ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Our Commitment

As a small solicitors' practice, we recognise our responsibility to minimise the environmental impact of our day-to-day operations and to use energy, water and other resources responsibly. Our office is located in an older building, which can present particular challenges in relation to energy efficiency and heating. We are committed to taking practical and proportionate steps within our control to reduce unnecessary energy consumption, minimise waste and avoid unnecessary use of water.We will encourage all members of staff to contribute to these efforts and will regularly review our progress and identify further opportunities for improvement. This policy will be reviewed annually.

Our Environmental Objectives

1. Energy

We will seek to reduce unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining a comfortable and appropriate working environment. We will:

Switch off lights, computers, monitors, printers and other electrical equipment when they are not required.
Avoid leaving equipment on standby unnecessarily.
Make use of natural light wherever practical.
Ensure heating is used efficiently and is not unnecessarily operating in unoccupied areas or outside normal office hours.
Keep doors and windows closed when heating is in use, where appropriate.
Report heating faults, draughts and other building issues that may result in unnecessary energy use.
Use energy-efficient lighting and equipment when replacements are required.
Consider energy efficiency when purchasing new office equipment.

Our target: To reduce avoidable energy consumption and, where practical, achieve a year-on-year reduction in electricity and heating use.

2. Paper and Waste

As a solicitors' office, we recognise that paper remains an important part of our work. We will therefore focus on reducing unnecessary printing while ensuring that legal, regulatory and client requirements continue to be met. We will:

Use electronic documents and correspondence wherever practical.
Print only when necessary.
Encourage double-sided printing as the default.
Reuse paper for internal or draft documents where appropriate and where confidentiality requirements permit.
Recycle paper, cardboard and other suitable materials through the appropriate waste facilities.
Dispose of confidential documents securely through our confidential waste arrangements.
Avoid unnecessary single-use items where practical.
Reuse office supplies and equipment where possible rather than replacing them unnecessarily.
Consider the environmental impact and packaging of products when purchasing office supplies.

Our target: To reduce unnecessary printing and minimise the amount of general waste sent for disposal.

3. Water

We recognise that water is a valuable resource and will take simple practical measures to prevent unnecessary consumption. We will:

Avoid leaving taps running unnecessarily.
Report leaking taps, toilets or other plumbing problems promptly.
Use water efficiently when cleaning and carrying out routine office activities.
Consider water efficiency when replacing fixtures or equipment.

Our target: To avoid preventable water waste and address leaks or other water-related problems promptly.

4. Sustainable Purchasing

Where practical and appropriate, environmental considerations will be taken into account when purchasing goods and services for the office. We will consider:

The durability and expected lifespan of products.
Whether items can be reused, repaired or recycled.
The amount and type of packaging involved.
Energy and water efficiency.
Opportunities to purchase recycled or sustainably sourced paper and other office supplies.
Local suppliers where this is practical and appropriate.

We will seek to avoid unnecessary consumption and favour durable products over disposable alternatives where possible.

5. Monitoring and Review

We will review our environmental performance annually and consider practical ways to improve our environmental impact. Where information is available, we will monitor:

Electricity and heating consumption.
Waste and recycling practices.
Paper and printing use.
Water consumption.

We will use this information to identify areas where improvements can be made and, where practical, set measurable targets for the following year.

We recognise that environmental improvement is an ongoing process and will seek to build on our progress over time.

Policy owner: Aoife Corcoran
Approved by: Roisin Hickey, Partner
Date adopted: September 2026
Next review: September 2027