KPMG Reduces Carbon Footprint Through Living Green Initiative
KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, recently announced it achieved a 22 percent carbon reduction over three years from its 2007 baseline target, as part of its plan to improve the environmental performance of its business. The firm also reduced its paper consumption by 33 percent and decreased its emissions from electricity by 16 percent.
KPMG launched its U.S. "Living Green" program in 2008 to support the firm's commitment to reduce the amount of waste it generates, the volume of natural resources it consumes, and its overall carbon footprint.
The U.S. firm's 22 percent reduction from 2007 through 2010 is based on the results of a recent analysis by KPMG's Climate Change & Sustainability practice. The 2010 Living Green results also indicate that the U.S. firm has reduced its non-recycled waste by 51 percent, air travel by 26 percent, and office energy usage by 7 percent.
"At KPMG, being a responsible corporate citizen is a component of our core values and a key business driver," said Kathy Hannan, KPMG national managing partner, diversity and corporate responsibility. "Our Living Green program is a fundamental pillar of the firm's Corporate Responsibility strategy and vital to our role in ensuring a sustainable future."
In addition to KPMG's firmwide commitment to reducing its own carbon footprint, the firm's Climate Change & Sustainability practice works with leading global companies to establish sustainable, environmentally-friendly business practices that help reduce costs and boost efficiencies.
In achieving these results, KPMG implemented leading practices and established new programs and processes at both the local office and national levels. They include:
- Living Green Teams collaborate to harness the passion of KPMG's employees and partners in local offices nationwide. These teams implement the Living Green program at a grassroots level, driving innovation and making a difference through initiatives such as local specialized recycling programs, outdoor cleanup projects and hosting programs to support vendors of locally-grown produce during KPMG's annual Living Green week which is held each year in conjunction with Earth Day.
- KPMG's technology center won a 2011 ENERGY STAR CHP Award for its natural gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) system which generates 50 percent of the electricity used to run the technology center.
- Recycling of every KPMG laptop, monitor and printer, for both reuse and responsible disposal.
- Implementing green IT leading practices including server virtualization.
- Eliminating bottled water from KPMG's conference centers.
- Increasing video conference usage 95 percent.
- Achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for a number of its offices. KPMG's Nashville (TN), San Diego, Orange County (Calif.), Charlotte, Boston and Greenville (S.C) offices are certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.