Committed to creating a healthy and sustainable environment

In January 2008, L.E.K. became the first global management consulting firm to become carbon neutral across its global operations. L.E.K's carbon management strategy follows the framework of "reduce, replace, then offset" as defined by the Carbon Trust, a British government organization that helps businesses reduce their carbon emissions.

Reducing direct carbon emissions

L.E.K.'s carbon management strategy targets a 20% reduction in emissions in the next three years. To meet this target, L.E.K. has engaged staff to drive local initiatives to reduce carbon emissions:

• Building management – Reduce emissions from each L.E.K. office by reviewing energy suppliers, switching to low-power light bulbs, and optimizing heating and cooling cycles.
• IT management – Encourage responsible use of personal computers and IT equipment. This includes very simple steps like turning off computers overnight and defaulting to double-sided printing.
• Business travel – Encourage the use of greener travel modes.
• Administration – Reduce office supplies consumption through increased recycling, the use of recycled and sustainable sourced paper, and working with like-minded suppliers.
• Staff initiatives – Ensure reduction initiatives are implemented by establishing staff groups to lead initiatives within each office.
• Supplier initiatives – Reduce indirect carbon emissions by working with suppliers who support the same environmental initiatives.

Offsetting

To achieve carbon neutral status, L.E.K. purchases voluntary offsets through a partnership with Climate Care, the U.K.-based carbon offset company owned by JP Morgan Chase, and also invests in a portfolio of climate-protecting projects.

All of Climate Care's projects meet the highest international quality standards for verification, additionality, double counting and permanence, all key factors in achieving carbon neutral status.

Climate Care projects are located in developing countries, where additionality is easier to prove and where funding often goes the furthest. They are also designed to bring a wide range of non-environmental benefits to local communities, such as poverty alleviation, improved health standards, and increased biodiversity. Examples of projects run by Climate Care include:

• Promoting the use of biofuel cookers instead of LPG cookers in India
• Promoting energy efficient lighting in South Africa
• Developing wind energy in India and China
• Rainforest restoration in Uganda

To learn more about Climate Care, go to their web site.

Measurement and reporting

To monitor its global carbon footprint, L.E.K. conducts a quarterly evaluation of carbon emissions for each of its offices. The evaluations are conducted according to a central methodology, which includes an analysis of the company’s overall energy consumption, paper usage and carbon emissions as a result of business travel.