Community - Sustainability

Climate Action Programme Case Study – Osborne Clarke

Osborne Clarke share how it is working towards its 2040 Science Based Net Zero Target in this case study.

13/02/2024

International law firm Osborne Clarke recently made national headlines for moving into Halo, one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings. With the team now settled into their new home, we asked Sustainability Manager, Mary Lavin, to tell us more about how the firm is working towards its 2040 Science Based Net Zero Target.

 

OFFICE MOVE

Our move to regional Halo office in Bristol has been transformative, and it’s brilliant to be in a space that enables more connectivity and collaborative working. We are very proud to be in a building that reflects our commitment to the well-being of our planet and our people.

 

We had been in our previous building for over 20 years and the move was a significant decision. We considered whether a retrofit could meet our sustainability requirements and conducted an extensive consultation and review. Relocating presented an opportunity to meet the changing needs of our business and our people.

Alongside the office fit-out and move project, we were also progressing our sustainability strategy and setting out near- and long-term science-based targets. Clients choose to work with us because we recognise the transformation drivers they are facing, and we’re facing them too. Decarbonisation is one of those drivers we must all address as we prepare for the future. The Halo office, with its connection to the low carbon heat network and state-of-the-art systems and controls, will help us reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions from our UK office buildings.

Mary Lavin, Sustainability Manager at Osborne Clarke

 

SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT

After analysing our baseline carbon footprint, we found that more than 95% of our emissions are associated with Scope 3 (indirect) activities, with the majority of those coming from our supplier base. We have more than 1,500 suppliers and we want to bring them on the journey with us. A supplier engagement audit, asking our most material suppliers about their own carbon reduction commitments, found that over 40% of supply chain emissions are with companies on a similar net zero pathway to Osborne Clarke.  This is really encouraging, and we are looking at how best to support our suppliers with common challenges around carbon accounting, reporting and, of course, taking action to reduce emissions.

 

CARBON LITERACY

Growing this kind of collaboration for climate action is the only way we will achieve the transformation we need. We are upskilling our people to have effective climate conversations and turn their knowledge into positive action, through a programme of Carbon Literacy.

Our first cohort of learners was made up of our Executive Board and Operations Board members and led to some really impactful ideas for leveraging change across our business. We are rolling out the course across the firm, exploring the role of lawyers, and business services teams, in accelerating decarbonisation.

The training provides a great opportunity to engage with our strategy, and we hope that some of our learners will go on to become Carbon Literacy trainers and help us reach more people.

NATURE AND BIODIVERSITY

In addition to progressing our carbon reduction strategy, we have also begun to explore how we can track and reduce our impact on nature. While frameworks for measuring and reporting on nature impacts are developing, we have learned through our work on climate that collaborative working is essential, and that our role as a legal services provider presents our biggest opportunity. In September we brought together a range of businesses and nature experts for an Autumn Fair with Tony Juniper, Head of Natural England to explore how businesses can support nature recovery, and where the opportunities are for action. You can find out more in our recent article here.

TOP TIPS FOR CLIMATE AND NATURE ACTION:

  • Knowing where your impacts are, and setting targets, is important, but don’t wait for the data to be perfect before taking action
  • While it’s important to address ‘behind the scenes’ operational aspects like energy and travel, the most powerful opportunity your organisation has for positive change is probably through your products and services
  • Remember that there are lots of reasons to have hope: every fraction of a degree matters and there is still time to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change and nature loss if we act now. Showcase the solutions and celebrate the good things that are happening


Get support with your organisation’s climate action through our collaboration with Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership’s Climate Action Programme. 

 

GOT SOME NEWS TO SHARE?

Through our collaboration with Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, we’re keen to showcase climate progress in this area of the city and create more opportunities for businesses to learn from one another.

If you have an initiative or project we can shout about, please do get in touch with Bex.

Office image credit: Interaction.

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