Footprint Committee members talk about their achievements and goals.
Allens has been committed to sustainability for the past 10 years. We have Footprint Committees in each of our 15 offices, both in Australia and Asia.
The Footprint Committees' aim is simple: to reduce Allens' environmental footprint as much as possible in the areas of:
- energy;
- water;
- waste (reuse and recycling);
- greenhouse emissions; and
- procurement.
The Committees are made up of partners, senior management and junior employees whose fresh ideas, enthusiasm and passion mean we can implement initiatives to reduce our impact on the environment and maintain a keen eye to the future.
Contact: footprint@aar.com.au
- GreenPower
- Reducing our impact
- Achievements and evaluations
- Green law
- Ride to work day
- Reduce the use campaign
GreenPower
Allens has moved to the use of 75 per cent GreenPower in our Australian offices, significantly reducing our energy consumption
What this means:
- Before GreenPower, the total emissions was 10,724 tonnes.
- Since switching to GreenPower, the total emissions are 8,720 tonnes.
This equals:
- A 17 per cent reduction in emissions.
Or
- Around 1000 cars off the road a year.
What is GreenPower?GreenPower is a government accreditation program for renewable energy.
Source: www.greenpower.gov.au |
Reducing our impact
Step into our office and see for yourself the reduction initiatives we have at play via this self contained Flash file.
This will open in a new window.
Achievements and evaluations
Our people drive our environmental initiatives and are the reason for our achievements.
Achievements
- Moving to the use of 75 per cent GreenPower on a national basis.
- Recording a 17 per cent reduction in net carbon emissions from 2006-07 to 2007-08.
- Reducing paper usage from 61 million in 2004 to 34 million in 2008. On track for 33 million in 2009.
- Achieving a 5-star NABERS rating in Sydney.
- Becoming one of the first Australian organisations to become a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, which includes meeting a set of environmental criteria. • Donating more than 1300 leftover meals from functions to Oz Harvest.
- Reducing flights by 35 per cent.
Evaluation
- Carbon Planet: Allens commissioned Carbon Planet to measure our Green House Gas emissions and conduct a Level 1 Energy Audit of our activities from 2006-07 and 2007-08. The second stage will put in place a Carbon Management Strategy for the firm.
- NABERS: Allens was one of the largest business tenants in Australia to sign up to the scheme, which commits us to consider energy efficiency when making changes to our offices or looking for new premises.
- CitySwitch (previously 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative): Signatories to CitySwitch are committed to achieving and maintaining an accredited 4 stars or higher NABERS Energy tenancy rating. Allens initially committed to a 4.5 star rating, but achieved a 5 star NABERS rating.
- Earthcare: Allens has completed a review of its commitment to 'green offices and made all its offices greener through improvements.
- Shortlisted for the 2009 BRW ANZ Private Business Awards for Excellence in Environmental Practices.
What is the UN Global Compact?The UN Global Compact is a global corporate citizenship initiative involving hundreds of companies around the world. For five years, we have met the criteria set by the Global Compact, which includes environmental principles. What is NABERS?Previously known as ABGR, NABERS – run by the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change – is a performance-based rating system for existing buildings. |
Green law
Our lawyers are at forefront of climate change law.
Senior Associate Emily Gerrard talks about working with Indigenous groups and involving them on environmental issues raised by climate change.
Ride to work day
Ever wondered what riding to work would be like?
Many of our people do this every day, and 60 staff did so on Ride to Work Day in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane last year.
With Perth
getting on board this year, we look forward to more people experiencing the
benefits of riding to work. Those who ride to work feel good, have fun and
experience the health and financial rewards it brings – not to mention the
environmental benefits.
Reduce the use campaign
The 'Reduce the Use' campaign aimed to reduce the amount of paper used by our offices.
OverviewBy defaulting all printers to double-sided print, encouraging everyone to use less paper and to file emails electronically, Allens' paper use is down from 61 million in 2004, to 34 million in 2008. We are on track for 33 million in 2009. This reduces our demand for wood pulp, the greenhouse gas emissions emitted in production, trucking and the amount of chemicals used. |
Through education and implementing some practical measures, we achieved this:
- A move to double-sided print saved 2.2 million pieces of paper in just one month.
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- A savings of paper that – if stacked together – would be far taller than any of our office towers in Australia.
For more information about the Footprint Committee contact footprint@aar.com.au
