Sustainability: On Our Way to Net-Zero with Validated Targets

The path to net-zero is a complex and multifaceted one, but is a journey we are actively taking. The goal is simple, achieve net-zero by 2050, our people want it, our clients are asking for it and the planet needs it. Playing our part in reducing our carbon use to achieve net-zero is the right thing to do.

Our priority is to make sure that the way we operate has as little environmental impact as possible. We have a Sustainability Champion and a Sustainability Collaboration Group actively working on this. Sustainability is on the Board agenda too and is now an active part of our decision making process. We track our carbon use and report on this each year and fully offset all carbon we do use through carbon avoidance projects. We have also undertaken a number of external submissions and commitments to validate our approach and assess our credibility in this important area. 

Science Based Targets The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. It is focused on accelerating companies across the world to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050. The initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments.  We had our near and long-term targets validated in 2023 by the Science Based Targets initiative' to achieve a 42% reduction in Scope 1&2 emissions and reduce our Scope 3 emissions by 2030. We have also committed to achieve a 90% reduction or net-zero by 2050.
CDP Mewburn Ellis has also completed CDP’s Climate Change questionnaire for 2023, furthering our commitment to environmental transparency by disclosing our environmental impact. CDP is a global environmental disclosure system that enables companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage, and share vital environmental information. It is the gold standard for corporate environmental reporting, a global non-profit that runs the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform.
EcoVadis We are proud to have been awarded the prestigious silver medal award by EcoVadis in 2023, for the second year running. Our sustainability score increased to move us from the 70th to the 83rd percentile of all companies assessed. EcoVadis sustainability assessments examine performance across a range of sustainability metrics, including environment, social and governance. They have been used by over 90,000 companies in over 160 countries and over 200 industries. The comprehensive assessment is based on a customised questionnaire linked to industry, country and size, and resulting in an actionable scorecard.
Nearly 1000 Tonnes of Carbon Avoided So Far  We are working to reduce our Scope 1,2 & 3 carbon use, but what we cannot reduce ourselves we have chosen to reduce via carbon avoidance projects. We have reduced our carbon footprint by 48% overall since last year. See our full carbon report for 2023 for more details.  2022-23 Total Scope 1, 2 & 3 Carbon Use 339 tCO2e PROJECT 6: 329 tCO2e - Solar power project in Morocco PROJECT 7: 10 tCO2e - Using biochar to remove carbon and enrich soils 2021-22 Total Scope 1, 2 & 3 Carbon Use 650 tCo2e PROJECT 1: 60 tCO2e - Protecting the Tambopata-Bahuaja Biodiversity Reserve in Peru PROJECT 2: 253 tCO2e - Wind Power Project in Thailand PROJECT 3: 181 tCO2e - High efficiency cookstoves in Tanzania PROJECT 4: 113 tCO2e - Preventing deforestation in the Democratic Republic of Congo PROJECT 5: 45 tCO2e - Generating electricity from landfill gas in Brazil

Mewburn Ellis support the Sustainable Development Goals. Our environmental work delivers against three of the seventeen goals.

Five Step Climate Action Plan & Net-Zero Transition Plan

1. We ask questions and are accountable

We launched this action plan in 2022 and it began as a series of aims. We have delivered on every one of them and this is now a framework to continue to monitor progress. We now have an environmental strategy and a net-zero transition plan in place. Our net-zero transition plan outlines the key steps we plan to implement across the firm from energy use and travel to sustainable procurement and waste management. We also look at measurement and engagement to fully embed this initiative into the business.  

2. We offset our carbon and are reducing it as much as possible

We track and report on our carbon footprint. We use this to help us understand where we need to improve. We have made a commitment to reduce our Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 42% by 2030 and track and reduce our Scope 3 and to reduce 1,2 and 3 by 90% by 2050 to reach net-zero. We are serious about this commitment and are now working towards these reductions. We have already reduced our emissions. Business travel is a significant contributor to our carbon footprint. We're working to reduce this and use our 'Sustainability Sense Check' to question transport choice, business need and perceived value. We are clever, use time and resources wisely and only travel when necessary. Each year we offset the carbon we do use through carbon avoidance projects. 

3. We plant a tree for every new matter we open and have created a Mewburn Ellis Forest

We plant a tree for every new matter we open. The right tree in the right place, The Mewburn Ellis Forest is managed by responsible partners in a sustainable way is an important part of tackling the climate crisis. We are supporting the planting of native and biodiverse mix of tree species in planting sites around the world including the UK. These planting projects also help to support local communities and reduce poverty by employing local workers. 

4. We enable and support the sustainability conversation and take personal responsibility

We believe that showcasing the good work of our clients and ensuring there is focus on the conversation around sustainability is an important part of the puzzle. We have recently launched our Green IP Report. and are talking extensively about this topic in our sustainability blogs and Green Tech spotlight page. We also now have an internal Sustainability Group made up of people that want to get involved with this initiative within the firm who are helping to identify and drive forward sustainability initiatives at the firm.

5. We support sustainability charities as part of our Forward Community Programme

As part of our community programme we donate a percentage of our funds each year to sustainable charities to support and reach areas that we cannot directly impact.