31 Jan 17

Legal Sustainability Alliance (LSA) carbon reporting portal opens

lsa-10th-sThe Legal Sustainability Alliance (LSA) - the inclusive movement of legal firms committed to working collaboratively to improve the environmental sustainability of their operations and activities - has opened its reporting window to LSA members to report on their carbon emissions for 2016. Since 2011, Greenstone has delivered the LSA Reporting Tool, which enables around 100 UK law firms to report their sustainability credentials to the LSA.

Using this simple and intuitive tool, developed and powered by Greenstone, LSA members can input consumption data, calculate their carbon footprint and respond to the LSA Reporting principles. Reporting organisations receive an individual report on their carbon emissions and the LSA also produces an annual report where results are aggregated across the whole LSA membership.  

What’s new for 2017?

  • Waste has been added to the tool this year so firms can report on, and calculate the carbon emissions associated with, their waste consumption in addition to business travel, water, fuel, refrigerants, paper and electricity.
  • Also added this year is a set of simple yes/no questions on whether firms have set science based targets or an internal price on carbon, including a question on carbon offsetting.
  • The LSA Reporting Tool is updated annually to include relevant emission factors and changes to reporting as recommended by Defra. The tool now uses Defra 2016 emission factors throughout.


Training webinar

LSA and Greenstone are hosting a 30-minute webinar at 2pm GMT on Thursday 2nd February to help LSA member firms with the reporting process. For more information, please visit the LSA website.


Non-financial reporting in the legal sector

Non-financial reporting is becoming an increasingly important part of maintaining competitive advantage in the legal sector. The business case for reporting non-financial data – including sustainability, CSR, health and safety and supply chain - is becoming increasingly stronger. Not only it is being seen as a way to reduce costs, attract new talent and drive business, it is also continues to be seen as fundamental in reducing corporate risk.


Top UK law firms leading the way

At Greenstone we are seeing a significant increase in law firms moving beyond a high-level sustainability report with the requirement to collect, manage and report data in many different areas under the ‘non-financial reporting’ umbrella. There is also an increase in firms seeking software to enable them to streamline data collection and reporting which is particularly important for firms operating in multiple offices and global locations managing large volumes of data.

Greenstone software tools are currently implemented in 10 out of the top 15 UK law firms including Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, DLA Piper and Hogan Lovells. Greenstone’s software is a single, modular solution to collect, manage and report all non-financial data across a global organisation.

As well as software, Greenstone has a dedicated team of industry experts to help, advise and support firms at every step of the reporting journey. We understand the specific challenges that law firms face and are committed to helping firms gather data that talks to you throughout the reporting year.

To find out how Greenstone can help improve your reporting, contact us to book a demo.

 

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Sustainability