The Shepherd and Wedderburn "Green Team", consisting of a small group of lead staff has been set up as a steering group to co-ordinate and progress implementation of the Environmental Policy. The group reports to the Director of Facilities and the Partnership Board receives regular updates on progress.

Policy Statement

• to meet or exceed all relevant legislative or other requirements, and where no standards exist to set our own.
• to include environmental issues to the greatest possible extent in planning and decision making within the firm.
• to promote environmental awareness throughout the firm and encourage all members of the firm to be aware of their environmental responsibilities and to act accordingly both within the firm and outside.
• to expand awareness and use of our existing recycling facilities and to provide additional recycling facilities for as wide a range of materials as possible.
• to improve working practices throughout the firm to optimise use of materials and minimise waste.
• to improve energy efficiency within our offices and minimise inefficient and unnecessary energy use.
• to regularly monitor progress and publish internal reports on our environmental performance and encourage input from all members of the firm.
• to encourage suppliers to adopt similar environmentally conscious policies. 
• to use recycled materials wherever possible.
• to review and improve our environmental policies, practices and objectives on an on-going basis.
  

Progress
The Green Team has made an impact on energy consumption and waste reduction. The team's purpose is to increase awareness, introduce practical schemes and to monitor their impact.

• Electricity consumption figures show that, despite increased staff numbers, usage is down compared year on year.  This was achieved through highlighting waste from PCs, monitors and lights left on overnight.
• The firm now produces a number of recycled stationery products (diaries, notebooks, scrap pads) saving the wastage of quantities of outdated paper.
• All new branded paper used by the firm is chlorine free and produced using wood from sustainable managed forests.
• Mobile phones and accessories are recycled.
• Light bulbs are recycled.
• We provided branded drinking vessels to all staff and reduced the consumption of plastic cups by over one third in the first six months.
• We provide recycling facilities for paper including confidential waste and aluminum cans within our offices.
• The use of public transport is encouraged in our travel policies. The firm does not provide company vehicles other than one pool car.
• Staff are encouraged to bring forward recycling and waste avoidance ideas and we hope to significantly increase our replacement of paper forms and internal documents with electronic ones in the next year.