Professional Services

Professional services organisations face unique challenges when it comes to sustainability. They face increasing expectations from clients, employees and stakeholders to understand and reduce their environmental impact. At the same time, many of their emissions sit beyond their direct operations, making them more difficult to assess and manage.

Understanding Indirect Emissions

While direct emissions for professional services businesses are often relatively low, indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with activities such as business travel, purchased goods and services, and supply chains can contribute significantly to an organisation's footprint.

When it comes to measuring Scope 2 emissions (purchased electricity) and Scope 3 emissions (value chain activities, business travel and procurement), our team is experienced in applying protocols such as the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) framework to help organisations build a clear understanding of where emissions occur, establish a baseline and track progress over time.

Develop a Pathway to Decarbonisation

Measuring your organisational carbon footprint is only the first step. Organisations are increasingly being asked to provide evidence of their environmental performance and commitments as part of procurement processes, particularly when working with government agencies and larger enterprises.

We understand that transitioning your services towards a more sustainable business model without compromising revenue can be challenging. Through financial analysis of decarbonisation pathways, we help organisations identify practical and financially viable strategies to reduce emissions across their operations and value chain. This may include reviewing travel policies, improving office energy performance, electrification opportunities, engaging suppliers or assessing clean energy procurement practices.

Support Climate Disclosure and Reporting

To avoid greenwashing and inconsistencies in reporting, organisations need confidence that their sustainability claims are accurate, transparent and aligned with recognised standards. Whether reporting under AASB S2 (Climate-related Disclosures) or voluntary frameworks such as Climate Active at the organisational, service or portfolio level, we help ensure reporting stands up to stakeholder, client and regulatory expectations.

Professional services is a sector where Pangolin has extensive experience. For more than 15 years, we have worked with law firms, accounting practices and consulting organisations to understand their emissions, identify practical opportunities for reduction and respond to evolving reporting requirements. If you're interested in understanding your organisation's carbon footprint but aren't sure where to start, get in touch with our team.