Our environment
We’re committed to protecting the most valuable resource we have: this remarkable planet we’re all fortunate enough to inhabit. As part of this effort, we’re working towards becoming a net zero business to help build a more sustainable future.
We have an independent assessment and audit of our energy usage, industrial process and travel expenses under the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and report on our energy consumption and associated greenhouse emissions under the SECR regulations. Each year our energy consumption continues to decrease as we introduce new initiatives.
Our offices
We have, for a number of years, been working with our people and landlords to reduce our environmental impact. This has included installing:
- Solar panels on the roof of our Tunbridge Wells office
- Recycling points for food waste, plastics, paper, batteries, crisps packets, with no personal waste bins
- Re-usable glass- bottled milk and refreshments in our buildings
- Light control sensors to switch off lights after 10 minutes of inactivity
- A hot-desking system which allows us to pre-determine occupancy and switch off HVAC systems where not needed
Supply chain
We have done a thorough review of our suppliers which has resulted in:
- Changing our waste collection service provider to a zero landfill company
- Managing our procurement to reduce the number of deliveries we receive, for example reducing stationery deliveries from daily to weekly
- Conversations with facilities-related service providers to pay their employees the National Living wage as a minimum
- Changing our stationery provider to eco-friendly stationers
- Donating redundant furniture to local schools and charities
- Using local suppliers wherever possible, recently changing our coffee supplier to the Tunbridge Wells Coffee Roastery
Greener Litigation
At Cripps, we have signed the Greener Litigation Pledge, which commits us to take active steps to reduce the environmental impact of dispute resolution. These include:
- Corresponding electronically, and seeking to avoid unnecessary emails
- Limiting the printing of hard copy bundles and other documents
- Promoting the use of electronic bundles for court hearings
- Walking, cycling or using public transport for journeys to court
- Considering the appropriateness of witnesses giving evidence by video-link and implementing the necessary procedures for this
- Actively considering for each hearing whether it is appropriate and amenable to being heard remotely, in whole or in part, including by telephone or by video-link, and, where it is, making that suggestion to the Court and other parties to the litigation
- Avoiding unnecessary travel in relation to a dispute in which we are acting
- Committing to the use of renewable energy sources wherever possible
- Using suppliers and service providers who are committed to reducing their carbon footprint wherever possible and appropriate
Future plans
We are continually looking at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint. Some of the ideas we’re exploring are:
- Recycling our coffee grounds to turn them into biofuel
- Introducing EV charging points in our Tunbridge Wells office car park
- Expanding our recycling so staff can bring other items from home into our offices for recycling
- Planting our flat roofs in Tunbridge Wells with wildflowers and installing/maintaining bee hives
- Introducing environment days for staff to help with tree planting and maintain woodlands/countryside
- Providing pro-bono legal services for environmental companies/initiatives
