KPMG shrinks carbon footprint ahead of schedule in US

Audit, tax and consultant firm KPMG has exceeded its carbon footprint reduction goal a year ahead of schedule.

The US arm of global consultancy KPMG launched its Living Green programme in 2008 with a range of goals centered on cutting carbon, resources and waste.

Originally planning to reduce its carbon footprint by 25 per cent by 2010, KPMG lowered it by 26 per cent by the end of 2009. Specifically, it cut its footprint by about 7 perc ent between 2007 and 2008, and by about 20 percent between 2008 and 2009.

The firm is also planning to reduce waste by 10 per cent, reduce paper consumption by 15 percent, increase alternative transportation by 5 per cent and have all of its new construction achieve LEED certification by 2010.

Since the start of the program, KPMG has lowered its electricity use by 9 per cent, cut paper consumption by 33 per cent and increased use of recycled paper by 85 per cent. It also has five LEED certified offices, in Nashville, Boston, Charlotte, San Diego and Orange County.

As part of the programme, the company set up local Living Green Teams in offices around the U.S. The teams created recycling programs, got involved in local environmental programs and hosted volunteer events around Earth Day.

This article first appeared at GreenBiz.com