PwC is sole accountancy representative on top green list

Despite much posturing by firms in the profession over thier green
credentials, only PricewaterhouseCoopers has managed to make it into the
Sunday
Times 60 Best Green Companies in the UK 2009.

The Big Four firm was ranked at 24 this year overall and 6 in the best
big/mid sized company with a low environmental impact. The rankings are decided
by two surveys; one on the environmental management policies set by the company;
and one on a set of statements which staff rated from strongly agree to strongly
disagree.

Ian Powell, chairman, PwC said: we work hard to incorporate not only economic
but social and environmental considerations into the purchasing and operational
decisions we make that impact on the environment.’

‘In the current economic climate cost is important, but we will not
compromise our sustainability objectives in our selection of goods, services, or
how we operate as a business’ he added.

PwC is one of the only companies that appear in the list to be ISO 14001
certified, which oversees all environmental management systems and is audited by
the British Standards Institute.

The firm plans to reduce energy consumption in the office by 10% this year
and has already removed all desk side bins, installed smart metering and light
sensors as well as running awareness campaigns for staff. It has also invested
£500,000 in the previous two years in videoconferencing equipment to reduce the
need for staff travel.

Topping the list was PR company Forster with initiatives such as giving its
staff a winter survival kit which includes hot water bottles, jumpers and
knitting needles to make woolen scarves, instead of just turning the heating up.

Further reading:

PwC leads accountants in global environmental taskforce

KPMG tops best big company list