U.S. law firms are behind United Kingdom in terms of environmental policies. The nation’s firms are being confronted on their environmental impact and what steps they are taking to minimize their effects on this planet. For instance, are being asked to provide manufacturing recycling programs and business environmental programs. Firms are taking action by developing programs with the focus of energy saving, recycling, car-pooling, and recycled/reducing paper usage. There are a number of certifications/known programs sought such as: ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge Waste Wise, Green Power Partnership, and Energy Star Programs, and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). It appears as if west coast firms are the leading firms to concentrate efforts on these major environmental issues. Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean was the first law firm in the U.S. to obtain certification as a green business. Farella Braun & Martel was the first firm to be Green Certified by the city of San Francisco and the second to track air emissions with California’s Climate Action Registry. Nixon Peabody was the first law firm to appoint a chief sustainability officer. There are even more firms making grand changes to help reduce their ecological footprints.

Source: www.law.com