WELCOME TO RIDER LEVETT BUCKNALL’S 2025 NORTH AMERICA SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
RLB is proud to share our inaugural North America Practice Sustainability Report, an important milestone that reflects our long heritage and our enduring values. Since 1785, our firm has evolved and thrived by upholding Truth, Trust, Together, and Tomorrow. These values guide us today as we integrate sustainability at the core of our culture, identity, and long‑term strategy. It is not a separate initiative; it is the way we underpin our commitment to making progress happen.
Our sustainability journey began with three passionate employees in 2021 and has since grown into a company‑wide community committed to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and strong governance. Their enthusiasm, supported by our leadership, has strengthened our culture and is expanding our capabilities.
RLB views sustainability reporting as an opportunity, an invitation to deepen transparency, lay out our priorities, and drive material change. By sharing our progress and challenges, we hold ourselves accountable and create space to learn, innovate, and grow alongside our clients and partners.
This inaugural report covering 2025’s activities marks the beginning of our next chapter. With optimism, confidence, and a shared sense of purpose, we continue marching forward together toward a more sustainable future for our company, our communities, and the built environment we help shape.
Aaron Woodward Senior Director | Head of Sustainability
Rider Levett Bucknall Ltd.
T. +1 (602) 443 4848
E. rlb.sustainability@us.rlb.com
OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
GLOBAL CARBON POLICY
SCOPE BREAKDOWN GHG REDUCTION INITIATIVE
CSR FRAMEWORKS
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OUR PEOPLE
OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Greenhouse gases are emissions that rise into Earth’s atmosphere trapping heat.
They do occur naturally; however, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, generating electricity, manufacturing goods, and producing waste have increased their concentration, contributing to global climate change by raising the temperature.
Reporting our carbon footprint transparently builds trust with clients, employees, and communities by showing how the company is taking accountability for our contributions and intentionally making progress toward a more sustainable future.
For companies, greenhouse gases are relevant because they are a direct result of everyday operations, from heating buildings to business travel, and supply chains.
Measuring and reporting these emissions helps organizations understand their total environmental impact or Carbon Footprint.
This provides a basis to identify opportunities to reduce them and make informed decisions that support long term reductions through mitigation and adaptation.
GLOBAL CARBON POLICY
RLB recognizes the significant and adverse global impacts resulting from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
We support the international targets to hold global temperature rise at 1.5°C, as set out in the Paris Agreement, and are setting an ambitious global target of Net Zero emissions by 2030.
This policy has been prepared by RLB’s Global CSR Committee and endorsed by the RLB Global Board to provide a clear position on reducing carbon emission arising from our business activities.
● Consolidate our global emissions data to understand our global baseline emissions by 2024
● Measure Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions in line using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate Standard
● Set short term targets and define associated actions at a regional level to reduce our tCO2e emissions, and work towards a longer term goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 as a global business
● Raise awareness of targets and provide necessary training for all employees
● Allocate resources required to deliver this policy
● Reduce our carbon emissions to net zero, or as close to net zero as possible, with any unavoidable, residual emissions offset with highly credible, Gold Standard carbon offsets that deliver lasting social, economic and environmental benefits
● Commit to independently verified carbon reporting, regionally and/or globally, by 2025
● Report our emissions to the Global Board, internally to all employees and externally
SCOPE BREAKDOWN
RLB established its formal greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting framework in 2021, creating a consistent process for measuring, tracking, and reporting emissions across its operations. Building on this foundation, RLB North America launched a formal Decarbonization Initiative in 2025. The initiative aligns with RLB’s Global Carbon Policy and is guided by recommendations from the Global ESG Committee and endorsed by the Global Board.
Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by an organization. While RLB does not operate emission producing equipment, it occupies leased office space in buildings that do. RLB allocates a share of these emissions based on the proportion of office space occupied relative to total building area.
Scope 2: Emissions from purchased electricity, heating, cooling, and other energy services used in RLB offices. Emissions are estimated using an office area allocation approach and EPA eGRID electricity emission factors.
Scope 3 - Operational Waste: Emissions from landfill waste, recycling, compost, and e waste generated in RLB offices. RLB collects waste data from company operated locations and applies EPA waste emission factors using a weight based methodology.
Scope 3 - Business Travel: Emissions from employee business travel, including flights, rental cars, and rideshare services. Emissions are calculated using travel activity data, distance traveled, and EPA transportation emission factors.
Scope 3 - Employee Commuting: Measures Emissions from employee travel between home and the workplace. Annual commuting data is collected and converted to emissions using distance based calculations and EPA transportation emission factors.
DECARBONIZATION
In 2025 the RLB Sustainability Leadership Committee launched a Decarbonization initiative.
As a business deeply committed to the transition to a low carbon future, we are applying the same rigor and expertise we provide to clients as we do to our own operational footprint.
This initiative, led by a team of passionate employees, in conformance with RLB’s Global Carbon Policy, is tasked with:
■ Identifying targets
■ Defining and recommending actions to the Board
■ Preparing recommendations to the board for allocation of resources and
■ Developing the necessary training for employees to reduce our carbon emissions to net zero, with any unavoidable, residual emissions offset via Gold Standard which offers carbon credits that deliver lasting social, economic and environmental benefits.
By living our values and demonstrating leadership through action, we aim to set a standard for what responsible, credible corporate decarbonization looks like.
CSR FRAMEWORKS
As a global organization, RLB is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and works within a proprietary ESG - environmental, social, and governance - policy framework. It holds within it set interim targets to achieve our global goals aligned to the Paris Agreement, the legally binding international treaty on climate change, adopted by 196 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris in 2015.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
THE FOUR PILLARS
RLB’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility exemplifies our higher purpose in action.
We inspire confidence and empower change across four pillars: People, Clients, Environment and Community.
These pillars make up our goal framework and CSR cornerstones that guide our regional CSR efforts.
PEOPLE
Investing in our people reinforces our continued success.
ENVIRONMENT
We believe in delivering successful and sustainable outcomes for our clients.
COMMUNITY
We give back to the communities in which we live and work.
CLIENTS
We are committed to minimizing our environmental impacts and delivering positive environmental outcomes.
ENVIRONMENT
Minimizing impacts and delivering positive environmental outcomes.
CLIENTS
Delivering successful and sustainable outcomes for clients.
Investing in our people reinforces continued success. PEOPLE
COMMUNITY
Giving back to the communities in which we live and work.
THE PILLARS AND RLB VALUES
RLB’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program is intrinsically tied to our ESG commitments.
Across our offices, our teams are guided by our values – Truth, Trust, Together, Tomorrow – and a commitment to transparent ESG performance.
In 2025, we consolidated our ESG policy and framework, set clear short‑ and long‑term targets, implemented a decarbonization program, and deepened employee and community engagement.
In 2025, we also established a dedicated, paid eight hours CSR time – or volunteering time – for each employee across RLB North America, which they can use to support an environmental or social project that resonates with them personally.
This can happen as part of a team building day giving back to our local communities, to support an event organized by RLB or by our clients.
We increased employee awareness through targeted campaigns that zoom in on our commitment to environmental sustainability, social impact, equity and fair governance and business practice.
WILDFIRE RECOVERY
Unique campaigns to support unexpected needs
In the first quarter of 2025, RLB paused and mobilized a campaign to collect funds to support the CCF Wildfire Recovery Fund, intended to help those affected by the devastation caused by the wildfires in Southern California, including the Eaton and Palisades fires. These fires left countless families displaced and communities in urgent need of support. Recovery continues to be a long road, and RLB stands alongside those affected. We believe RLB to be a place where people make progress. One of our four core values is Together, meaning that we work hard, we’ve got each other’s backs, and we try to enjoy the journey along the way. Most importantly, we’re proud of what we build together. In times like these, we are reminded of the power of community. We are committed to ensuring that our colleagues, clients, partners, and neighbors have the support they need to rebuild and recover.
EARTH MONTH
Throughout 2025, the Sustainability Community led monthly awareness campaigns to further weave sustainability into the fabric of RLB, reflecting our values of Truth, Trust, Together, and Tomorrow.
These efforts, including our annual Earth Month Campaign and Global Virtual Earth Day Celebration, strengthened collaboration across our North America and Global regions on key sustainability topics.
Through social content, sustainability trivia, and educational activities, the campaigns highlighted practical actions we can take as individuals and as a firm to reduce our impact and support climate resilience.
Together, these initiatives reinforced our ongoing commitment to building a more sustainable future through both our culture and our work.
Across the Americas, RLB teams participated in a variety of Earth Day and Earth Month activities.
In St. Lucia our team partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry Division and a Community Primary School to plant 75 fruit, citrus, and herb trees on Earth Day.
In Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii the RLB team planted 45 trees, supporting Treecovery Lahaina during Earth Month in response to the wildfire recovery.
GLOBAL EARTH DAY
United by purpose. Driven by progress. Inspired to make a difference. Building a more sustainable future - together.
On Earth Day 2025, RLB proudly hosted its inaugural Global Virtual Earth Day Celebration, bringing together sustainability driven professionals from across FIVE global regions for an inspiring one hour exchange.
The event served as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we unite across borders in the pursuit of a common goal: Achieving Net Zero emissions across our global operations. I
In alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goal 17 –“Partnerships for the Goals”, our global teams came together to:
■ Strengthen internal collaboration
■ Share regional expertise and sustainable best practices
■ Forge new connections across our network
■ Build momentum toward our shared climate objectives
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
POLLINATOR MONTH & WORLD BEE DAY
In May 2025 RLB celebrated the life‑giving work of pollinators, whose tireless efforts are absolutely crucial for our survival. This campaign was intended to create awareness around the protection of these vital creatures throughout the month of May, which RLB coined Pollinator Month in tandem with World Bee Day on May 20th.
The Sustainability Leadership Committee challenged RLB teams to plant more than 1,000 flowering plants across North America during this month!
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Plastic pollution permeates every corner of the planet – even in our bodies in the form of microplastics. World Environment Day 2025 called for collective action to tackle plastic pollution.
By drawing inspiration from nature and showcasing real world solutions, the campaign encouraged RLB employees, our clients, business partners, friends, and families to adopt sustainable practices that drive systemic change. 2025’s World Environment Day came exactly two months before countries met again to continue negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution. RLB teams across our North America offices showed up, organizing beach and park clean‑ups.
SCOPE BREAKDOWN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
