PRESS RELEASE
April 6, 2009

Stikeman Elliott becomes first national Canadian law firm to be designated carbon neutral

Stikeman Elliott LLP announced today that it is the first national law firm to have its Canadian offices certified as carbon neutral. The firm’s comprehensive GoingGreen Program has been embraced and supported by firm members across the country, leading to the achievement of this designation.

The firm completed its carbon footprint calculation in 2008 to set a baseline for measuring its ongoing environmental initiatives. After compiling some concrete data around waste reduction and efficiency improvements, and an investment in selected carbon offset programs focused on sustainable energy, Stikeman Elliott received its carbon neutral certification in April 2009.

“Carbon neutrality is the latest step in our firm’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. Our people have encouraged the firm to be leaders in adopting more green and sustainable practices and the firm has acted,” said Stikeman Elliott chair Pierre Raymond. “We’re tremendously proud that we have taken this on as a long-term commitment and challenge to reduce the environmental impact of our operations and influence our lives away from work.”

The firm’s GoingGreen Program has introduced a number of large and small measures designed to reduce waste, increase recycling and improve energy efficiency in each of the firm’s offices in Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver. Among the initiatives spearheaded by Green Committees in each office:

• Comprehensive recycling programs for paper, cans, bottles, organic waste, toner and batteries. We divert almost 80% of our waste, eliminating an estimated 16,900kg in landfill waste on an annual basis.

• Double-sided printing and a reduced font size for documents is being rolled out and most internal reports are being distributed in electronic format, significantly reducing paper usage. Over 4,000,000 pieces of paper will be saved this year in our Toronto office alone.

• All printers and copiers are installed with “sleep modes” and multi-function printer machines have replaced separate standalone units. Computers are typically powered down at night.

• Reducing lighting levels in common areas and adjusting temperatures to improve energy usage.

• Video-conferencing is encouraged, in lieu of travel, in each of our offices.

• Use of filtered tap water only in boardrooms, meetings and serveries. All plastic utensils and paper plates in our serveries have been replaced with stainless steel utensils and ceramic plates.

• Mailrooms and print service centres recycle and reuse supplies and produce materials “on demand” only.

• An environmental purchasing policy giving stated preference to vendors who demonstrate solid environmental practices. The firm’s Toronto office products supplier is ISO14001 certified and a recent paper products procurement process has a refined formula to give greater weight to the environmental practices of vendors.

• Participation in local community programs such as Encorp’s Return-it Work Program (Vancouver), volunteer park clean-ups (Calgary), Greening Greater Toronto (Toronto) and “En Ville sans sa Voiture” (Montréal). Our firm members’ participation in various Clean Air Commute challenges saved more than seven tonnes of CO2 emissions.

• Education campaigns to firm members on measures they can employ at work and at home to be energy efficient and reduce waste, including “tip sheets” and giveaways of reusable lunch and shopping bags and ceramic mugs.

The final step in achieving carbon neutrality was the purchase of carbon offsets, through The CarbonNeutral Company, for renewable energy projects related to wind power, hydroelectric power and methane capture. Each of the projects supported has been accredited under international standards (the Voluntary Carbon Standard and the California Climate Action Registry) which satisfy criteria required, or are not inconsistent with those, under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism program and include third party verification.

“We have communicated to our firm members that this milestone still represents only the first step,” said Raymond. “We will continue to develop and enhance initiatives which will enable us to focus on reductions and set an example in our communities.”

Future planned initiatives include switching to energy-efficient lighting (where not already installed), increased use of recycled paper, rollout of enhanced policies around business travel and procurement, increased participation in recycling programs including electronics and exploration of additional community environmental initiatives with which firm members can volunteer or sponsor.

For further information, please contact: 

Diana Lawrence
National Director, Marketing & Business Development
dlawrence@stikeman.com
(416) 869-7743 

Mirabel Paquette
Director of Marketing & Communications
mpaquette@stikeman.com
(514) 397-3307 

Michelle Isaacson
Client Relationship Manager
misaacson@stikeman.com
(403) 266-9023 

Kelly Mann
Marketing Coordinator
kmann@stikeman.com
(604) 631-1372

ABOUT STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP

With over 500 lawyers across Canada and around the world, Stikeman Elliott is recognized nationally and internationally for the sophistication of its business law practice. Nationally, the firm has offices in Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver and internationally, in New York, London and Sydney. The firm serves its clients wherever their business takes them.

The firm maintains Renewable Energy, Environmental and Emissions Trading & Climate Change practices to provide clients with advice in all areas of environmental stewardship, investment and project development.

For more information about Stikeman Elliott, please visit our website at www.stikeman.com

STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP