The Circular Economy: Slashing carbon through ‘Agilico Zero’
About Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton is a leading global business adviser committed to a 90% absolute reduction in carbon emissions by 2045. Operating in over 150 countries, the firm emphasises integrity and integrates ESG considerations into its entire supply chain.
The Challenge
Hidden Carbon and Mission-Critical Security
For a firm of Grant Thornton’s scale, embodied carbon was a major contributor to its Scope 3 footprint. This is the carbon generated during the mining, manufacture, and global shipping of new hardware. Furthermore, its legacy fleet was a significant energy drain, consuming over 4,490 kWh per year.
Crucially, any new solution had to meet elite security standards. As an ISO 27001 certified organisation with formal governance and continuous audits, Grant Thornton views IT security as mission-critical with board-level visibility.
The Solution
A ‘Circular-First’ Strategy Driven by the “three pillars” of security, sustainability, and savings, the firm transitioned to an Agilico Zero fleet.
Instead of purchasing brand-new units, the firm installed remanufactured Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX devices. These are BSI Kitemark certified, ensuring they meet the same performance standards as new equipment.
The shift included managed print and associated cloud services, resulting in a 50% reduction in the printer fleet and the removal of eight servers from data centres.
The fleet was strategically deployed across regional hubs to support hybrid working models.
The Impact
Data-Driven Sustainability The partnership has delivered measurable results for Grant Thornton’s ESG reporting:
48,020kg of embodied carbon emissions were bypassed.
Annual consumption dropped from 4,490 kWh to just 1,037 kWh.
The saving is equivalent to planting 2,401 trees or driving from Land’s End to John O’Groats 448 times.
”Ultimately, we want to work with partners who share our commitment to the planet. Agilico Zero allows us to maintain high-performance technology while making a tangible, data-backed reduction in our carbon footprint. It is not just a swap of hardware; it is a shift in mindset toward a circular future.
Matt LaverackGrant Thornton
The Verdict
Matt Laverack, of Grant Thornton, said the change was driven by a desire to ensure print services offer the “best possible security in the market” while adhering to sustainable property guidelines followed for all office moves.
“Ultimately, we want to work with partners who share our commitment to the planet,” he said. “Agilico Zero allows us to maintain high-performance technology while making a tangible, data-backed reduction in our carbon footprint. It is not just a swap of hardware; it is a shift in mindset toward a circular future.”