Climate action

This year we've focused on our data gathering, with a view to sharing our emissions reduction targets in next year's report. We have worked closely with our colleagues in the data team, Sustainability and ESG service line, Responsible Business team, as well as our facilities team, to identify where we can make changes locally, and across the business, that will have a meaningful impact.

Seb Cartwright, Partner and Climate Sponsor

Climate focus and commitments

  1. Our Leadership Boards approved the strategic project to define and implement our net zero pledge and action plan.
  2. We’ve partnered with Ecologi for two years to measure our full greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint across all scopes.
  3. Ecologi’s Net Zero Accountancy Protocol provides a sector-specific standard for assessing and validating emissions data.
  4. In 2024, we expanded our footprint measurement to include Scope 3 emissions, covering purchased goods, capital goods, water, waste, travel, commuting, and homeworking.
  5. Our emissions data is validated by Ecologi and aligned with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard.
  6. We’re prioritising costed reduction pathways before setting targets, ensuring our commitments are backed by actionable plans.
  7. Our targets will align with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), focusing on near-term reductions across all scopes.

Engagement and education

  1. We hosted a webinar with Ecologi to upskill our climate reporting team, including IT, facilities, and finance colleagues.
  2. We participated in the Accountancy Climate Forum, sharing our experience in carbon accounting and target-setting.
  3. Ecologi will continue to support us in identifying emissions hotspots and developing reduction policies across travel, procurement, and operations. Our targets will align with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), focusing on near-term reductions across all scopes.

Saffery’s commitment to the highest level of data quality has set them up to implement real carbon reduction. It is clear that Saffery is further committed to setting ambitious and achievable targets.

Emily Tradd, Ecologi

Local offices in action

  • Two offices moved into BREEAM* rated building.
  • Reusable glass bottles introduced across regional offices.
  • Server room temperatures increased from 18°C to 23°C to reduce energy use.
  • Offices upgraded from fluorescent to LED lighting.
  • Switched to a sustainable coffee provider.
  • Facilities team reduced travel, cutting their budget by 50%.

*A BREEAM rating is a system that assesses and rates the sustainability of a building by evaluating its environmental performance against various criteria

Bristol

“We worked with the other tenants in our office building and the landlord to get more streams of waste recycling into our office and the wider building. This was really important for us as an office, as was evident from how many people took coffee grinds and tea bags home for their garden instead of letting it go to landfill. In the last two years we have managed to get food waste and, more recently, glass recycling within our office and building. We also collect soft plastics like crisp packets, which you normally can’t place in the plastic recycling, and take them to a local recycling drop off. Our black bags are on a rubbish diet, their waste lines have never been so slim.”

Lucy Rogers, Director

Leeds

As part of Saffery’s move to our new, high-quality working environment at Wellington Place in Leeds, we demonstrated our commitment to responsible business by:

  • AV equipment, screens, and furniture were reused or donated.
  • Remaining items were recycled or distributed to charities.
  • Certificates were obtained for any items requiring secure disposal.

Edinburgh

Saffery expanded into new offices in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh in November 2024. Environmental credentials were a key factor in selecting contractors. Sustainability was prioritised throughout the relocation process.

Edinburgh is proud that:

  • Nine skips of waste were produced on site, with:

- Seven skips achieving 100% diversion from landfill

- One skip at 96.7% diversion

- One skip at 99.5% diversion

  • AV equipment, desk screens, and docks reused in the new office.
  • Old keyboards and mice sent to London for reuse.
  • Meeting room and executive office furniture (chairs, tables, credenzas) repurposed.
  • Surplus chairs and tables offered to staff (limited uptake).
  • Remaining items removed by a removal company for charitable donation and/or recycling where possible.
  • Please also see a link to the sustainability page of the office building itself – Haymarket Square.

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