DLA Piper's global sustainability initiative

In January 2007, DLA Piper introduced a Global Sustainability Program, affirming our commitment to reduce our environmental impact and conduct our business in a responsible manner. Our approach is to develop a living strategy, which will change and adapt as we respond to the demands and challenges of creating a more environmentally responsible business.

Through our Global Sustainability Initiative and the sustained commitment of our people, we will reduce our environmental impact in four key areas: energy, waste, travel and procurement.

Energy
In all offices globally, we aim to reduce electrical energy consumption. We are also looking into installing movement sensors for lighting systems in all offices, and we are promoting energy-savings actions throughout our offices.

Waste and recycling
We are committed to reducing paper use globally and recycling photocopier/printer cartridges, paper and plastics.

Travel
We are committed to achieving carbon neutrality to offset business air travel globally. To do so, we are offsetting 100% of our 2007 carbon emissions by investing in a wind farm in the Jilin Province of China, as well as in a project in Nicaragua that seeks to make artisans’ brick kilns more efficient and less reliant on fuel from unsustainable forestry practices. In 2008, we plan to reduce business air travel below 2007 figures and continue to offset the carbon emissions we generate.

Procurement
We are increasing our number of printers with duplex printing options, procuring office paper made from recycled paper, asking existing contractors to use environmentally friendly options and, when negotiating new contracts, will give preference to companies that use biodegradable products and follow sustainable practices.

Recent progress
In December 2007, DLA Piper achieved global certification to ISO 14001 – the worldwide standard for environmental management that ensures we take account of our environmental impacts and live up to our commitment to operating in a responsible way. In doing this, we became the first global legal services organisation to gain this accolade and achieved one of the core objectives of our Sustainability Initiative.

In May 2008, DLA Piper held a campaign designed to reduce waste and promote recycling in all our offices. The campaign advanced steps already taken and further educated our people on how to produce less waste and recycle more.

In October 2008, we conducted a campaign called “TravelSMART.” This global event featured a variety of communications and activities, including helpful tips to reduce the environmental impact of travel. Additional activities to support the campaign were held in local offices.

This campaign is yet another step in our commitment to operate in a way that manages our environmental impact.

We invite you to learn more about our commitment to the environment by visiting the Europe & Asia Sustainability homepage or the US Sustainability homepage.