FB Rice

Date Published: 09/2012

Founded more than 60 years ago, FB Rice is a leading Australian intellectual property firm providing patent, trademark and intellectual property services. The firm supports businesses across biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, medical technology, pharmaceuticals and information technology. With offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, FB Rice combines technical expertise with strategic intellectual property advice.

Reasons for Greening the Business

FB Rice wanted to demonstrate leadership in environmental accountability and create a more sustainable workplace.

Chief Operating Officer Julian Perry and Managing Partner Brett Lunn championed the firm's sustainability efforts, with a focus on reducing environmental impacts while identifying operational efficiencies.

Key objectives included:

• Demonstrating leadership in environmental sustainability.
• Achieving carbon neutrality.
• Reducing energy use, waste and operating costs.
• Understanding the potential impact of carbon pricing on the business.

In late 2011, FB Rice commissioned Pangolin Associates to prepare a Carbon Strategy and Risk Report. The report assessed the potential impact of Australia's carbon pricing mechanism and helped the firm understand and prepare for future financial implications.

Sustainability Solutions

To achieve its objectives, FB Rice worked with Pangolin Associates to:

• Undertake energy audits of its Sydney office.
• Conduct comprehensive greenhouse gas assessments.
• Educate staff and encourage sustainable behaviour.
• Implement office procedures to reduce emissions.
• Offset emissions that could not be eliminated.
• Promote sustainability across the legal sector.

Energy Audit and Efficiency Improvements

In 2009, FB Rice completed an energy efficiency audit of its Sydney office, covering FY2007-08. Following the audit, the firm implemented a range of energy-saving initiatives, including:

• Replacing halogen downlights with long-life LED lighting.
• Reducing hardware requirements through server virtualisation.
• Introducing a "lights off" policy for meeting rooms when not in use.

Since energy reporting began in FY2007-08, FB Rice has achieved an overall reduction of 9% in electricity consumption, resulting in a corresponding 9% reduction in emissions from electricity use.

Greenhouse Gas Assessments

FB Rice has undertaken annual greenhouse gas assessments since FY2007-08 to monitor and track emissions performance. The firm remains committed to measuring and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions over time.

Education and Behaviour Change

Employee Travel

FB Rice encourages employees to walk, cycle or run to work where possible. To support active transport, the firm provides bicycle storage facilities and employee shower amenities.

Carbon Footprint Awareness

Employees receive regular communications about greenhouse gas emissions, sustainability initiatives and the firm's carbon footprint performance. This includes sharing greenhouse gas assessment results prepared by Pangolin Associates.

Sustainable Office Practices

Recycling

FB Rice introduced waste separation systems to improve recycling outcomes, including the recycling of toner cartridges and other office consumables.

Paper Reduction

The firm implemented a range of initiatives to reduce paper consumption, including:

• Selecting environmentally responsible paper products and suppliers.
• Setting printers to duplex printing by default.
• Purchasing energy-efficient printers.
• Introducing FollowMe printing to reduce printing errors and uncollected documents.
• Implementing an email-first communication policy, with printed communications provided only on request.
• Encouraging staff to maintain electronic records, including all HR and accounting files.

Offsetting Emissions

FB Rice offsets emissions that cannot be eliminated through operational improvements and energy efficiency initiatives. Pangolin Associates manages the purchase and retirement of verified carbon credits on behalf of the firm.

Industry Leadership

FB Rice actively promotes sustainability across the legal sector. The firm joined the Australian Legal Sector Alliance (AusLSA) and contributed to the 2010-11 report on member environmental performance. AusLSA supports the development of sustainability best practice within the legal profession and assists member firms in achieving measurable environmental outcomes. The organisation is modelled on the UK Legal Sector Alliance, which represents approximately 30% of lawyers in private practice across England and Wales.