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Corp! Magazine Names Bodman a 2010 "Going Green" Award Winner

1/29/2010

Leading Michigan business publication Corp! magazine has chosen Bodman as a winner of its “Going Green Award” in recognition of the firm’s commitment to sustainable business practices.

Bodman, which is the only law firm to receive a Going Green Award for 2010, was one of just 21 organizations statewide honored in the category of “Green Initiative Champions.”

In making its selection, Corp! cited a series of internal measures that Bodman has rolled out over the past twelve months as part of its sustainability plan. Major initiatives have included:

  •         Green purchasing policies, including the sourcing of recycled paper and elimination of plastic and Styrofoam products whenever possible;

  •         Recycling of mixed-use office paper, batteries, plastic, glass, and aluminum;

  •         Reduced paper use through two-sided printing, transition of internal reports from paper to electronic format, and offering clients electronic billing options; and

  •         Installation of energy efficient lighting and motion sensors that turn lights off when not in use in two of the firm’s offices.

Bodman’s comprehensive sustainability plan was developed, and is monitored on an ongoing basis, by a standing committee composed of legal, administrative and support staff. The policy includes goals and action items that address the three concepts which are often referred to as the sustainable business “triple bottom line” – the economic success of the firm, social responsibility within the organization and in the community, and environmental responsibility. 

“From a business perspective, the greatest challenge we face in adopting sustainable business practices is giving environmental factors as much priority as pure economic factors when making business decisions,” said Bodman Chairman Ralph E. McDowell. “Sustainability requires that social and environmental considerations be part of the decision making process. This is a major shift for many decision makers.”

“One of the best ways to approach this challenge is to demonstrate that many business decisions can have both economic and environmental benefits,” McDowell added. “For example, we switched to copy paper that has at least 30% post-consumer content and found that it is less expensive than the non-recycled paper we used to buy with no difference in quality.”

The success of Bodman’s efforts has also gained the attention of the American Bar Association, which in August 2009 honored Bodman with its “Law Office Climate Challenge Partner” certification. This designation is reserved for law firms that successfully implement best practices for paper management and energy efficiency.

Bodman’s commitment to sustainability is also reflected in its practice specialties. The firm’s Climate Change Team, which is part of the Environmental Law Practice Group, offers services such as negotiating deals between businesses and energy providers that allow the businesses to use wind, solar, and other ‘clean” energies in ways that benefit both parties financially. Bodman attorneys also work with businesses to obtain tax incentives and grants for sustainability improvements and to ensure that they are protected legally when seeking green certifications.