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Sustainability Activities and Commitments

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  • Sustainability Activities and Commitments

At Covington, we recognize the importance of sustainability. We therefore demonstrate our commitment to it in a variety of ways, including through the selection and design of our buildings and office space, our daily operations, our cultural initiatives, and our longstanding commitment to pro bono work.

We also demonstrate our commitment by counseling clients on ways they can improve their own sustainability efforts, including by making available to them a toolkit on our website that contains a range of information regarding measuring, reporting, and promoting sustainable practices.

Because we take a multi-faceted approach to sustainability, the initiatives we have developed to reduce our own carbon footprint take various forms, including energy conservation initiatives, internal campaigns to promote sustainable behavior, and widespread recycling programs.

And because we always are looking for ways to enhance our approach, we are committed to periodically reviewing our programs and, when appropriate, making changes to improve them, including by setting goals and targets for the future.

Below are representative examples of the activities in which we are engaged to reduce our carbon footprint and to promote and support sustainable practices in our offices around the world.

About Covington

Sustainable Spaces

  • More than three‑quarters of our professionals work in buildings certified under LEED or BREEAM standards, ensuring that the design, construction, and operational practices of our work environment meet recognized global sustainability criteria.
  • All offices are equipped with motion‑sensor lighting systems that automatically power down when spaces are not in use, reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
  • Over three‑quarters of our professionals work in buildings that offer electric‑vehicle charging stations, bicycle storage, and changing rooms to support environmentally responsible commuting.
  • All of our offices are located in areas accessible by public transportation, facilitating low‑carbon commuting options.
  • Every building in which we lease office space complies with applicable government‑mandated recycling programs.
  • Sustainability considerations – including the use of renewable energy sources – are incorporated into our evaluation process when assessing potential office leases.
  • Approximately 30% of the electricity used in our Washington, DC office in 2025 was matched with renewable energy certificates (RECs). We plan to increase REC‑matched electricity across our global offices in 2026.

Daily Operations

  • All offices, including conference centers, use reusable glass bottles instead of single‑use plastic water bottles.
  • Each office maintains programs to recycle paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, and other biodegradable materials.
  • All disposable cups, plates, and utensils purchased for cafeterias, break stations, and similar areas are composed of recycled and/or biodegradable content.
  • Cafeteria and catering services in all offices incorporate locally sourced sustainable food and produce and participate in composting programs.
  • Cafeteria and catering personnel are instructed to use non‑disposable dishware and utensils by default, using disposable items only upon specific request.
  • All office printers are set by default to double‑sided printing to reduce paper usage.
  • We maintain programs for recycling computer equipment and electronic devices through an environmentally-responsible IT asset recovery service.

Cultural Initiatives

  • We conduct periodic internal programs designed to encourage and reinforce sustainable practices, including campaigns aimed at reducing paper consumption.
  • Each office has implemented a recycling program aligned with regionally recommended best practices.
  • Employee wellness campaigns promote sustainable commuting habits, such as walking and cycling.
  • A cross‑office sustainability initiative, led by a dedicated team, periodically evaluates our activities and commitments, recommends improvements, and develops additional cultural initiatives to strengthen and advance our sustainability efforts.

Pro Bono Activity

Forward-looking Commitments

  • We will continue to develop new initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and waste in our operations, with a commitment to minimizing our carbon footprint and enhancing sustainability practices across all offices.
  • We have established science‑based targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce our GHG emissions. Our commitments include reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 56% by 2030 from a 2019 base year, and reducing absolute Scope 3 emissions by 46.2% within the same timeframe. SBTi Services has validated that these targets align with its Near‑Term Criteria (V5.2).