Buckles Law is a nationally recognised law firm, with offices across the country and the high standard of the legal advice we provide, is without question. But there is so much more to being a responsible business than delivering cost-effective, high-quality legal services.
As a business we have also prioritised reducing the environmental impact of our activities. This is not just the right thing to do, but it is a strategic business decision that affects our reputation, the relationships we have with clients, our regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and our long-term sustainability.
We believe that being carbon neutral and managing waste responsibly reflects our commitment to sustainability and helps demonstrate that Buckles Law is a forward-thinking, responsible organisation, rather than just a highly reputed law firm.
EcoVadis recognise our firmwide achievements
Demonstrating our commitment to sustainability, Buckles Law was recently awarded an EcoVadis Bronze Medal, which places us in the top 35% of companies assessed for their sustainability rating in the previous 12 months.
EcoVadis is a global provider of sustainability ratings and evaluates how well a business integrates environmental, social and ethical practices into its operations. The assessment process was a lengthy one, spanning several months, but the outcome was worth the wait.
Buckles’ Chief Operating Officer, Mel Smith, commented: “Achieving an EcoVadis Bronze Medal is a significant milestone for Buckles as we follow through on our commitment to sustainability across all aspects of our business operations.
“It’s important to understand that these comprehensive ratings, offer us not only an important opportunity to analyse where processes are already running very well, but help identify areas where there remains room for optimisation and improvement.
“The EcoVadis Bronze Medal is not the end of the process, but an important milestone in our sustainability journey. Whilst it recognises our sustainability efforts so far, I’m confident it will act as a catalyst for further improvement and strengthen our commitment to responsible business practices.”
Award winning waste management sustainability project
Caring for the environment has once again proved fruitful for Buckles Law, as we scooped a prestigious Green Apple Award for the second time. At a glittering ceremony at Kensington Palace, in West London, members of our ‘Green Group’ collected the trophy in recognition of the firm’s efforts to promote environmental best practice across its seven offices.
Organised since 1994 by the Green Organisation, an independent non-profit group, the Green Apple Awards have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries.
It was our Waste Management Sustainability Project that was chosen as one of the winners in the International Green Apple Environment Awards 2024. All our activities, from how we reduce print waste to cutting energy consumption, are considered in the Environmental Audit, which returned a very positive picture of our efforts overall.
The audit, undertaken by The Sustainable Business Resource, confirmed that thanks to the time spent assessing energy suppliers and choosing a company that provides 100% renewable energy, we are now carbon neutral in Peterborough. We also have no emissions under Scope 1 of the report, which is defined as anything directly emitting into the atmosphere, such as emissions from oil, gas or LPG heating.
Head of Buckles’ Green Group, Skye Knott, commented: “Our environment is our most precious resource, and together we believe as a law firm, we can make a difference in our sustainability contribution.
“This award reinforces our belief that sustainable practices are not only possible, but necessary, reflecting how every small action can contribute to a larger impact. We are using this award to further motivate us in our ongoing project to achieve net zero.”
As a business, we look forward to making continued progress in helping to protect the environment and hope that more achievements, medals and awards like those recently won, follow in the future in recognition of what is a firmwide effort.
