Whitehead Monckton is dedicated to playing our part in creating a sustainable future by actively reducing our carbon emissions. Our Environmental and Governance Committee (EGC) recently worked with Martin White of Green Business Hub to carry out a carbon audit so we could identify areas we could improve.
Our carbon audit looked at the following:
Scope 1 emissions from sources owned or controlled by our organisation directly.
Scope 2 emissions indirectly generated from the energy we purchase.
Scope 3 emissions which are not produced by our firm itself or as a result of activities from assets owned or controlled by us, but by those we are indirectly responsible for, i.e. our supply chain. Which products are we buying, using, and disposing of, and what is the impact of that?
Our aim is to halve our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030, in line with the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). This is in keeping with the UK government’s target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Our next carbon audit is scheduled for January 2025.
Why Reducing Carbon Emissions Matters
Climate change poses a huge threat to our way of life, impacting ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide.
Whitehead Monckton has long supported local causes and been an active part of our community, but it’s also important to look further afield and consider our practices within a wider context. The issue of climate change is one that is relevant to all people, regardless of which community you’re a part of or where you’re based. Our local community in Kent is part of an even larger national community, which is part of the global community, too – what we do and how we do it matters, and the effects of the choices we make range further than just the area in which we live and work.
By reducing carbon emissions, we aim to:
Protect Our Planet: Lowering emissions is critical to reducing global warming and its effects on the environment, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather, and biodiversity loss.
Enhance Public Health: Decreasing carbon emissions can lead to improved air quality, reducing respiratory issues and other health problems associated with air pollution.
Drive Economic Efficiency: Energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives can lead to cost savings, innovation, and the development of new technologies. The push for companies to reduce their emissions has led to developments in the fields of alternative fuels & renewable energy.
Lead by Example: By changing the way our business operates in a way that is committed to sustainability and taking responsibility for our impact on the environment and our community, we hope to encourage others to follow.
Our Strategies for Reducing Carbon Emissions
To reduce our impact on the environment, we’re committed to implementing a range of strategies, including:
Governance: Ensuring that our firm operates in a responsible, ethical and transparent manner, adhering to all relevant laws, regulations and professional standards.
Investing in Renewable Energy: We’re investigating the feasibility of using renewable energy sources across our offices.
Enhancing Energy Efficiency: We adopt energy-efficient practices across our offices to reduce energy consumption.
Sustainable Transportation: We promote sustainable transportation options for our employees. With neighbouring businesses at Eclipse Park we recently took part in the Big Bike Revival scheme, where our colleagues had their bikes checked and fixed by a mechanic from Cycling UK. Our Tenterden office will soon be holding their own Big Bike Revival on 12 September 2024.
Waste Reduction and Recycling: We’re increasing recycling efforts across our offices by changing the way we handle waste.
Sanitary waste from our Maidstone, Canterbury and Tenterden offices is sent to a treatment centre in Rochester where it is shredded and dried before being incinerated, creating electricity. The ash left over after this process has taken place is used in cement kilns.
We also aim to continue to reduce our use of paper, only printing documents where necessary – we have reduced our paper usage by 15.47% in the last 6 months, and all of our confidential waste is recycled.
Analysing our Supply Chain: We will continue to understand more about the companies we work with and purchase from, using greener alternatives where possible, to further reduce the impact of our business on the environment.
Engaging Our Community: We are committed to educating and involving our colleagues, clients, and our wider community in our sustainability efforts through encouraging participation of local schools in our awareness campaigns and collaborative projects; our colleagues regularly attend careers fairs at local schools and facilitate mock interviews and work experience opportunities for young people. While we recognise and appreciate the diversity in our clients, contacts and community, it’s important to us to engage with the young people in our community because they are the ones who will see the long-term results of the changes we’re working hard to make.
Some of our colleagues will be taking part in the Marine Conservation Society’s beach cleans in September 2024.
Our Vision for the Future
Our journey towards reducing carbon emissions is ongoing, and we’re committed to continuously improving our practices – sustainability is not just a goal, but our responsibility.
We invite you to join us on our journey towards a greener future.
