Environment
Carbon Neutral Certification
The firm's comprehensive GoingGreen Program has been embraced and supported by firm members across the country. Through the enthusiasm of our people and the implementation of many strategies to reduce and offset emissions, Stikeman Elliott is proud to be the first Canadian national law firm to be certified as carbon neutral. The firm completed its initial carbon footprint calculation in 2008 to set a baseline for measuring its ongoing environmental initiatives. After compiling some concrete data around waste reduction and efficiency improvements, and an investment in selected carbon offset programs focused on sustainable energy, Stikeman Elliott received this designation in April 2009.
The firm's second carbon footprint calculation was completed in 2010 to gauge the impact of its GoingGreen program and initiatives. Based on the analysis, Stikeman Elliott's carbon footprint decreased by over 4%. Duplex printing - a firm wide green initiative launched in 2008 - saw a reduction in paper use of 38%, which equates to a savings of over 60 tonnes of paper per year (in 2010 over 7.4 million sheets of paper were saved firm wide from duplex printing). Electricity saw a 5% reduction due in large part to energy conservation initiatives including education to change behaviours, changes in lighting schedules and installing lighting motion sensors. Waste disposal across the firm decreased by 11% due to increased diversion of organics, batteries, e-waste, paper and in general improved recycling behaviour.
Going forward, Stikeman Elliott has partnered with the Greening Canada Fund to invest in the establishment of credible Canadian carbon offset projects and will continue to be carbon neutral through its investment in the fund. Learn more about the firm's partnership with the Greening Canada Fund.
GoingGreen Program
Stikeman Elliott's GoingGreen Program, launched in conjunction with Earth Hour in 2008, is part of our continuing effort to build environmental awareness among firm members to achieve measurable results in the areas of waste reduction, recycling and energy efficiency and measurably reduce the environmental impact of our day-to-day operations. The Program involves the firm-wide implementation of market-leading environmental best practices, coordinated by a Green Committee in each office with membership from a broad cross-section of firm members.
National Initiatives
All of our offices have a comprehensive recycling program in place for paper products, cans and bottles, toner, batteries, organic waste and office supplies.
- Most internal reports are being distributed in electronic format, significantly reducing paper usage.
- Duplex printing (i.e. double-sided printing) is the standard setting for all printers & copiers across all offices and a reduced default font size for firm documents has been established. Over 7.4 million pieces of paper were saved across the firm in 2010 alone as a result of duplex printing.
- All of the offices' printers and copiers are installed with "sleep modes" where after a specified period of inactivity they reduce their energy consumption by powering down without turning off completely.
- Multi-function printer machines (used to print, copy and scan) are used in all offices replacing separate standalone units, helping reduce energy consumption.
- Various energy efficient best practices have been adopted, such as reducing lighting levels in common areas and adjusting temperatures during the season to improve energy usage.
- Video-conferencing is available in all Canadian offices as well as the New York and London offices, thereby reducing travel requirements for firm and client meetings. The firm's travel policy encourages the use of video conferencing where possible.
- An environmental purchasing policy has been adopted in which we give preference to vendors who demonstrate solid environmental practices.
Local Initiatives
The following initiatives have been adopted by our offices in Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa:
- Purchase of locally grown fruits and foods for boardroom and firm member consumption.
- Filtered tap water is used in boardrooms for meetings. Bottled water is banned at Stikeman Elliott.
- All plastic utensils and paper plates in the office serveries have been replaced with stainless steel utensils and ceramic plates.
- Unused food is donated to local food banks.
- Motion sensors have been installed to control lights in offices and boardrooms.
- Mailrooms reuse all boxes and packaging materials and also use reusable envelopes for shipping.
- Print Service Centres recycle all binders, tabs and spines where possible. Those tabs deemed unusable are cut back and used as backing in other products.
- Print Services Centres operate under a "Print-on-demand" system which means documents are created only in the quantity and time they are needed.
- Many of our clients choose to receive their bills and execute payment electronically.
- Awareness for recycling and waste reduction has been raised through improved signage.
- Energy efficient appliances are purchased, such as EnergyStar-approved computers, LCD monitors, printers and photocopiers, dishwashers, etc.
- Use of public transit and walking to work is encouraged, including a monthly lottery to win free transit passes in our Calgary office.
- Encourage the shutdown of computers and monitors at night.
- Education campaigns to firm members on measures they can employ at work and at home to be energy efficient and reduce waste.
- Desk drops of environmentally-friendly items such as reusable lunch and shopping bags, ceramic mugs, etc.
- Stikeman Elliott Montréal has been a previous participant in the Défi Climat Challenge and has hosted or planned events involving David Suzuki and Pinchin Environmental to discuss environmental awareness and corporate social responsibility.
- Stikeman Elliott Vancouver participates in Encorp's Return-it Work Program by recycling all refundable containers with all funds raised donated to the United Way.
- Stikeman Elliott Calgary has volunteered to clean up local parks.
- Stikeman Elliott Toronto is a committed partner in the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance's (formerly Toronto City Summit Alliance) Greening Greater Toronto initiative. Through this partnership, Stikeman Elliott is an active participant in the Commercial Building Energy Leadership Council, the Green Purchasing Council and is a partner with the Greening Canada Fund in investing in Canadian carbon offset projects to support its carbon neutral status.
- Some of the measurable participation and improvements we have noted have included:
- Firm members participate in Clean Air Commute Challenges in major cities, such as the Toronto program as well as the "En Ville sans sa Voiture" in Montréal. In addition, many of our firm members are ardent cyclists and choose to commute to the office "powered by their own two legs". During the 2010 Clean Air Commute, Stikeman Elliott saved over 17 tonnes of green house gasses from polluting the air, surpassing the previous year's results.
- Over 7.4 million pieces of paper were saved across the firm in 2010 alone as a result of duplex printing.
- Intra-floor recycling challenges in Toronto and collaborative efforts with other tenants and our landlord in Montréal resulted in dramatic increases in both recycling and waste reduction.
- Improvements to the management of our offices' lighting schedule are ongoing.
- The Toronto office was recognized in 2009 as the first Tenant Power Partner to participate in The Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Toronto Conservation and Demand Management Program for its installation of 263 occupancy lighting sensors. It is estimated that in one year, an excess of 450,000 kilowatt hours will be saved, equaling the electricity use of more than 45 Ontario homes.
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