Allens regularly works with external organisations that monitor and audit our practices, and recommend what we can do to make our office and day-to-day operations more environmentally-friendly.
Since the firm began working with these organisations in 2006-2007, Allens has achieved significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and now conducts energy audits twice a year. This year marks a reduction of 31 per cent in carbon emissions for Allens since measuring began in 2006-2007, and the first year the firm has conducted a carbon audit of our Asia offices.
Allens has been successful at implementing these audits' recommendations and, for example, is acknowledged as one of the first firms to show an interest in how its people travel to and from work, and in what their views are on the environment, with an eye to changing their views and measuring this over time.
- Other evaluation
- Recognised leaders
- Green IT Report Card
- HP Eco Solutions Printing Award Australia 2010
- Green Partner Program
- Lawyers Weekly's Icon Awards
Other evaluation
Allens was one of the first organisations to commit to CitySwitch, Australia's leading tenant energy efficiency program. This year, we have continued to hold a five-star NABERS rating at our Sydney tenancy.
Earthcare
Allens has completed a review of its commitment to 'green offices' and made all its offices greener through improvements.
Recognised leaders
United Nations Association of Australia's World Environment Day Awards for 2010
Allens was very pleased to be named a winner at the United Nations Association of Australia's World Environment Day Awards for 2010. The firm won the WSP Lincolne Scott Sustainability Leadership Award, which recognises outstanding leadership in adopting practices that position environmental and social performance as priority areas of corporate responsibility and performance, alongside financial results.
Green IT Report Card
In undertaking a Green IT Report Card, run by Connection Research in conjunction with RMIT University, Allens was placed sixth-best organisation out of 250 organisations.
We also had the second-highest overall Green IT rating in the 'Professional and Other Services' sector. The firm performed consistently well in all categories, and we will continue to work to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the IT function.
Allens' commitment to green IT played a role in the firm winning the 'LawTech Large Firm Legal IT Team of the Year Award' this year. The award recognises many of the initiatives and achievements made by the firm's IT team in the past year, including its part in rolling out green IT initiatives.
HP Eco Solutions Printing Award Australia 2010
This year, Allens also won the HP Eco Solutions Printing Award Australia 2010. The award recognises organisations that have a leading environmental strategy, approach and best practices in the organisation's printing and imaging environment.
When it comes to printing solutions, the firm has implemented a number of environmental initiatives, such as: extremely power-efficient devices, default duplex everywhere, plenty of scanning capacity to assist with e-filing, choosing local suppliers to cut down on travel, the growth of online forms and our interest in swipe-card printing.
Allens has demonstrated exemplary expertise among all of Australia's participating companies in reducing its environmental impact of printing in the office setting. The environmental goals and policies adopted in your organisation to implement innovative green IT solutions that promote environmental sustainability are highly commendable.
The judges
Green Partner Program
In Hong Kong, Allens is the first law firm accepted as a member of the Green Partner program run by Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.
To be part of the program, organisations must meet a set of internationally recognised protocols and guidelines set out in the Carbon Reduction Charter. To comply, our Hong Kong office will carry out activities that reduce our office place's GHG emissions, identify areas of improvement and run programs that reduce and/or offset emissions relating to our building.
Lawyers Weekly's Icon Awards
Also, this year saw Melbourne Lawyer Fergus Green named Michael Page Young Gun Award at the Lawyers Weekly Icon Awards.
In less than two years, Fergus has built his reputation at the firm – both on a national and international scale – as a climate change expert. In 2009, Fergus went to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference as a volunteer for Project Survival Pacific, which supports the interests of small Pacific island states in the negotiations.
Green tipHang dishcloths and sponges in the sun. Sunshine acts as a natural disinfectant. No more bleaches/disinfectants. |