the giving away of stress balls, pens, and other plastic paraphernalia, the group of businesses are encouraging the industry to change this damaging practice, whilst still recruiting the very best talent to their teams.

Martin Hulls, Managing Partner at Ward Hadaway, commented, “As the engagement of the public with COP26 has shown, the environment is high on a lot of people’s agendas.  However a recurring theme from the world leaders at the COP summit is that it is action, not words, which are required to make a difference.  Our management team are keen to lead by example, and to reach beyond our obligations and so set a benchmark for others to follow.”