The non-bank lender has offset its carbon footprint and invested in projects that absorb or reduce greenhouse gas
Non-bank lender La Trobe Financial has announced that it has achieved a carbon-neutrality milestone following an independent carbon footprint assessment.
La Trobe worked closely with independent advisor Carbon Neutral to measure its emissions activities, the lender said. The methodology used for the assessment was in accordance with the World Resources Institute’s Greenhouse Gas Protocol and used additional data from the Commonwealth government, international and domestic governments, and academic resources.
To achieve carbon neutrality, La Trobe Financial has offset its carbon footprint and has invested in projects that reduce or absorb greenhouse gas emissions equal to what the company produced throughout the year. Carbon Neutral has advised that these projects have been recognized as high-integrity “Gold Standard” projects, La Trobe said.
“We are very proud of the approval of our carbon neutral footprint program,” said Chris Andrews, deputy CEO and chief investment officer at La Trobe Financial. “We recognise in today’s market that this is a key business metric. We have documented a formal carbon reduction plan so that we can meet future targets and go beyond simply offsetting our carbon emissions. In the current plan, we propose to implement multiple projects to ensure that we reach our business commitment to 100% carbon-zero by 2030 – a commitment that we have pledged in our group ESG framework approved by our board.”
Read next: La Trobe sees strong demand for mortgage bond
“To have completed this critical assessment with Carbon Neutral during the past six months is a real achievement,” said Caterina Nesci, director of ESG and international partnerships at La Trobe Financial. “We now have our carbon footprint benchmark and intend to reduce our footprint every year moving forward. Doing this is clearly in the interest of the company and important for the future of the planet. We will be activating a number of projects over coming months, including reducing travel emissions, sustainable procurement practices, reducing waste and landfill, and aiming to become paperless, to name just a few. This will involve every aspect of the business, and all staff are truly committed to playing their part in this important work.”
La Trobe said it would be making further announcements regarding its ESG commitments in the coming months.
