Environmental impact Low
Employer/employee ranking 26/6
Staff numbers 190
Energy reduction n/a
Recycling n/a

From subsidising staff’s electric cars to buying more organic produce, ?What If! is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to reducing its impact on the environment. Employees say such commitment is at the heart of how the creative consultancy operates, giving a green score of 79%.

Nothing escapes scrutiny — the carbon emissions of employee travel, and that of all suppliers and couriers are recorded and sent to the Carbon Neutral Company, which calculates the amount of output produced.

Last year, ?What If! was given official Carbon Neutral recognition for offsetting by supporting the Sichuan province hydro power project in China. Staff understand what the carbon footprint is (76%) and say the business does everything it can to minimise its environmental impact (82%).

Employees are kept up-to-date with progress in the environmental policy (80%), which is signed by senior managers. All staff can propose new ideas and make changes themselves, and bosses are open to suggestions (94%).

All improvements are embraced, however small. Cardboard waste used to be removed and taken to landfill sites. It is now collected with the paper, glass and cans to be recycled. Paper goods in the firm’s offices are all 100% recycled. There are also collection boxes for waste including CDs, DVDs, electrical equipment, mobile phones, light bulbs and batteries. Staff are clear about where to put waste for recycling (95%). In 2007, 90% of ?What If!’s general waste was recycled, up from 50% in 2003, and the business aims to recycle everything.

The company subsidises purchases of G-Wiz electric cars, has a policy of not having company cars, and all employees can buy half-price bikes and cycling equipment. Such initiatives do not come cheap and staff say ?What If ! plumps for the most environmentally friendly solution rather than the cheapest (84%). Employees say senior managers don’t drive gas-guzzling cars (92%), are committed to the environment (88%) and also encourage people to recycle (91%).