Our Commitment to ESG and Sustainable Business
As a global alliance of accounting and law firms in over 300 cities across 100 countries, we recognise the growing importance of sustainable business practices - for the planet, for our people, and for international clients who expect responsible partners.
We are still early in our ESG journey, but we are taking meaningful first steps to becoming a more responsible and future-ready alliance. Discover more about out commitment below.
Reducing our environmental footprint
We are actively reducing the environmental impact of our operations, starting with our global events programme. In the past, we produced large volumes of printed programs, name badges, and other materials for conferences held in multiple regions through the year. We have now shifted to a digital-first approach, replacing most printed materials and use of plastic with mobile apps, scannable QR codes, delegate badges made from recycled paper, and digital programs. These small but significant steps have already helped cut our paper use dramatically- and we are continuing to explore new ways to digitise our member communications and event experiences for a lower-carbon future.
Launching ESG advisory services
Recognising the growing importance of ESG to established SMEs and mid-size enterprises, our alliance is preparing to effect change on a wider scale by developing a dedicated ESG advisory service line focused initially on voluntary disclosure.
Led by experienced professionals across global offices, this initiative will help international companies meet the demands of ESG reporting, regulatory compliance, and sustainability-driven strategic planning, helping themselves in the process to access green finance and penetrate more successfully the supply chains of larger multinational corporations. From carbon accounting and ESG frameworks to due diligence and disclosures, we aim to support clients on their own ESG journeys, bringing together the legal, accounting, and tax expertise that make up the core strengths of our alliance.
Selecting sustainable partners
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we now prioritise working with hotels and venues that demonstrate strong environmental practices. Whether it is choosing conference hotels that have green certifications, reduce food waste, or rely on renewable energy sources, we aim to ensure our spending reflects our values. This approach also encourages sustainability within the broader ecosystem of vendors and partners we work with and raises awareness across our alliance about the importance of responsible procurement and supply chain choices.
Encouraging low-emission travel
Our Executive Office team and events staff are encouraged to make sustainable travel choices whenever possible. For local and airport transfers, we partner with Uber Business and actively seek green transportation options such as electric vehicles or hybrid taxis. While business travel remains a key part of global collaboration, we believe small changes such as how we move between venues, can have a cumulative impact. This principle also supports our broader ambition to be more environmentally conscious in how we run our events and operations across regions.
Joining the UN Global Compact
We are proud to be a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. By joining this initiative, we have formally committed to aligning our alliance’s operations and strategies with the UN' Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption. This step not only reflects our values but also signals to clients, stakeholders, and member firms that we take our role in the global ESG movement seriously.
Promoting diversity in leadership
We strongly believe that diversity in leadership leads to better governance, stronger decision-making, and a more inclusive alliance. That is why we are actively working to improve gender representation across our leadership structure, including on regional committees and the Worldwide Board. Darsi Casey served as our first woman Worldwide Chair from 2021-2024. This includes encouraging member firms to put forward women candidates for leadership roles and taking steps internally to ensure greater visibility and inclusion for underrepresented voices.
Promoting women into leadership is not just a matter of fairness- it is a core element of building a stronger and more representative international alliance.