Environmental impact Low
Employer/employee ranking 20/9
Staff numbers 69
Energy reduction 5%
Recycling n/a

MCM Architecture’s exciting green journey will take the company across Europe to Russia for its latest environmental challenge. A disused quarry in Moscow will be home to a sustainable business park, which will generate its own electricity. Cliffs drop from the edge of the quarry down to a lake, and since it has become disused, wildlife has taken up residence. One of the challenges MCM faces is to build the business park while retaining as much of the natural landscape and wildlife as possible.

Respecting the environment is a significant part of working at MCM, with a green score of 96% beating every other company in our survey. As a design consultancy, the London-based firm offers advice to other businesses on sustainability.

“We had to get our own act together,” says Paul Scrivener, design director, “before we could help others.”

Staff reckon the firm always does what’s best for the environment (77%) and a top three score of 91% shows staff think that the environment is high on the list of priorities of their bosses.

MCM has a dedicated environment department and an annual green budget of £20,000 to help make the business more environmentally friendly. It is hoping to install “dual flush” toilets at the head office, which allow a half-flush which uses less water. Hand dryers are planned to replace paper towels in a bid to reduce waste.

The generous budget is also used to educate staff on green issues, with training sessions and seminars to keep everyone up to date. Employees say they receive regular feedback on the environment from the company (79%) and bosses are open to suggestions when it comes to environmental improvements (88%).

In 2006, the aim was to reduce waste production by 50%. The actual reduction achieved was 75% and MCM Architecture hopes to cut this further.

Bosses encourage employees to recycle (92%) and staff say they know where to put rubbish for recycling (96%). All plastic and paper are now recycled, together with 60% of general waste.