Freeths targets net zero by 2040 with firm-wide transition plan

Freeths has outlined a 2040 net zero pathway with the release of its first firm‑wide transition plan. 

The Net Zero Transition Plan sets out a pathway to achieving net zero across the value chain by 2040, underpinned by newly validated near and long-term targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Freeths first achieved ISO 14001 certification in 2015, began measuring Scope one and two emissions in 2020, and strengthened governance through the creation of its Responsible Business Committee. In 2024, the firm published its first Carbon Reduction Plan and partnered with Planet Mark to develop an SBTi‑aligned roadmap which is now formally approved by SBTi, including its 2040 net zero target. 

In 2025, the firm added further sustainability specialism through the recruitment of the director of responsible business Ben Churchill and sustainability manager Maggie Stewart.

Since the baseline year of 2024, Freeths said it has reduced overall emissions by 8 per cent and office energy consumption by 15 per cent. 

Chief operating officer Mark Blakemore said: "Our net zero journey is about focusing on what matters most and where we can make the biggest difference. 

"It's not just about meeting targets; it's about embedding sustainability into the way we think, work and grow."

The Net Zero Transition Plan includes: 

• Measurable and science‑aligned targets embedded into decision‑making
• Decarbonisation pathways across energy, travel, waste and supply chain
• Strengthened governance and delivery through the Partnership Board, Executive Board, Responsible Business Committee, Sustainability Champions, Net Zero Action Group and Climate and Sustainability Advisory Group
• A commitment to nature‑positive action alongside carbon reduction

Sustainability manager Maggie Stewart said: "This launch reflects the progress we’ve made, but more importantly, it sets out the action we must take next. Achieving net zero will require collaboration across our people, our suppliers and our wider networks. 

"By strengthening our data, governance and supplier engagement, and by supporting colleagues to make sustainable choices day to day, we are building the foundations for long-term, science-aligned change."