From insight to impact: How Stibbe, FairClimateFund and CFP Green Buildings collaborate on carbon management

For Stibbe, sustainability is not a trend but a structural part of business operations. The international law firm not only aims to offer the highest quality legal services, but also to minimise its environmental impact. Since 2013, Stibbe has been reporting on its carbon emissions and looking for ways to further reduce them. With the support of CFP Green Buildings, Stibbe gained insight into its carbon impact and the most effective reduction measures. Since 2013, the firm has managed to significantly and structurally reduce its emissions through the implementation of various initiatives. For the remaining emissions, Stibbe currently invests in Fairtrade and Gold Standard-certified carbon credits via FairClimateFund.

The road to carbon reduction: From awareness to action

Stibbe’s sustainability journey began with practical changes, explains Kirsten van Vollenhoven, Director of Facilities: “We started with the low-hanging fruit: why buy new when we can reuse? Step by step, we progressed: less paper use, improved energy management, and eventually a move to a new, gas-free building.”
A key moment in this process was the collaboration with CFP Green Buildings. Herbert Bergman, Facilities Coordinator at Stibbe, explains: “CFP supports us with our annual carbon report. It gives us insight into what truly makes an impact and allows us to improve in a targeted way. These insights are crucial for making the right choices. The Carbon Benchmark shows us what we’re doing well and where we can improve, helping us prioritise. The impact of energy use and mobility, for example, is significant—small changes there can make a big difference. When we combine that with actions in lower-impact areas, we can reduce our overall footprint on all fronts.”

CFP doesn’t just provide insight but also helps with strategic decision-making. During the construction of the new building in 2014/2015, Stibbe opted for a gas-free design based on these insights, something that wasn’t yet standard for new builds at the time. The decision was also made to construct the building according to BREEAM standards. “Now, with CFP, we’re looking at what’s next and where can we go further,” says Bergman.

Carbon credits with impact: Choosing FairClimateFund

Although Stibbe has implemented many measures, achieving complete carbon neutrality is not yet feasible. Therefore, the firm offsets its remaining emissions via FairClimateFund, a unique organisation that links carbon credits to social impact. Unlike many other projects, FairClimateFund ensures that a significant portion of the proceeds go directly to the communities most affected by climate change. FairClimateFund aims to return at least 70% of the revenues from carbon credits directly to the project, with the largest possible share going to those who actively realise the carbon reductions. These projects not only lower carbon emissions but also contribute to fair economic development and climate-resilient communities.

Sustainable cooking in Chad: Reducing carbon and improving lives

For years, Stibbe invested in wind energy. Since 2023, the firm has supported a solar cooking project in Chad via FairClimateFund. In this region—home to many Sudanese refugees—open-fire cooking is still common, leading to high carbon emissions, pressure on local forests, and health risks.
Thanks to solar-powered cookstoves, emissions are reduced, families rely less on wood, and exposure to harmful smoke decreases. This also saves women significant time—up to 38 hours a week—which can instead be spent on work, education, or family care.

In 2024, Stibbe expanded its impact further by supporting the ‘Birds, Bees & Business’ project in Burkina Faso, again via FairClimateFund. This initiative connects tree protection, sustainable agriculture, and economic development to generate carbon credits and foster long-term improvements in the region.

These projects demonstrate that investing in carbon credits goes beyond a financial transaction—it contributes directly to a more sustainable and equitable world.

A strategy that goes beyond obligations

“What characterises Stibbe is the ambition to go beyond its own obligations to create a positive impact.” This is reflected not only in its own carbon reduction and offsetting efforts, but also in its critical view of suppliers and sustainable procurement. “For the past ten years, we have asked in tenders what suppliers’ vision is on sustainable business and what concrete initiatives and measures they implement in this area. Sustainability is embedded in everything we do,” says Kirsten.
CFP Green Buildings also recognises how this mentality can serve as an example for other companies. “Stibbe shows that carbon reduction does not have to be a cost, but an opportunity to operate more intelligently and responsibly,” says Inge Westerink, Senior Consultant at CFP.
“They combine insight with action and are constantly looking for new ways to reduce their carbon impact.”
The collaboration between Stibbe, CFP Green Buildings and FairClimateFund proves that sustainability is not a final destination, but an ongoing process.
By finding the right balance between internal reduction and external investment, Stibbe contributes to a fairer and more sustainable world—and inspires other companies to do the same.