100 Bishopsgate
Minimising 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.
The decommissioning of our previous Fleet Street office was carefully considered. We ensured zero landfill waste for furniture and IT equipment: staff are being offered chairs and screens for home use, and Freshfields has partnered with Business 2 Schools, a charity that improves infrastructure in UK schools to create a more aspirational environment. They are distributing furniture and other items to 50 schools throughout the country, helping us have a positive community impact.
Our efforts to manage our environmental impact continue at 100 Bishopsgate. The building runs on a renewable electricity tariff and has efficient installations throughout (such as LED lighting). The construction earned a BREEAM ‘excellent’ sustainability rating, while the fit-out with only recyclable or recycled items won a SKA Gold rating, unlocking a 30 per cent reduction in carbon use. Our building management system, which monitors air quality, energy and waste, is ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certified (like our previous Fleet Street office).
Office waste will be processed with centralised recycling that encourages the segregation of food waste, dry mixed recycling, general waste and confidential material. (This also improves hygiene.) Our ‘PaperLite’ initiative continues, with paper storage down by 33 per cent, and a centralised secure print system ensures information security and minimises waste.
Sustainability is a main consideration in our on-site catering: Freshfields remains committed to phasing out single-use plastics so crockery, glasses and metal cutlery will be used all refreshment points (COVID-related safety measures permitting).
100 Bishopsgate is in the heart of the City so offers multiple travel options. Showers, lockers and bike storage encourage those who choose to try and minimise their personal environmental impact by cycling, walking or running to work.
‘Freshfields’ move to 100 Bishopsgate is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine how we work,’ says Mark Higgs, Freshfields Chief Operating Officer. ‘We have carefully planned the space to facilitate agile and remote-working arrangements, as well as support wellbeing and minimise environmental impact.’
