Ogier are the first Guernsey law firm to be accredited the “Keep Guernsey Green Award” (“KGGA”).
The award is sponsored by the Environment Department of the States of Guernsey, who recognises the importance of the partnership between the Department and the corporate world and encourages firms to introduce environmentally-friendly procedures. As waste management plans evolve and change there is an increasing need for business institutions to re-evaluate their operations and manage their waste in a way that is best for Guernsey and our environment as a whole.
Following a visit by the Environment Department on 6th June 2008, Ogier was informed that the validation of their efforts had been successful and the firm was to be accredited the KGGA.
The Ogier Guernsey Green Team was formed in June 2007 as a number of staff were keen for the firm to introduce green initiatives. The first of these was to produce “Ogier’s Environmental Policy” which was adopted in January this year with the full support of the Guernsey partners and the legal and fiduciary staff.
Some of the activities that have been introduced within the firm, include:
- Recycling bins being situated in all areas for tins, drinks cans, plastic and glass bottles; as well as paper recycling bins and a process to recycle printer cartridges.
- After internal research the number of local telephone books required by the firm in March this year decreased by 60%, with old books being recycled.
- A green Christmas card was sent around the firm for staff to write a message to all colleagues, instead of sending a number of individual cards. Donations were collected for other charity projects and the card displayed in all areas throughout the festive period.
- The email footer was changed to introduce a note to consider the environment before printing the email.
Claudia Shan, Chairman of the Ogier Guernsey Green Team, said: “We have a very committed Green Team who are delighted that their hard work has paid off and we have earned such recognition. We also have tremendous support from other work colleagues which has made these initiatives so successful. We believe that every little effort helps protect our environment and hope to build on this success by introducing further new ideas in the future”