BDO Waikato Limited
BDO is a full service accounting and advisory firm providing core accounting, tax and audit services, as well as corporate finance, business recovery, consulting and information system advice.
Their goal is to reduce their carbon footprint by embedding environmental controls and practices into the daily management of the firm. While the environment often dominates discussion when referring to sustainability, they are equally excited about their goal of being an employer of choice in the eyes of employees and prospective employees.
“People are our strength" says diretor Bernard Lamusse. “We measure staff satisfaction with a JRA survey annually . Last year communication was drawn attention to and we've made huge progress in improving all aspects of our in house communications”
They encourage volunteering in the community including treasury work at a local church and community business mentoring. In house office recycling has encouraged other tenants in the building to follow suit and educating staff and clients about sustainability happens on a weekly basis at team meetings with a spot also dedicated to sustainability in regular client newsletter.
The greatest challenge facing the firm to date has been the paperless office and this has been taken up personally by one of the company directors. For the last five years the focus has been on electronic rather than paper based records. One large client paper file was reduced from 1.5m thick to less than 20cm. The long term goal is to reduce paper by 98% down to the minimum possible allowed by accounting regulation. Another spin off of reducing paper use is the freeing up of storage space which has been converted into a new shared kitchen.
BDO participate in Hamilton City Council sustainability programmes, SBN workshops and pass on all relevant reading and resource material to staff. Most of the initiatives have been driven by Alison Nicholls, the sustainability coordinator, whose enthusiasm has been key to getting staff onboard.
Every light switch has a sticker on them reminding people to switch off the light when they are not in the room and energy wise behavior is rewarded with awards and now they are actively working to reduce energy use by 10% over the next 24 months, recycling has seen five black bags of rubbish reduced to just one.
