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  1. About us
  2. Environment
Shaping a more sustainable future
Environment is everyone’s business. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact, embedding sustainable practices, and supporting clients in their transition to a net zero future – acting boldly, collaborating widely, and driving meaningful change.
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Driving bold environmental action within our firm and with our clients to help build a better future.

Our commitment to the environment is part of who we are. From being one of the first law firms to focus on our emissions in 2007, to funding innovative climate action in East Africa since 2015, we’ve acted with purpose. Today, we are committed to ambitious science-based targets (SBTs) to reach net zero in line with the Paris Agreement.

Leading by example

Our Global Environmental Policy focuses on:

  • Reducing business-related emissions in line with our SBTs.
  • Embedding sustainability in procurement, office practices, travel, catering and waste management.
  • Transitioning to high-sustainability office spaces that reflect our commitment to green design.

Across buildings, travel, procurement and waste, progress is supported by our Global Green Group across our office network.

Empowering our people

Environmental responsibility is part of our culture. From their induction, all Freshfields colleagues undertake mandatory training on our environmental priorities, and are encouraged to contribute to continuous improvement across our operations.

Bold targets, transparent progress

We are committed to ambitious environmental targets, including emissions reduction, waste reduction, and improved building sustainability—in accordance with frameworks like the CDP, EcoVadis, GHG Protocol, RE100, SBTi, TCFD and UN Global Compact, independently verified.

About us
Culture and community
Pro bono
Environment
Case studies
Responsible business reports
Key client challenges
Energy transition
Human rights and supply chain
Sustainable finance and investment

Our targets and commitments

We are committed to meeting the following targets, all of which are to be achieved by 2027 against a baseline year of 2018/19 unless stated otherwise.

%55reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions
%30reduction in fuel and energy-related activities emissions
%35reduction in business travel-related emissions
62% of our suppliers committed to science-based targetsPhase-out of single-use plastics, prioritising catering, hospitality and refreshment areas100% renewable electricity supply in all offices by 2030 and 40% reduction in paper by 2025All new offices, moves and refits to meet ambitious sustainability standards

Partnering for impact

We collaborate with peers through initiatives such as the Legal Sustainability Alliance and Legal Charter 1.5, aligning the legal profession with the Paris Agreement. Our commitments to the Greener Arbitration and Greener Litigation Pledges further embed sustainability in our legal services. Our climate action is magnified through exceptional partnerships with Save the Children Global Ventures and TIST.

Supporting clients on their sustainability journey

Our ambitious environmental goals work hand in hand with our client sustainability group, where we help clients navigate complex environmental, social and governance challenges. Through our market-leading advice, we support companies in achieving their sustainability goals.

Sustainability is a journey. By taking bold action and working together now, we are driving progress toward a net zero future.

Related case studies

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Environment Reforestation in East Africa Programme

Fighting climate change and strengthening livelihoods

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EnvironmentMaking strides towards a plastic-free future

Business action on plastic usage is more vital than ever. Colleagues across our global network have been tackling plastic usage and pollution.

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EnvironmentREAP highlights - Indigenous tree focus

REAP (Reforestation in East Africa Programme) is Freshfields’ flagship offsetting programme. Since the firm began its 10-year commitment in 2015, REAP has strengthened the livelihoods and climate resilience of over 41,000 farmers in Uganda and Kenya as they plant trees to build resilience of their farms to the effects of climate change.

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EnvironmentMinimising the environmental impact of our London office

Our state-of-the-art office at 100 Bishopsgate in central London has been carefully planned to minimise our environmental impact and support wellbeing.

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Podcasts

Podcasts

Podcast
Feb 27 2025
Managing Risk in Asia #10: Powering the change in Asia’s energy transition

In this episode, Ninette Dodoo is discussing the emerging trends in Asia’s energy transition journey with Asia M&A partners Philip Morgan and Gordon Palmquist, as well as Jake Reynolds, the firm’s head of client sustainability and environment. Join us as we explore how corporate leaders can navigate risks and seize opportunities in Asia’s evolving energy landscape. 

Podcast
Mar 22 2023
Episode #1: The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive– a turning point for business

In this first episode of our new EUnpacked podcast series that will look to dive into key hot topics being tackled in Brussels, podcast host Natalie Pettinger Kearney is joined by Léa Bareil (Brussels) and Marlen Vesper-Gräske (Hamburg) to talk about how the EU’s sustainability agenda continues to evolve and how the new proposed due diligence rules are crucial for business.

Podcast
Oct 20 2022
Great (stakeholder) expectations: Episode 4 - Activists all around

In this episode of our Great (stakeholder) expectations series, Freshfields’ Elizabeth Bieber and Pamela Marcogliese and FTI Consulting’s Patrick Tucker and Garrett Muzikowski discuss the shareholder activism developments coming out of the past proxy season, expectations for future activism levels, new vulnerability points for companies, the potential impact of universal proxy, and ESG activism.

Podcast
Oct 18 2022
Great (stakeholder) expectations: Episode 3 - A bastion of support for social issues

In this episode of our Great (stakeholder) expectations series, Freshfields’ Elizabeth Bieber and Pamela Marcogliese and FTI Consulting’s Patrick Tucker and Garrett Muzikowski discuss the bastion of support for social issues coming out of the past proxy season, the implications for the engagement season, and the different pressures companies face on the broadest ESG category with potentially the most reputational risk.

Podcast
Oct 13 2022
Great (stakeholder) expectations: Episode 2 - Unpacking the status of climate disclosures

In this episode of our Great (stakeholder) expectations series, Freshfields’ Elizabeth Bieber and Pamela Marcogliese and FTI Consulting’s Patrick Tucker and Garrett Muzikowski unpack the status of climate disclosure, predictions for upcoming SEC rulemaking, and how to prepare for potentially significant changes on the horizon. 

Podcast
Oct 11 2022
Great (stakeholder) expectations: Episode 1 - A turning point for ESG

In this episode of our Great (stakeholder) expectations series, Freshfields’ Elizabeth Bieber and Pamela Marcogliese and FTI Consulting’s Patrick Tucker and Garrett Muzikowski discuss ESG trends coming out of the past proxy season, the so-called “anti-ESG” movement, implications for the engagement season, the root causes behind them, and where companies should really be focusing their attention in the short-term.

Podcast
Dec 6 2021
The Big Conversation podcast: the transition to net zero

With Tariq Fancy, former chief investment officer for sustainable investing at BlackRock and Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group

Podcast
Jun 29 2021
Essential Antitrust #13: Financing green transition: how will the EU support industry?

Many stakeholders have applauded the European Commission for its European Green Deal programme. But a key question remains: who will pay for green transformation of the EU’s economy? Most businesses will not be able to finance the transition themselves and entire industries are calling for more public funding.

Podcast
Jun 2 2021
Arbitration Insider: Why is climate change and arbitration such a hot topic?

Arbitration Insider is a podcast series focusing on international arbitration produced by the New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. 

Podcast
Feb 17 2021
View from the Valley #5: deconstructing SPACs – how they vary and how they perform

SPACs are the hottest business story of the year.

Podcast
Dec 7 2020
The governance capsule collection #6: the secrets of board evaluations

Board evaluations are a vital way to gauge the health of a company.

Podcast
Dec 4 2020
The governance capsule collection #5: human capital management

Few issues have grabbed the attention of investors in recent years quite like human capital management.

In episode no. 5 of our governance capsule collection, Pamela Marcogliese, Leza Bieber and Maj Vaseghi discuss why you should be engaging with stakeholders now rather than waiting for proxy season, the role of the board in managing human capital – and whether HCM should be a metric when setting executive compensation.

Podcast
Dec 3 2020
The governance capsule collection #4: intercompany communications

As more employees are paid in stock – and social media gives everyone a voice - employee activism is on the rise.

Podcast
Dec 2 2020
The governance capsule collection #3: C-suite succession planning

In the third instalment of our governance capsule collection, Pamela Marcogliese and Leza Bieber are joined by Lori Goodman to discuss the ins and outs of succession planning. Why is it such a hot issue right now? What does good planning look like? And how should you communicate your progress?

Podcast
Dec 1 2020
The governance capsule collection #2: virtual shareholder meetings

In the second episode of our governance mini-series, Pamela Marcogliese and Leza Bieber explore what we’ve learnt – and ask whether the traditional in-person model will ever return.

Podcast
Nov 30 2020
The governance capsule collection #1: taking control of the narrative

In the first of a new mini-series on governance, partner Pamela Marcogliese and counsel Leza Bieber explain how companies can get on the front foot, from working out what’s material to creating processes that keep everyone on message.

Podcast
Nov 10 2020
Rethinking the supply chain #1: sustainability and digitisation in focus

Supply-chain risk has been rising up the boardroom agenda in recent years, with trade wars driving moves to ‘reshore’ production and the development of digital technologies such as AI enabling huge efficiency gains through process optimisation.

Podcast
Nov 6 2020
International arbitration #5: business, human rights and the environment

In this podcast, partner Will Thomas in London, and senior associates Natalie Sheehan in London and Amanda Neil in Vienna, outline the applicable legal landscape and examine how ESG issues are being dealt with by arbitral tribunals, legislators and policy makers.

Podcast
Oct 12 2020
WorkLife 2.0 – employee activism and the new world of labour relations

Employee activism has been making headlines since 2018, when the employees of a large tech company in the US staged a walkout from their employer in a protest at claims of sexual harassment, gender inequality and racism.

Podcast
Jul 29 2020
View from the Valley #2: diversity, IPOs and director compensation

In the second of a series of regular updates from our team in northern California, Boris Feldman, Sarah Solum, Maj Vaseghi, John Fisher and Doru Gavril take a look at three of the hottest issues in tech and life sciences – diversity, exit options and board pay.

Podcast
Jul 1 2020
WorkLife 2.0: oversight and compliance challenges

In this session, Ben Morgan, Caroline Stroud, Holly Insley and Olivia Radin consider how companies are approaching their compliance and oversight arrangements and the impact of the new working environment on whistleblowing. They also discuss the possible approach of regulators when it comes to evaluating oversight standards, as well as the challenges that the new working environment holds for in-house lawyers and compliance officers.

Podcast
May 29 2020
Worklife 2.0: exploring the new normal for the workforce

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented change in the way we work.

Podcast
Jun 11 2020
WorkLife 2.0: office life – but not as we know it

Apps that show the number of commuters on trains, passenger control systems that make offices look like airports, travelers put in military quarantine camps…

Blogs

Blogs

View all sustainability blogs
Blog
Feb 27 2025
All change please! Omnibus re-routes CSRD, CSDDD, Taxonomy and CBAM
The European Commission (EC) has published its highly anticipated sustainability-related Omnibus simplification package (Omnibus...
Blog
Feb 25 2025
The FCA reports on climate change adaptation challenges for UK financial services firms
The FCA identifies climate adaptation challenges for financial services firms Every five years, the UK government produces an assessment...
Blog
Feb 24 2025
Managing ESG risks in an evolving regulatory landscape: What the new EBA Guidelines mean for banks in light of the EU’s Omnibus proposal
While the European Union (EU) awaits the European Commission’s detailed proposals on the EU Omnibus proposal with revisions to the...
Blog
Feb 20 2025
State Attorneys General Enter the DEI Fray
In the wake of President Trump’s sweeping executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and the...
Blog
Feb 12 2025
Between two worlds: How US and EU-companies can navigate the tensions between shifting US DEI priorities and the EU sustainability framework
Within the first week of taking office, President Trump issued Executive Orders regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)...
Blog
Feb 3 2025
European Forced Labour Regulation entered into force – what should businesses expect?
On 13 December 2024, the European Forced Labour Regulation (EUFLR, the Regulation) entered into force. The EUFLR prohibits the import and...
Blog
Feb 3 2025
Regulating for sustainable growth in the UK: What to expect in 2025
In her first Mansion House speech (on 14 November 2024), Rachel Reeves, the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer covered, amongst other...
Blog
Jan 21 2025
ESG regulation and litigation in 2025: what to expect for UK financial institutions
ESG will continue to be a priority for UK financial services firms this year, with some challenges from 2024 continuing and other new...
Blog
Jan 16 2025
Private Capital in 2025: 7 Things You Should Know
Each new year brings with it the potential for change.  2025 is no different in this regard, with the potential for change being even...
Blog
Jan 3 2025
GHG Emissions: Past, Present and Future
One of my last speeches as Co-Vice Chair of the Trustees of the IFRS Foundation was on GHG emissions, which arguably is the hardest bit...
Our commitment
Our commitment

About us

For nearly 300 years we've partnered with industry leaders to break barriers and seize opportunities. Today, we’re defining what’s next – enabling our clients to succeed by solving their most complex legal challenges and creating opportunity where others see obstacles.

About us

Pro bono

Through our pro bono work, we use the law to drive fairness and opportunity – supporting individuals, communities, and organisations tackling systemic challenges. With dedication and collaboration, we help create lasting change.

Pro bono

Community impact

Opportunity should not be a privilege. Through meaningful partnerships, mentoring, and outreach in our broader community beyond Freshfields, we break down barriers and create pathways for people from underserved backgrounds – helping them realise their potential, and build a future where talent, not background, defines success.

Community impact

Culture and inclusion

Together we seek to create an environment where everyone is empowered to succeed and thrive. By challenging ourselves, collaborating seamlessly, and engaging openly, we build a culture of trust, respect, and extraordinary outcomes.

Culture and inclusion

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