Responsible Business

Operating Sustainably

Operating sustainably is core to being a responsible business. How we choose to operate impacts future generations and we must play our part in protecting our people and our planet. We are committed to playing a leadership role in driving inclusive and sustainable growth and contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including in the way we run our own business.

As part of our commitment to sustainability, we are a signatory to UN Business Ambition for 1.5°C and Race to Zero, which commit us to develop and implement Science Based Targets to reduce our carbon emissions and become net zero. The firm has set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets consistent with limiting global average temperature increase to 1.5°C, which include a Net Zero target for Scope 1 and Scope 2 (market) of 2030. We are in the process of quantifying our Scope 3 emissions and once this process is complete, we will set Scope 3 targets and apply for validation by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Whilst we undertake the journey to Net Zero, we are offsetting all business travel emissions from January 2019 and all interim Scope 1 and 2 emissions from January 2022. Our commitments are backed by adherence to the robust CDP reporting framework, and the broader EcoVadis ratings. We are also founder members of the Legal Sustainability Alliance and the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.

We have launched the next stage of our global sustainability plan to drive continuous improvement. As well as developing our firm's net zero strategy, the key actions include:

• Updating our travel, energy and real estate policies, focusing on reducing our carbon impact, achieving 100% renewable energy and achieving firmwide accreditation of the environmental management system ISO 14001.
• Developing and implementing sustainable and resilient procurement policies with a sustainability charter for suppliers, with requirements that will be measured and monitored.
• Conducting an audit of our existing supplier base at regional and office level and creating standards to guide local procurement decisions.
• Capturing, reflecting on and learning from the lessons of COVID-19 to shape how we work going forwards and how this gives us an opportunity to reduce our consumption of materials in our future ways of working.

Useful links:

Hogan Lovells UK Carbon Reduction Plan