Environmental Sustainability Committee 2023 Annual Report
This Environmental Sustainability Committee Annual Report shares progress on the Firm’s environmental sustainability initiatives from 2023. The report addresses the Firm’s strategy, governance, metrics, and goals related to environmental sustainability.
As we reflect on Morrison Foerster’s ongoing dedication to reduce its environmental impact, we are reminded of the profound influence our collective efforts have on shaping a more sustainable future. Guided by our steadfast commitment, we continue to integrate environmental sustainability principles into every facet of our operations, reinforcing our belief to “walk the walk and talk the talk.” At the heart of our sustainability endeavors lies the Environmental Sustainability Committee, a dynamic force propelling forward the implementation of our environmental initiatives outlined in this report. Through the collaborative efforts of our attorneys and business professionals, who passionately engage with the Environmental Sustainability Committee, we cultivate a culture deeply rooted in environmental responsibility. As co-chairs of the Environmental Sustainability Committee and active members of the Firm’s Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee, we take pride in the strides the Firm has made in 2023. The Firms accomplishments underscore our unwavering dedication to sustainability, and we eagerly anticipate sharing further advancements as we continue our collective work towards a more sustainable future.
Foreword/Letter from the Environmental Sustainability Committee co-chairs
The Environmental Sustainability Committee will strategically integrate environmental sustainability practices into the Firm’s operations to position Morrison Foerster as an environmental sustainability leader among our peers in the legal industry. Morrison Foerster will support its clients in achieving their supply chain environmental sustainability goals by adopting environmental sustainability practices that meet, and where possible exceed, client expectations. This mission serves as a guide for establishing environmental sustainability goals and objectives and alignment of environmental sustainability activities firmwide.
Environmental Sustainability Program Mission
Morrison Foerster has undertaken environmental sustainability initiatives for almost two decades. In 2006, the Firm engaged Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) and GreenOrder to conduct an independent internal audit to ensure that the Firm’s workplace practices and processes supported a sustainable environment. Based on the results of the independent internal audit in 2007, we formed an Internal Sustainability Committee (ISC) that was originally created to make recommendations concerning the Firm’s potential participation in the American Bar Association and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Law Office Climate Change Challenge (ABA-EPA Challenge). This Challenge required participating law offices to take steps to conserve energy and resources, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and to participate in various energy and waste programs.
Background
In addition to addressing the ABA-EPA Challenge, the ISC assumed responsibility for providing leadership on several sustainability initiatives at the Firm, including supporting and coordinating with the local sustainability committees in the Firm’s domestic offices, promoting in-office recycling, emphasizing waste and energy usage reduction practices, educating employees regarding in- and out-of-office sustainability measures, and encouraging feedback and suggestions from employees regarding further potential initiatives.
Claudia Vetesi
Partner, San Francisco
Partner, New York
Adam Hunt
Partner, San Diego
Shai Kalansky
Chief Administrative Officer
Susan Quinn
Action and Recognition
Environmental Impact
Strategic Objectives and Outcomes
Strategy and Governance
Overview
A Culture of Sustainability
Environmental Policy
Sustainability Priority Topics
Office Committees Activity Highlights
Environmental Sustainability Committee
2024 Strategic Objectives
Sustainable procurement
Renewable energy
Operational GHG emissions
Environmental Governance
Environmental Sustainability Reporting
Sustainable Procurement Achievements
E-Waste, Print Volumes, and Secure Paper Recycling
Science-based Target
2019-2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Awards and Recognition
Pro Bono Sustainability Focus
Attorneys and business professionals are encouraged to regularly visit the MoFoEco site, which provides updates on Environmental Sustainability Committee activities, firmwide environmental sustainability, and environmental sustainability news across the Firm. The site has a “Green Suggestion Box,” where recommendations and questions regarding environmental sustainability can be submitted for review and consideration by the Environmental Sustainability Committee.
MoFoEco Site and Green Suggestion Box
To serve as a framework for the Environmental Sustainability Committee’s activities, this Policy covers the Environmental Sustainability priority topics listed above and outlines how the Firm has committed to address them. As part of the Environmental Sustainability Committee’s annual assessment and goal to ensure continuous improvement, the Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee revised the Environmental Sustainability Firmwide Policy in 2023 to make it more actionable, with key items that could be implemented by attorneys and business professionals. Through these updates, the Firm anticipates including this training moving forward in the onboarding process for non-partner attorneys and business professionals. All attorneys and business professionals can access this Policy on the Firm’s internal environmental sustainability program website.
Firmwide Environmental Sustainability Policy
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Intends to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns by reducing waste and promoting efficient use of resources. As a Firm, we are working to incorporate environmental sustainability considerations as part of the products and services we purchase with our suppliers to implement environmental sustainability practices.
Identify existing environmentally preferable purchasing practices.
UN SDGs
Actions
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, primarily through the adoption of renewable energy sources.
Procure renewable energy credits
Goal 13: Climate Action
Calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts through measures such as emission reductions. This is done through the Firm’s tracking, reporting, and reducing of greenhouse gas emissions from our operations.
Submit a commitment letter to the Science-Based Targets initiative for setting and developing a near-term science-based target
Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Insitutions
Aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Our environmental governance aligns with this goal through environmental policy developments, providing pro bono legal services, representing clients in litigation to enforce environmental laws and protect natural resources, and through partnership with external stakeholders.
Complete the Firm’s first climate risk and opportunity assessment (CROA)
Operational Greenhouse Gas Emission
Renewable Energy
Sustainable Procurement
To establish the overarching goals for the Environmental Sustainability Program, the Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee conducted an environmental sustainability priority issue assessment in 2022 to identify relevant environmental sustainability topics for the Firm to focus on as part of its environmental sustainability strategy. The assessment included a variety of sources, including general and industry- and location-specific sustainability frameworks, standards, and certifications; client environmental sustainability reporting requests; issues addressed in legal industry environmental sustainability reporting; environmental sustainability regulatory trends; and feedback from internal stakeholders to identify the topics to be addressed in the Firmwide Environmental Sustainability policy. The environmental sustainability priority topics have been mapped to their applicable United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and action items:
Environmental Sustainability Priority Issue Assessment
Despite being one of the firm’s largest offices, the New York office has engaged in a number of programs to improve its carbon footprint. Similar to the San Francisco office, in 2023, the New York office began a food-sharing program in partnership with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine (RLC) to donate all leftover food from catering to local charities serving the hungry. Additionally, the New York office has piloted some single-use phase out strategies, including offering reusable cups for smaller meetings and purchasing plates and silverware that do not contain petroleum-based products. The Boston office has been successful in the completion of its single-use phase out and has also been among the highest of our offices in responses to both the MoFoEco Pledge and the Commuter Survey.
New York and Boston
The Brussels office has consistently explored ways to boost its eco-friendliness and reduce its waste footprint, and in 2024, purchased reusable glass water bottles to reduce reliance upon water delivery services. Such a change will reduce the fuel consumption and emissions from transportation caused by water delivery services. The Brussels office offers both still and sparkling water on tap for attorneys, business professionals, and our clients.
Brussels
In response to the firm’s 2023 objective of phasing out all single-use plastics, our California offices took wide-ranging initiatives to reduce their reliance on plastic by implementing reusable alternatives to single-use cups, plates, and utensils. The Palo Alto office installed a filtered water line into the building to encourage the use of reusable bottles. The Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palo Alto offices all began switching food and beverage vendors to improve packaging, such as replacing vending machine plastic bottled beverages with aluminum and glass. To support the Committee’s objective to focus on waste, the San Francisco office partners with Food Runners to help prevent waste and create community by donating unused meals. Lastly, the San Diego office began composting to comply with the City of San Diego’s Organic Waste Recycling Program, while the San Francisco and Palo Alto offices also set up composting in the office to divert food from landfills.
California Offices
The Environmental Sustainability Committee reports progress annually to the Morrison Foerster Board of Directors, including through publication of this Environmental Sustainability Committee Annual Report. Several members of the Morrison Foerster Board of Directors focus their practice on environmental sustainability-related topics and industries, including Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). Currently, over 100 attorneys and business professionals across MoFo offices firmwide participate in the Environmental Sustainability Committee, and the Firm’s offices have identified unique opportunities to implement environmental sustainability initiatives. Click through the sliding banner below to view some of the Committee’s activities that took place throughout 2023:
Steering
Provides overarching goals for Environmental Sustainability Committee activities
Firmwide
Develops firmwide environmental sustainability policies and strategies Supports integration of Environmental Sustainability into Firm strategies Identifies synergies across offices and opportunities for collaboration Represents Office Environmental Sustainability Committee in firmwide discussions
Office
Proposes subgoals and initiatives to support firmwide objectives Reviews and provides feedback on firmwide committee deliverables Supports implementation of environmental sustainability strategies and develops a culture of environmental sustainability within each office
Morrison Foerster’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, comprised of both attorneys and business professionals firmwide, offers guidance to the Firm’s leadership and the Morrison Foerster Board of Directors with regards to environmental sustainability.
Through our global Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) + Sustainability Steering Committee, which includes more than 35 partners across the Firm, we provide a holistic approach to ESG service delivery for our clients. We have both the expertise and the experience to assist clients as strategic partners on a wide range of ESG matters, to help companies and investors not only reach admirable goals, but also “see around corners” to be prepared for what is coming next in the rapidly evolving ESG field.
MoFo ESG and Sustainability Steering Committee
Palo Alto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, & San Diego
In 2023, the Austin office moved into its state-of-the-art office space at 300 Colorado Street. The fully electric building is equipped entirely with dimmable LED lighting, Energy Star-rated appliances, and low-flow water fixtures. Sustainably selected office furniture was designed using materials that have a lower environmental impact compared to the conventional alternative as well as responsible manufacturing during production. For example, all office desk chairs were made with recycled materials and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified plywood, sourced from responsibly harvested trees to ensure the forests maintain their biodiversity and will be around for generations to come. Moreover, each office desk is made from recycled steel and were designed with an energy efficiency mode to reduce its power consumption by 90%.
300 Colorado Street
Austin
Replacing average incandescent light with LEDs
0
15
20
25
30
10
5
Using reusable beverage containers
Biking, walking, or taking public transit once per month
Carpooling at least once per month
To promote a culture of environmental sustainability, the firm encouraged attorneys and business professionals to participate in the “MoFoEco” pledge program. The pledge entails a commitment to action as to what sustainability practices they will undertake at home or in the office in areas such as waste diversion, energy efficiency, and alternative commuting practices, both at home and at work. This past year a competition for the highest response rate in MoFoEco pledges by office was held across all offices globally. The winning office would be awarded with a $2,000 USD donation to any local charity of their choosing. A total of 523 pledges were received on a firmwide basis, and our Brussel’s office won the competition for highest response rate of 88%. The office decided to split the donation between three local environmental charities in Brussels, including La Ferme Nos Pilifis, Faunes & Biotopes ASBL, and Good Planet.
Firmwide MoFoEco Pledge and Competition
Estimated # of Trees Saved from Double-Sided Printing Pledges, by Office Chart
Berlin
Boston
Denver
Hong Kong
London
Los Angeles
Miami
New York
Palo Alto
San Diego
San Francisco
Singapore
Tokyo
Washington, D.C.
1
2
3
4
6
7
Estimated Total Emissions Reducations from MoFoEco 2023 Pledges Chart
Throughout the year, attorneys and business professionals were engaged through various means such as awareness campaigns, trainings, and opportunities to participate in activities, volunteer events, and challenges to help foster a culture of sustainability within the Firm. Click through the sliding banner to view some of the Committee’s activities that took place throughout 2023:
Throughout the month of April, Morrison Foerster was excited to celebrate our planet with the theme ‘Invest in Our Planet’ by hosting several learning activities for attorneys and business professionals. MoFo’s Environmental Sustainability Committees also hosted events and volunteered in their offices and communities. Some highlights across several of our offices included:
Earth Month Celebration: Invest in Our Planet
Reusable mug ice cream socials. Beach cleanup events. Awareness luncheon. A bike tune-up event.
A soap recycling workshop. Lunch offered from a local sustainable food vendor.
Morrison Foerster hosted its long-time pro bono partner, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), for a webinar titled “Investing in Our Planet through Pro Bono Work with The Nature Conservancy.” Rachel Williams, Pro Bono Counsel, moderated a discussion with guest speakers from TNC and MoFo attorneys Eric McCrath, Chair of Morrison Foerster; Suz Mac Cormac, Co-chair of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Social Enterprise + Impact Investing, and Energy practices; Shai Kalansky, Partner; and Luisa Coxon, Associate. The conversation focused on TNC’s innovative work and how our firm has contributed to this work during our 30 year partnership.
Investing in Our Planet through Pro Bono Work with The Nature Conservancy
In partnership with Greenplaces, attorneys and business professionals were encouraged to participate the #TinyClimateActs program by submitting one sustainable act they’ve taken to help the planet. For each act submitted, a tree is planted in coordination with OneTreePlanted. For Earth Month, a total of 53 trees were planted to reforest the Amazon River Basin to restore degraded land and support the Amazon’s biodiversity. By working with local farmers to establish sustainable agroforestry, native tree species and productive timber species were planted.
#TinyClimateActs - 53 trees planted
Morrison Foerster participated in New York City’s annual Climate Week, which brings together international leaders from business, government, and civil society to showcase and drive global climate action.
Climate Week 2023
San Diego Environmental Sustainability Committee co-chair, Krista deBoer, and member, Cedar Hobb, led a session titled Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change: What MoFolks Should Know. This training covered the basics of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, including what MoFo is doing to address these topics that gave attendees a baseline understanding of the latest climate science and how they could contribute to the firm’s climate efforts.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission and Climate Change Training
A total of 22 climate photo contest entries painted a picture of places in nature that could be impacted by climate change. The winner of the contest, Scott Wirtz, Director of Finance, received a personal carbon footprint offset for the year for his photo of Cima Dome Joshua Tree Forest in the Mojave National Scenic Area. The photo was taken before a 2020 wildfire that burned through 43,273-acres.
Climate Photo Contest
Number of Trees Saved
Metric Tons of CO2e
The Firm’s environmental sustainability priority topics include Environmental Governance, Operational Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Renewable Energy, and Sustainable Procurement. The below 2023 strategic objectives were outlined by the Environmental Sustainability Committee to support these priorities and build on its current progress to-date.
TOPIC
DESCRIPTION
Represents the position, policies, and processes we have in place for management and oversight of the environmental sustainability program.
The first Climate Risk and Opportunity Assessment (CROA) was completed and prepared to address the opportunities and risks related to climate change that may arise for Morrison Foerster under both low-and high-emissions scenarios for both the firm’s operations and strategy. The framework for this assessment followed the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures recommendations and addressed topics found in the Carbon Disclosure Project questionnaire. Stakeholders from across the firm participated in a CROA Ad Hoc Committee to review and provide input on the document. The CROA found that the firm primarily faces transition risks related to its reputation due to climate in the short-term and risks from flooding and power outages in the longer-term. Addressing the supply chain is the largest area of opportunity for the firm with respect to setting and achieving a greenhouse gas emission target. Morrison Foerster already has an industry-leading Environmental, Social, and Governance practice, and the firm’s continued work in this space, especially as climate regulations and litigation become more common, is anticipated to serve as an opportunity for the firm. Going forward, this CROA will be updated every two years, and metrics related to both climate mitigation and adaptation will be tracked each year to assess the firm’s progress. In the next iteration of this CROA, the firm may consider incorporating a quantitative assessment of physical risks and beginning to assess more specific (e.g., supplier level) exposure and potential climate impacts within the supplier chain. Additionally, the main findings from this CROA could be incorporated into a transition plan that outlines how the firm aims to align itself with a net-zero economy by mid-century. This strategic objective also falls under the Operational GHG emissions priority topic.
ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
CLICK TO READ THE OBJECTIVE:
Complete the Firm’s first climate risk and opportunity assessment (CROA).
THE OBJECTIVE:
The first Climate Risk and Opportunity Assessment (CROA) was completed and prepared to address the opportunities and risks related to climate change that may arise for Morrison Foerster under both low and high emissions scenarios for both the firm’s operations and strategy. The framework for this assessment followed the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures recommendations and addressed topics found in the Carbon Disclosure Project questionnaire. Stakeholders from across the firm participated in a CROA Ad Hoc Committee to review and provide input on the document. The CROA found that the firm primarily faces transition risks related to its reputation due to climate in the short-term and power outages in the longer-term. Addressing the supply chain is the largest area of opportunity for the firm with respect to setting and achieving a greenhouse gas emission target.
Morrison Foerster already has an industry-leading Environmental, Social, and Governance practice, and the firm’s continued work in this space, especially as climate regulations and litigation become more common, is anticipated to serve as an opportunity for the firm. Going forward, this CROA will be updated every 2-years and metrics related to both climate mitigation and adaptation will be tracked each year to assess the firm’s progress. In the next iteration of this CROA, the firm may consider incorporating a quantitative assessment of physical risks and beginning to assess more specific (e.g., supplier level) exposure and potential climate impacts within the supplier chain. Additionally, the main findings from this CROA could be incorporated into a transition plan that outlines how the firm aims to align itself with a net-zero economy by mid-century. This strategic objective also falls under the Operational GHG emissions priority topic.
Submit a commitment letter to the Science-Based Targets initiative for setting and developing a near-term science-based target.
Refers to our tracking, reporting, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our operations as a firm.
Morrison Foerster submitted its science-based target (SBT) commitment letter in April 2023 signifying its commitment to set a near-term science-based emission reduction target within the next two years. Additionally, development of a near-term emissions reduction target, in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)’s criteria, was completed and submitted to SBTi for official validation in October 2023. In 2024, we will work closely with SBTi to start the target validation process, where they will evaluate and assess our emission reduction target submitted, with plans to receive a validation decision and in-depth feedback
Procure 100% renewable electricity for electricity consumed in our US offices in 2025.
Relates our usage of renewable energy as one way we can reduce our greenhouse gas emission from purchasing electricity.
In 2022, we purchased 50% of our U.S. office’s energy consumption with renewable energy. To continue reducing the Firm’s scope 2 market-based GHG emissions footprint, in 2023 we procured 75% of our U.S. office’s energy consumption with unbundled renewable energy credits to support wind & solar projects. In addition to reaching our target early by purchasing 100% of our U.S. office’s energy consumption with renewable energy by 2024, we also have plans to develop a strategy for increasing procurement of renewable electricity across our international offices while seeking opportunities to reduce energy consumption through an efficiency-first approach.
Publish a supplier code of conduct that addresses our expectations for suppliers with respect to ES.
Represents a major area of opportunity for reducing both the Firm’s indirect and total GHG emissions.
Sustainable Procurement:
In 2023, Morrison Foerster adopted and published a Supplier Code of Conduct that communicates the Firm’s expectations for its suppliers in the following areas: Ethics, Labor and Human Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Environment, Privacy & Data Security, and Health & Safety.
ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVES:
Implement processes to assess the existing ES performance of our suppliers with contractual agreements and new suppliers, including the maturity of their GHG emissions tracking and reduction efforts.
To complement the Supplier Code of Conduct, Morrison Foerster introduced environmental sustainability questions in its RFP process to evaluate the performance of suppliers in this space, with a focus on their greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the Procurement and Contracts team at MoFo and the Environmental Sustainability Committee collaborated with Harbor (formerly HBR) to create an emissions module in its Spend Connect platform. Harbor is a consulting firm that specializes in supporting law firms on their business management needs and Spend Connect is a tool that HBR has developed to support law firms in spend management and developing strategic sourcing initiatives. Through partnering with Harbor, we’ve added a module that also maps spend to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gas emission factors for the firm’s scope 3 greenhouse gas emission footprint. To continue increasing supplier engagement, in 2024 a vendor survey will go out to our top 100 vendors to gain insight into their GHG emission performance and goals to support Morrison Foerster’s emission reduction goals.
Submit a commitment letter to the Science Based Target Initiative for setting and developing a near-term science-based target.
Morrison Foerster submitted its science-based target (SBT) commitment letter in April 2023 signifying its commitment to set a near-term science-based emission reduction target within the next two years. Additionally, development of a near-term emissions reduction target, in line with the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi)’s criteria, was completed and submitted to SBTi for official validation in October 2023. In 2024, we will work closely with SBTi to start the target validation process, where they will evaluate and assess our emission reduction target submitted, with plans to receive a validation decision and in-depth feedback.
Procure 100% renewable electricity for electricity consumed in our U.S. offices in 2025.
In 2023, we purchased 50% of our U.S. office’s 2022 energy consumption with renewable energy. To continue reducing the Firm’s scope 2 market-based GHG emissions footprint, in 2024 we procured 75% of our U.S. office’s 2023 energy consumption with unbundled renewable energy credits to support wind and solar projects. Morrison Foerster is right on track to purchase 100% of our U.S. office’s 2024 energy consumption with renewable energy in 2025. Additionally, we also have plans to develop a strategy for increasing procurement of renewable electricity across our international offices while seeking opportunities to reduce energy consumption through an efficiency-first approach.
Renewable Energy:
Publish a supplier code of conduct that addresses our expectations for suppliers with respect to environmental sustainability.
Represents a major area of opportunity for reducing both the Firm’s indirect and total GHG emissions
Implement processes to assess the existing environmental sustainability performance of our suppliers with contractual agreements and new suppliers, including the maturity of their GHG emissions tracking and reduction efforts.
To complement the Supplier Code of Conduct, Morrison Foerster introduced environmental sustainability questions in its RFP process to evaluate the performance of suppliers in this space, with a focus on their greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the Procurement and Contracts team at MoFo and the Environmental Sustainability Committee collaborated with Harbor (formerly HBR) to create an emissions module in its Spend Connect platform. Harbor is a consulting firm that specializes in supporting law firms on their business management needs and Spend Connect is a tool that HBR has developed to support law firms in spend management and developing strategic sourcing initiatives. Through partnering with Harbor, we’ve added a module that also maps spend to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gas emission factors for the firm’s scope 3 greenhouse gas emission footprint. To continue increasing supplier engagement, in 2024 a vendor survey will go out to our top vendors to gain insight into their GHG emission performance and goals to support Morrison Foerster’s emission reduction goals.
Expand environmentally preferrable purchasing considerations to additional products and services.
Through comprehensive our assessments, where we evaluate not only the environmental impact of products but also the sustainability practices of suppliers, we have started outlining environmentally preferrable language for a Procurement Policy to reduce consumables, shift to responsible products, and reduce energy and GHG emissions from electronic devises and appliances.
Set sustainable procurement targets.
Morrison Foerster identified sustainable procurement as priority ES topic, and as such, we seek to develop KPIs for tracking spend on more sustainable products, including its managed print service (MPS) devices, electronics, office products, and promotional items. Our strategy will involve comprehensive vendor outreach, where we evaluate not only the environmental impact of products but also the sustainability practices of suppliers, as well as criteria to guide sustainable procurement practices. By engaging with vendors who prioritize sustainability throughout their operations and improving the firm’s purchasing practices, we aim to reduce our GHG emissions and environmental impact across our supply chain.
What to Expect in 2024
Strengthen internal engagement through a firmwide outreach program.
Receive near-term science-based target approval and in-depth feedback from the SBTi.
Focus on waste reduction through recycling and composting activities.
Procure 100% renewable electricity for our U.S. office’s energy consumption by 2025.
Achieve phase out of single-use plastic.
Increase sustainable procurement practices.
Through our partnership with the Firm’s MPS service provider, we have worked to assess our printing behavior. The Firm has outperformed industry averages in key metrics, such as our duplex print rate in 2023 (57.2%) was nearly double the industry average (32.4%). We also continue to reduce our consumption of paper with 2023 rates significantly below 2019-levels (-77%) and compared to 2022 we saw a 39% reduction. This lower usage has contributed to several environmental benefits, such as saving over 1.7 million sheets of paper, nearly 167,000 gallons of water, and 696 pounds of waste. Additionally, through our use of e-signatures, DocuSign calculated our 2023 environmental impact, in which the Firm was able to reduce 80,733 lbs of carbon emissions, equivalent to removing seven cars from the road, as well as conserve 101,325 gallons of water, equivalent to skipping 73 loads of laundry.
2021
2022
2K
4K
6K
8K
10K
1,672
Pounds
8,991
Secure E-Waste Recycling
2019
2020
100K
200K
300K
400K
500K
600K
700K
800K
474K+
489K+
551K+
647K+
Secure Paper Shredding and Recycling
Note: Reporting on total shredding amounts for the following years and offices were not available. In cases where this information was not available, to develop an estimate, the average amount of paper shredding per square foot firmwide was multiplied by the office square footage. The percentage estimated per year by total firmwide square footage is also shown below. 2019: Berlin, London, San Diego, Palo Alto, and Shanghai (28.12%) 2020: Berlin, London, Palo Alto, and Shanghai (23.4%) 2021: Berlin and Shanghai (4.62%) 2022: Berlin and Shanghai (4.78%)
50%
48%
46%
52%
54%
56%
58%
51%
57%
55%
Print Duplex Rate for Managed Print Service Provider:
Compared to the duplex rate from the Firm’s MPS provider, this duplex rate is lower in part due to the use of these machines for printing court documents that must be single-sided. We will endeavor to continue to increase the rate at which we print duplex copies through our Environmental Sustainability Firmwide Committee.
5M
10M
15M
20M
25M
22+
Pages
9+
5+
8+
Total Print Volumes 2019-2022:
The Firm’s duplex rate for prints and copies made with the Firm’s MPS provider is shown above.
As a Firm, we remain conscious of the Firm’s resource consumption and its implications both upstream and downstream. While some of the Firm’s offices receive municipal waste metrics at the building level that are then allocated to the Firm on a percentage basis based on the Firm’s leased square footage compared to the total building’s size, the information obtained from the Firm’s e-waste and paper-shredding vendors is attributable only to Morrison Foerster.
In 2022, we identified a third-party software platform to support the Firm’s efforts in collecting and calculating data associated with the Firm’s GHG emission inventory, as well as tracking the Firm’s GHG emissions reductions and areas of opportunity.
Third-Party Greenhouse Gas Emission Software Platform
While GHG emissions have remained below 2019 levels, we are committed to continuing to make progress in achieving GHG emissions reductions as we transition to a hybrid work environment. Scope 3 GHG emissions have consistently represented the majority of the Firm’s GHG emissions since the Firm’s base year, and, as such, we will continuously seek opportunities to improve the measurement of these emissions with primary data and their reductions moving forward. To reduce the Firm’s scope 2 market-based GHG emissions footprint in 2023, we procured 6,066 megawatt-hours (MWh) of unbundled renewable energy credits, which covered 75% of our U.S. offices energy consumption in 2023.
Category 1: Purchased Goods and Services 63%
Category 3: Fuel and Energy Related Activities 4%
Category 4: Upstream Transportation and Distribution 2%
Category 5: Waste Generated in Operations 0%
Category 6: Business Travel 22%
Category 7: Employee Commuting 8%
Category 8: Upstream Leased Assets 1%
100
(MTCO2e)
Scope 3
Category 6: Business Travel 14%
Category 3: Fuel and Energy Related Activities 6%
Category 7: Employee Commuting 6%
Category 4: Upstream Transportation and Distribution 5%
Category 2: Capital Gods 5%
Category 5: Waste Generated in Operation 1%
.72
Scope 2
.95
.08
Scope 1
.87
2023
Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MTCO2e)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The results of the Firm’s GHG emission inventory has been summarized below. Per the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, scope 1 GHG emissions are from sources owned or controlled by the Firm. Scope 2 emissions result from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. The scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions below were calculated using the market-based method. Finally, scope 3 emissions include indirect value chain emissions. The Firm’s relevant scope 3 categories are shown in more detail in the figures below.
2019–2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Firm plans to utilize 2019 as its base year for its GHG emission inventory. As discussed in more detail below, the Firm’s near-term GHG emission reduction goals were identified in 2023.
Base Year
The Firm’s GHG emission inventory process has utilized a GHG emission Inventory Management Plan (IMP) to ensure a consistent, repeatable process in future inventory years and will be updated continually as data quality, collection processes, and reporting guidance and standards evolve. The current GHG emission inventory is based on the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and Value Chain Standard and utilizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Inventory Checklist. This IMP covers considerations such as the collection of primary data, methods for calculating emissions, explanation of assumptions and estimates utilized, and data management processes. The Firm’s GHG emissions inventory covers all the Firm's global offices, with the exception of portions of the Beijing and Shanghai offices’ GHG emission data due to data quality.
Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory Management Plan
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis The Firm undertook a comprehensive assessment of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to understand its major sources of emissions and areas of opportunity for reducing emissions as part of developing GHG emission targets.
Therefore, we have identified these areas as the Firm’s primary opportunities for monitoring and reducing the Firm’s consumption to, in turn, reduce the amount of waste we generate. Nevertheless, we will also continue to track and reduce other waste streams through the efforts of the Firm’s Environmental Sustainability Committee within each office and seek additional municipal waste reduction and diversion opportunities in 2023 through initiatives such as promoting use of reusable dishware and composting programs facilitated through the Firm’s property managers.
The Firm has a policy that 100% of e-waste and client-related paper material is recycled. The Firm’s e-waste recycler is e-Stewards and ISO 14001:2015 certified. As shown in the graphs below, the Firm’s paper consumption has dramatically decreased since 2019 and remained low in 2022, which we largely attribute to remote and hybrid work environments and the increased digitalization of the Firm’s business.
Category 1: Purchased Goods and Services 62%
We began tracking e-waste recycling through a single vendor in 2021. As shown in the graph below, we securely recycled more e-waste in 2021 than in 2022, and, similarly, we also securely recycled more paper each year from 2019 to 2022. These results reflect moving out of several office spaces firmwide in 2021, which resulted in the recycling of additional materials. The substantial decrease in print volumes demonstrates that the secure recycling of paper is a lagging indicator of the Firm’s paper usage.
Thousand
.68
.83
Category 8: Upstream Leased Assets 0.3%
As discussed further in the Firm’s 2023 strategic objectives below, we plan to increase the percentage of renewable energy we procure for the Firm’s operations in future years. In addition, since 2021 the Firm’s colocation data center providers procured 100% renewable or carbon-free electricity on the Firm’s behalf associated with the operational energy consumption of these leased facilities every year. We have also partnered with a managed print service (MPS) provider that has provided third-party certification of the carbon neutrality of their services to the Firm since 2022.
The Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) champions science-based target setting as a powerful way of boosting companies’ and financial institutions’ competitive advantage in the transformation to a net-zero economy. SBTs are greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets that are in line with the level of decarbonization required to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement – to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To take an important step in reduction emissions along the Firm’s operations, we had developed and submitted a near-term emissions reduction target to SBTi for approval. As of June 2024, the SBTi has validated the Firm’s near-term science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. Morrison Foerster commits to reduce absolute scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions 46.55% by 2030 from a 2019 base year.
Science-Based Target (SBT)
Car-Electric /Hybrid
Walking/ Biking
Public Transportation
Car-Gasoline
50
150
200
250
350
300
400
450
Car Service (Uber/Lyft)
Motorcycle/E-Scooter
Fully Remote
Number of Respondents
Mode of Transport
< 1 mile
1-5 mile
5-10 mile
10-15 mile
>15 mile
U.S. and London MoFo Employee Commuting Methods and Distance (2023)
40
60
80
120
140
< 1 kilometer
1-10 kilometers
10-20 kilometers
20-30 kilometers
>30 kilometers
Europe and Asia MoFo Employee Commuting Methods and Distance (2023)
Commuting Survey
To improve the accuracy of the firm’s greenhouse gas emissions, a firmwide survey was distributed to all employees to get a better understanding of employee commuting practices. With over a 40% response rate, we were able to look at which main modes of transportation were used, as well as the approximate length and frequency of travel into the office.
Public transportation came in as the highest mode of commuting for our employees across all offices with over 50% of respondents utilizing various methods such as bus, train, subway/light rail, ferry and taxi. In our London and U.S. offices, gas cars came in second at 30%, with over 15% of respondents commuting 10+ miles to get into the office.
MoFo’s 2023 secure paper shredding and recycling estimated that a total of 2,907 trees were saved, 64,647 gallons of oil avoided and 510 cubic yards of landfill space preserved. Several of our offices globally have implemented composting programs, either as proactive initiatives in partnership with local property management, or in response to local ordinance. Most recently, the Firm’s San Diego and New York City offices have implemented composting to help reduce the firm’s responsibility for landfill waste, joining a number of offices such as San Francisco, Brussels, Denver, and Hong Kong.
As the Firm continues to take steps to procure Energy Star-certified and Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered devices and appliances where feasible and applicable, our 2023 assessment noted that 100% of personal computers purchased in 2023 were EPEAT Gold certified, as well as 96% of eligible personal computers and monitors were Energy Star-rated. Our MPS devices demonstrated similar rates of sustainability with 96.5% of the Firm’s fleet of 371 printers and copiers being EPEAT-certified and 96.5% being Energy Star-Certified.
The Firm’s vendor for office supplies, ODP Business Solutions, characterizes the sustainability of its products through a categorical rating system based upon the number of a predetermined set of sustainable attributes a product contains. Of the five categories available, from “Not Green” to “Dark Green,” approximately 41.7% of the Firm’s purchases by spend from ODP in 2023 fell between the “Meets Norm” and the “Dark Green” categories. Amazon characterizes the sustainability of its products based on whether a product is deemed “Climate Pledge Friendly.” Climate Pledge Friendly products are required to have at least 1 of 19 external sustainability certifications. In 2023, 28% of the Firm’s purchases from Amazon by spend were Climate Pledge Friendly.
Lastly, we work diligently with our merchandise supplier, Zorch, to improve the material and product sustainability of the branded products the Firm purchases and provides to employees and partners in business development. For instance, the Firm has a strict no-animal leather policy for all of its merchandise, and the Firm plans to increase the amount of environmentally friendly purchasing it does with Zorch over the course of its partnership. In 2023, 13% of Morrison Foerster’s spend with Zorch was characterized as “Eco Friendly.
Phase-out of Single-Use Plastic
In 2023, the ES Firmwide Committee adopted a single-use plastic phase out goal across all offices globally. To begin this journey, each office was analyzed to determine the top single-use products available in office which narrowed down to two main items: water bottles and utensils. In addition to this, each office had the opportunity to identified additional other single-use plastic items unique to their office, such as catering packaging, coffee pods etc.
Over the past year, 61% of single-use plastic for water bottles and utensils offered in office have been phased out firmwide. Some alternative solutions implemented to reach this goal include replacing one-time use utensils and coffee cups with reusable silverware and mugs, as well as swapping out plastic bottled beverages in vending machine with glass and aluminum cans.
EcoVadis 2023 Score
EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence, and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Their actionable sustainability scorecards deliver detailed insight on the Firm’s as well as many other companies’ environmental, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement risks available across 200 purchasing categories and 160 countries.
In 2023, Morrison Foerster received an overall score of 44/100, which increased by 20 points compared to our 20/100 score from 2022. This year’s score has put us in at the 32nd percentile, meaning our score is higher than or equal to the score of 32 percent of all companies rated by EcoVadis. Compared to last year’s score, Morrison Foerster has significantly increased its performance to get closer to the average score of 53 other companies.
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) 2023 Score Report
CDP was established as the ‘Carbon Disclosure Project’ in 2000, asking companies to disclose their climate impact. Since then, they have broadened the scope of environmental disclosure, to incorporate deforestation and water security, while also building our reach to support cities, states and regions.
In 2023, Morrison Foerster submitted its climate impact disclosure to CDP, receiving a B- Climate Change score, positioning it within the Management band. Compared to MoFo’s CDP score from the previous year, this increased from a D-. This score is notably higher than the North America, Global and Specialized Professional Services sector averages, which are all graded at C. Achieving a B- indicates that we are effectively taking coordinated action on climate issues, demonstrating an advanced understanding of and response to the impacts of climate change.
Climate Change
To move to a higher band, we plan to focus on developing and implementing comprehensive supplier engagement strategies, setting clear expectations for suppliers, and actively collaborating with them to achieve mutual sustainability goals. This would involve enhancing transparency, fostering innovation, and driving continuous improvement in environmental performance across the supply chain.
Supplier Engagement
The Management band reflects companies that are taking structured actions to mitigate climate risks and reduce their carbon footprint. This includes implementing specific strategies, setting measurable targets, and regularly monitoring progress. Companies in this category are recognized for their proactive approach in addressing climate-related challenges and their efforts to integrate climate considerations into their overall business strategy.
The Awareness band indicates that while the company recognizes the importance of engaging suppliers on climate issues, there is room for improvement in terms of actively driving supplier engagement and encouraging significant environmental changes through their supply chain. The Supplier Engagement Rating assesses how well organizations are engaging with their suppliers to address climate change, with the potential to incentivize substantial environmental improvements through collaborative efforts.
For our Supplier Engagement Rating we received a C-, which also increased from a D-, classifying MoFo within the Awareness band. This score is slightly below the North America, Global and Specialized Professional Services sector averages, which are all graded at C. A C- rating suggests that we are aware of the significance of supplier engagement on climate change but have not yet fully implemented best practices or taken extensive coordinated actions in this area.
Click to Read our Enviornmental Sustainability Committee 2022 Annual Report
340K+
593
As the Firm continues to take steps to procure Energy Star-certified and Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered devices and appliances where feasible and applicable, our 2023 assessment noted that 100% of personal computers purchased in 2023 were EPEAT Gold certified, as well as 96% of eligible personal computers and monitors were Energy Star-rated. Our MPS devices demonstrated similar rates of sustainability with 96.5% of the Firm’s fleet of 371 printers and copiers being EPEAT-certified and 96.5% being Energy Star-Certified. The Firm’s vendor for office supplies, ODP Business Solutions, characterizes the sustainability of its products through a categorical rating system based upon the number of a predetermined set of sustainable attributes a product contains. Of the five categories available, from “Not Green” to “Dark Green,” approximately 41.7% of the Firm’s purchases by spend from ODP in 2023 fell between the “Meets Norm” and the “Dark Green” categories.
Amazon characterizes the sustainability of its products based on whether a product is deemed “Climate Pledge Friendly.” Climate Pledge Friendly products are required to have at least 1 of 19 external sustainability certifications. In 2023, 28% of the Firm’s purchases from Amazon were Climate Pledge Friendly. Lastly, we work diligently with our merchandise supplier, Zorch, to improve the material and product sustainability of the branded products the Firm purchases and provides to employees and partners in business development. For instance, the Firm has a strict no-animal leather policy for all of its merchandise, and the Firm plans to increase the amount of environmentally friendly purchasing it does with Zorch over the course of its partnership. In 2023, 13% of Morrison Foerster’s spend with Zorch was characterized as “Eco Friendly".
In 2023, the ES Firmwide Committee adopted a single-use plastic phase out goal across all offices globally. To begin this journey, each office was analyzed to determine the top single-use products available in office which narrowed down to two main items: water bottles and utensils. Additionally, each office had identified additional other single-use plastic items, unique to their office, such as catering packaging, coffee pods etc. Over the past year, 61% of single-use plastic for water bottles and utensils offered in office have been phased out firmwide. Some alternative solutions implemented to reach this goal include replacing one-time use utensils and coffee cups with reusable silverware and mugs, as well as swapping out plastic bottled beverages in vending machine with glass and aluminum cans.
In 2023, Morrison Foerster submitted its climate impact disclosure to CDP, receiving a B- Climate Change score, positioning it within the Management band. Compared to MoFo’s CDP score from the previous year, this increased from a D-. This score is notably higher than the North America, Global and Specialized Professional Services sector averages, which are all graded at C. Achieving a B- indicates that we are effectively taking coordinated action on climate issues, demonstrating an advanced understanding of and response to the impacts of climate change. The Management band reflects companies that are taking structured actions to mitigate climate risks and reduce their carbon footprint. This includes implementing specific strategies, setting measurable targets, and regularly monitoring progress. Companies in this category are recognized for their proactive approach in addressing climate-related challenges and their efforts to integrate climate considerations into their overall business strategy.
The Awareness band indicates that while the company recognizes the importance of engaging suppliers on climate issues, there is room for improvement in terms of actively driving supplier engagement and encouraging significant environmental changes through their supply chain. The Supplier Engagement Rating assesses how well organizations are engaging with their suppliers to address climate change, with the potential to incentivize substantial environmental improvements through collaborative efforts. To move to a higher band, we plan to focus on developing and implementing comprehensive supplier engagement strategies, setting clear expectations for suppliers, and actively collaborating with them to achieve mutual sustainability goals. This would involve enhancing transparency, fostering innovation, and driving continuous improvement in environmental performance across the supply chain.
For our Supplier Engagement Rating we received a C-, which also increased from a D-, classifying MoFo within the Awareness band. This score is slightly below the North America, Global, and Specialized Professional Services sector averages, which are all graded at C. A C- rating suggests that we are aware of the significance of supplier engagement on climate change but have not yet fully implemented best practices or taken extensive coordinated actions in this area.
In 2023, Morrison Foerster received an overall score of 44/100, which increased by 20 points compared to our 20/100 score from 2022. This year’s score has put us in at the 32nd percentile, meaning our score is higher than or equal to the score of 32 percent of all companies rated by EcoVadis. Compared to last year’s score, Morrison Foerster has significantly increased its performance to get closer to the average score of 53 other companies
EcoVadis is the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, intelligence, and collaborative performance improvement tools for global supply chains. Their actionable sustainability scorecards deliver detailed insight on the Firm’s as well as many other companies’ environmental, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement risks available across 200 purchasing categories and 160 countries.
90
70
Morrison & Foerster LLP (Group)
Average of other companies in this industry
Score
Year
Goal 3 and 13
Nexleaf Analytics - Cookstove Technology: MoFo assisted Nexleaf Analytics in designing a remotely monitored home sensor system to measure cookstove performance. This project aims to replace indoor wood fires, which cause severe health problems and environmental damage, with more efficient cookstoves. This effort aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by reducing indoor air pollution and carbon emissions.
We are 1 of 9 law firms that launched Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy, a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind initiative to advance sustainability around the world. As a founding member, MoFo has contributed millions of pro bono legal services for projects addressing climate change since the initiative was founded in 2018. Examples of the Firm’s recent pro bono work have been included below:
Awards, Recognition, and Environmental Pro Bono Work
Good Health and Well-being and Climate Action
MoFo lawyers are recognized leaders in providing clients with strategic advice on developing and implementing sustainable business practices. But we also practice what we preach by partnering with non-profits that are breaking the mold when it comes to building a healthier, more sustainable future. From addressing climate change and protecting valuable land and water resources to jumping in when communities are affected by nature’s worst disasters, the Firm’s lawyers are doing their part to ensure a more livable world for generations to come.
Sustainability Focus: Pro Bono Work
Green Operations Recognition Scheme
Awarded to our Hong Kong office in April 2023, the Hongkong Land's Green Operations Recognition Scheme is designed to recognize those tenants who have adopted sustainability initiatives to reduce their environmental impact during their daily operations.
2024 edition of The Legal 500 Green Guide
Morrison Foerster has been recognized in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Green Guide and The Legal 500 United States Green Guide. The guide highlights firms that are driving the legal sector’s engagement in a green transition, leading the way on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability issues, and working towards a greener economy.
Top 100 Lawyers List
MoFo’s Susan (Suz) Mac Cormac has once again been named to Daily Journal’s 2023 list of the Top 100 Lawyers in California, the second consecutive year that she has been selected by the publication. Daily Journal compiles the list annually, recognizing the outstanding lawyers in the region and highlighting their successes from the past year. For the past 25 years, Suz has combined her desire to address climate change and inequality with her profession as a lawyer and come up with ways to benefit the public through mainstream corporate and capital markets solutions. Suz is a Corporate partner in San Francisco and co-chairs the ESG, Social Enterprise + Impact Investing practices, along with the Food + Ag industry group. Suz combines an elite corporate and finance practice with a commitment to furthering the cause of environmental and social responsibility in the profit-driven world of business. She advises a myriad of clients on how to form public charities, foundations, and social welfare programs. Her “game-changing, law-shaping, market-moving work” (The Recorder) spans a unique range of complex matters, from advising on ten-figure, late-stage technology investments and high-profile transactions in the clean technology and renewable energy sectors to developing novel non-profit/for-profit “hybrid” corporate structures and corporate governance advice in relation to sustainability.
Asia’s Top 15 ESG Law Firms
Morrison Foerster has been named one of Asia’s Top 15 ESG Law Firms by Asian Legal Business (ALB) in its inaugural 2023 rankings. With Asian law firms playing a leading role in guiding clients through regulatory environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities, ALB has spotlighted 15 firms that are delivering exceptional legal services in the ESG space.
Nexleaf Analytics
The firm helped The Nature Conservancy establish District Stormwater, LLC, a green infrastructure development company in Washington, D.C. This initiative aims to control stormwater runoff, reducing water pollution and supporting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
The Nature Conservancy - Green Infrastructure
MoFo secured a dismissal in a lawsuit aimed at preventing sulfide ore mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This legal victory helps protect water quality and biodiversity in the region, aligning with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness:
The firm worked with The Nature Conservancy to help the government of Palau create a sustainable tuna fishing program. This initiative aims to ensure the sustainability of tuna fisheries, aligning with SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by promoting sustainable fishing practices.
Protecting Tuna Fisheries in the Pacific:
The firm supported the creation of a comprehensive database on case law related to immigration detention in Hong Kong. This database helps deliver effective legal remedies for detainees, promoting justice and strong institutions (SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)
Justice Centre Hong Kong - Immigration Detention Database:
Clean Water and Sanitation and Life on Land
Goal 6 and 15
Life Below Water
Goal 14
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Goal 16
