Taxes and subsidies are powerful levers to encourage companies to take more responsibility. But true sustainability doesn't come from paper, it comes from people who are willing to think and do things differently. The Thomas Langer tax consultancy shows how it's done: not with cereal bowls or Birkenstocks, but by taking a pragmatic approach. Instead of grand claims, it's small steps in the same direction that count – towards a law firm that conserves resources. 

At the Thomas Langer tax office in Berlin-Mitte, the future has already begun. 100 percent of clients now work digitally with the tax experts. Invoices, receipts, annual financial statements – everything is handled through digital workflows. Mountains of paper, filing folders, and binders? A thing of the past. What sounds so simple is part of a principle: “We want to show that tax consulting can also be done in an environmentally conscious manner,” says Thomas Langer, who is making his digital law firm more sustainable one step at a time.

The location on Friedrichstrasse, just a few meters from Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt, is symbolic of this change: urban, networked and easy to reach with public transport. Company car? Not here. Instead, the focus is on BVG (Berlin public transport), trains and bikes. But sustainability doesn't stop at public transport; it encompasses much more: using resources consciously, working together respectfully, and managing the law firm responsibly with a long-term perspective.

E is for Environment – Using resources consciously

How resources are conserved: Lighting is provided exclusively using LED technology. Longlasting equipment and modern IT ensure energy-efficient working. Single-use materials are avoided wherever possible. Documents, receipts and invoices are processed digitally with the only exception being paper. And where business trips were once necessary, video confer-ences are now sufficient. This saves time, costs and CO₂.

S is for Social – A healthy work environment where employees want to stay

The second pillar concerns the people who work here. Flexible working hours and working from home are a given. Likewise, open communication, joint team events and workplace health promotion that brings more movement into everyday office life. With ergonomic workplaces and suitable sports facilities. The result: a healthy, motivated team that is happy to stay.

G is for Governance – Leading “fairly and reliably”, securing the future 

For Thomas Langer, governance, or rather: responsible law firm management, means thinking long-term. A special focus is placed on further education, as training ensures the future viability of the law firm. Permanent contracts provide security, while flat hierarchies and respectful interaction strengthen team cohesion. This creates stability, the best basis for sustainable success.

In short: For Thomas Langer, sustainability is not a program with an expiration date, but something that is lived on a daily basis. A commitment that grows with every conscious step.

Image sources: istockphoto (Parradee Kietsirikul)