Graham & Dunn Champions Green Business Practices
Often considered a pioneer, Graham & Dunn started making environmentally-friendly choices long before going green became a trend—and a necessity.
Already an avid recycler, Graham & Dunn’s reduce and reuse mindset gained momentum in 2003 with our move to Pier 70. The firm maintained much of the original architecture in the build-out, and also salvaged end-cut timber for wood floors. Graham & Dunn’s transition became a springboard for incorporating environmental stewardship into our ongoing corporate citizenship commitments.
Our dedication continued to grow. Although Graham & Dunn exceeded many of the American Bar Association's (ABA) sustainability criteria for law firms, we knew there was more to be done. In 2007, the firm adopted a progressive green business practices model.
Currently, Graham & Dunn’s Green Initiatives, which were unanimously supported by board members, wholeheartedly adopted by employees, and enthusiastically received by clients and recruits include:
Energy-conscious transportation choices
- Encouraging employee use of a company-owned electric car for business-related errands
- Providing free Metro bus passes to all employees
- Enhancing video conferencing capability to reduce travel
- Offering a bike rack, lockers and showers for employees who commute by bicycle.
Enhanced recycling options
- Improving recycling efficiency through increased access to bins and better signage
- Adding food waste bins and partnering with the Waterfront Restaurant to bring collections to the compost bin maintained on the pier
- Using biodegradable, compostable silverware, plates and cups instead of plastic.
Reduced operational impacts
- Installing automatic, energy efficient lighting through sensors and longer lasting bulbs
- Installing software to automatically turn off employee computers at night
- Recycling printer/toner cartridges and batteries
- Reducing paper through increased use of electronic scanning and filing and paperless billing
- Producing closing books for all transactions on CDs and thumb drives instead of hard copies
- Using recycled paper and letterhead, and increasing use of post-consumer recycled paper
- Setting some printers and copiers to double-sided default printing.
Graham & Dunn is devoted to continuous improvement with its sustainable business practices. In 2008, the firm will benchmark its current energy and resource usage, and measure its carbon footprint via a comprehensive SCORE: Sustainability Assessment, sponsored by the Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability (http://www.nbis.org/).
For more information on Graham & Dunn’s Green Initiatives, please contact Wendy Goffe, wealth management attorney and team leader for Graham & Dunn’s business department at 206.340.9633 or wgoffe@grahamdunn.com.
