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Our Sustainability
Access the full report with all the insights about L.E.K.'s sustainability journey.
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Since our founding 40 years ago, L.E.K. has sought to help clients master their defining moments and address their most difficult challenges. In an ever-changing world, sustainability has become an increasingly important strategic issue for all stakeholders, including the clients we work with, the communities we operate in and L.E.K. as a firm. We embrace the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable world and solve for a better future.
We Solve For a Better Future
L.E.K.’s second annual Sustainability Report outlines our ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. We’ve long believed that the integration of sustainability into our operations is highly consistent with our purpose. We’re pleased to report on how we’re delivering on that commitment.
2023 Highlights
We became the first major consultancy to have long-term carbon reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and we received a Gold rating from EcoVadis for our sustainability performance. In addition, we were thrilled to receive an A- rating from CDP in our first submission — an incredible achievement. In an ever-changing world, sustainability has become an increasingly important strategic issue for all stakeholders. We embrace the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable world and solve for a better future.
Clay Heskett
Global Managing Partner, L.E.K.
Purpose Statement
Diversity of thought, experience and background is central to our approach at L.E.K. We currently have more than 70 nationalities among our employees globally. In Europe alone, more than 60 different nationalities are represented (with many languages spoken fluently).
We will continue to embed diversity across all aspects of the L.E.K. experience as we endeavor to empower a purpose-driven career for our people.
Embracing a ‘people-first’ culture
Our People
Throughout 2023, we saw businesses facing increasing pressure to act on sustainability from a range of stakeholders — from customers demanding more sustainable product options, to employees choosing fulfilling and meaningful work. As awareness grows, these stakeholders are becoming more sophisticated about what sustainability means and what ‘good’ looks like.
Maximizing our clients’ sustainability impact
Our Clients
Companies are increasingly looking to embed sustainability throughout their organization — from the products and business models they offer, to the way they operate and communicate their sustainability progress. Our mission is to help our clients put sustainability at the very heart of their business, setting them up for long-term success and maximizing their sustainability impact.
The founders established L.E.K. in 1983 with the explicit intention to build the firm on the foundations of integrity and responsible business practices. Today, we embed sustainability across our operations. As market expectations for sustainability and good governance evolve, we remain adaptive and flexible, always centered on our governance strategy being relevant, forward-thinking and purposeful.
Responsible and ethical practices
Our Operations
We aim to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and we have aligned our operations to multiple industry leading sustainability frameworks and organizations.
We accelerate exceptional personal and professional growth in our people, forging trusted and uniquely incisive leaders
We relentlessly focus on resolving our clients’ toughest problems, bringing clarity and conviction to achieve sustainable success
We empower our people and our clients to shape a better world
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120+ Projects
Including Net Zero strategy, carbon reduction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, emissions control, roadmap and implementation and ESG data & reporting
Decarbonizing toward Net Zero
180+ Projects
Including sustainability strategy, circular economy, sustainability infrastructure, packaging and chemicals, future mobility, environmental services, financial services
Building a sustainable economy
100+ Projects
Including food revolution, health & wellness, employee benefits, community support, safety and security, diversity and inclusion, equity and affordability
Accelerating human progress
34%
of our consulting staff were promoted to a more senior level
of our U.S. consulting staff self-identified as ethnically or racially diverse
41%
of the new employees joining L.E.K. were women
45%
of employees have access to health and well-being support services
100%
of our total global headcount were women
42%
Highlights from 2023
Our global headcount grew to almost 2,300 in 2023
2,287
Unprecedented human-induced greenhouse gas emissions necessitate urgent action. As the first major consulting firm to achieve carbon neutrality, L.E.K. is committed to achieving Net-Zero by 2050. In 2023, our near and long-term emission SBTi targets were approved, aligning with the trajectory to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Building on our environmental legacy
Our Planet
In 2023, we maintained our certification as a CarbonNeutral® company through our partnership with Climate Impact Partners. L.E.K. purchases of high-quality carbon credits were instrumental in achieving Carbon Neutral certification.
At L.E.K., we support our people to make a difference through our long-running program of pro bono work.
L.E.K.’s pro bono work includes both L.E.K.-sponsored pro bono projects, involving our consulting staff working full-time with non-profit organizations, and voluntary pro bono projects run by teams of colleagues alongside their day-to-day casework.
In 2023, approximately 20% of consulting staff participated in either an L.E.K. or voluntary pro bono engagement.
Benefiting communities through pro bono and volunteer projects
Our Community
Sustainability Centre of Excellence
Environmental Responsibility
Community Responsibility
Pro Bono Work
Diversity and Inclusion
Energy efficiency in Dhaka
Afforestation efforts in Uruguay
Distribution of bondhu chula stoves in Bangladesh
Forest conservation in Colombia
Renewable energy investments
L.E.K. 2023 Sustainability Report
Policies and Statements
Maintained goal of 100% office electricity from renewable sources
100%
Absolute reduction in Scope 1+2 emissions since 2019
63%
Per headcount reduction in Scope 3 emissions from business travel since 2019
65%
Environmental
Social
Governance
Near-term and Net-Zero targets validated by SBTi for Scopes 1, 2 and 3 — maintaining our commitment to transition in line with a 1.5°C world
1.5° C
Women represented in our total global headcount
42%
U.S. consulting staff who self-identified as ethnically or racially diverse
41%
$3M
Over $3 million in donations and pro bono work globally
100+
Fundraising & volunteer events
CDP & TCFD
Submitted our first CDP Climate Survey and Task Force as Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
UNGC
Submitted our Communication on Progress to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)
Download L.E.K.'s 2023 Sustainability Report
2027
2023
2019
L.E.K. baseline year for emissions reduction
SBTi near-term and long-term targets approved
34% absolute reduction in Scope 1+2 emissions
Net Zero impact on the environment by 2030 through a combination of behavioral changes and high-quality carbon removal investments
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90% absolute reduction in Scope 1+2 emissions
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97% per headcount reduction for Scope 3 emissions, as compared to a 2019 baseline
34% absolute reduction in Scope 1+2 emissions
44% per headcount reduction for Scope 3 emissions from business travel by 2027, as compared to a 2019 baseline
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Our sustainability milestones and goals
Download L.E.K.'s 2023 Sustainability Report
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Forest conservation in Indonesia
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of employees have access to health and well-being support services
100%
44%
of employees joining L.E.K. were women
of our total global headcount were women
43%
of our U.S. consulting staff self-identified as ethnically or racially diverse
39%
of our consulting staff were promoted to a more senior level
35%
Learn more about our trailblazing work in Sustainability
L.E.K. Consulting is thrilled to announce
that the European has honoured us with not one, but two Global Business 2023 awards for our work in Sustainability. We were winners of the ‘Sustainable Projects of the Future’ award along with being named ‘Sustainability Strategies Consulting Company’ of 2023.
Double Winners of The European’s Global Business Awards
Including Net-Zero strategy, carbon reduction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, emissions control, roadmap & implementation and ESG data & reporting
190+ Projects
Decarbonizing toward Net Zero
Including sustainability strategy, circular economy, sustainability infrastructure, packaging and chemicals, future mobility, environmental services, financial services
240+ Projects
Building a sustainable economy
Including food revolution, health & wellness, employee benefits, community support, safety and security, diversity and inclusion, equity and affordability
110+ Projects
2050
90% absolute reduction in Scope 1+2 emissions
GOLD
Achieved a rating of Gold for our inaugural disclosure to EcoVadis
Achieved a score of A- for our inaugural CDP response,
placing us in the top 17%
of leaders in the specialized professional services
activity group
A-
Sustainability Steering Committee meetings and six ESG Committee meetings conducted in 2023
20+
Board meetings with
Sustainability on the agenda in2023
4
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Community reforestation in Ghana
Accelerating human progress
Achieved CDP A- and Gold EcoVadis rating
44% per headcount reduction in Scope 3 emissions from business travel by 2027, as compared to a 2019 baseline
97% per headcount reduction in Scope 3 emissions, as compared to a 2019 baseline
Access the 2022 edition of L.E.K.’s annual sustainability report
Download the report
100+
Fundraising & volunteer events
U.S. consulting staff who self-identified as ethnically or racially diverse
41%
$3M
Over $3 million in donations and pro bono work globally
Women represented in our total global headcount
42%
of consulting staff participated in pro bono or volunteer projects
20%
8
th
Best Consulting Firms to Work For in Vault's Annual Consulting Survey
Per headcount reduction in Scope 3 emissions from business travel since 2019
65%
Absolute reduction in Scope 1+2 emissions since 2019
63%
Maintained goal of 100% office electricity from renewable sources
100%
1.5° C
Near-term and Net-Zero targets validated by SBTi for Scopes 1, 2 and 3 — maintaining our commitment to transition in line with a 1.5°C world
GOLD
Achieved a rating of Gold for our inaugural disclosure to EcoVadis
Achieved a score of A- for our inaugural CDP response,
placing us in the top 17%
of leaders in the specialized professional services
activity group
A-
Sustainability Steering Committee meetings and six ESG Committee meetings conducted in 2023
20+
Board meetings with
Sustainability on the agenda in2023
4