Summerland Credit Union's Sustainability Position Statement

Summerland is a customer owned financial institution. We provide more than just banking, and as our customers are our owners, they and their communities must benefit from high service levels and ethical treatment through our delivery of financial services.

Our ethical and community values are reflected through a strong commitment to sustainability. We believe that sustainability requires a holistic approach and must recognise the links between our environment, our economy and our communities. In entrusting us with their financial assets, we combine our responsible economic management with strong environmental management processes. We want our customers to know that their assets are not being used to actively damage or impact our environment. 

Our Sustainability Principles

Summerland uses the following principles to protect and enhance natural, social and human capital:

Natural Capital:
our practices endeavour to live off the earth’s interest/resources that are renewable – not its core capital

Social Capital:
we act as a good corporate citizen that contributes in cash and in kind to local, national and international communities

Human Capital:
we support an engaged workforce and customer base and maintain good relations with our suppliers and stakeholders

Summerland began the journey toward a more sustainable future in 2008, and will continue to be a progressive values-based organisation. Our commitment to sustainability will positively enhance Summerland’s reputation and our environmental and social contributions into the future.

Click here to download a copy of our Environmental Investment Position and our Environmental Sustainability Approach

Since 2008 Summerland has partnered with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage’s Sustainability Advantage Program which has assisted us in developing a sustainability vision and put in place long-term goals to plot a strategic sustainability path. Summerland has set a framework for the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, which integrates a range of practices, policies and products into different components of our business. 

Long Term Environmental Goals

1. Our commitment to a sustainable future will be a fundamental aspect of our business practices which will be reflected in financially sound, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable practices
2. We will demonstrate commitment to our sustainable development through implementing specific projects addressing environmental management and resource use efficiency
3. Our commitment to sustainable development will be communicated with our employees, members, the community in which we live and our external stakeholders

2014-2017 Environmental Goals

1. Grow the commitment to environmental sustainability within all levels of the organisation
2. We will develop ownership of the credit union’s Environmental Sustainability program
3. Reduction in resource use and efficient recycling of waste
4. Continual improvement in resource efficiency throughout the credit union
5. Leadership in environmental sustainability and engagement with all our stakeholders regarding our environmental initiatives
6. Ensuring we achieve and maintain leadership in environmental sustainability within our community and within the credit union movement
7. Striving for higher levels of accreditation and recognition to demonstrate our leadership in environmental sustainability
8. In achieving leadership we will collaborate with stakeholders to achieve our environmental goals

Since 2008, we have made changes to over 45 different aspects of our business and as a result achieved firstly Bronze & then Silver Partner Status in the Sustainability Advantage Program.

We are proudly the first organisation in the Northern Rivers to be awarded this status and are currently working towards obtaining Gold Partner Status.

Our Achievements Since 2009 

We have an Environmental Sustainability committee to lead the efforts toward resource reduction and to encourage staff and customers to adopt environmentally aware practices.

We aim to reduce our environmental impact by minimising our use of natural resources, energy and water and thereby reducing waste production and greenhouse gas emissions. 

• Our fuel consumption has gone down by over 60%
• Our paper consumption has been reduced by over 15%
• Our electricity usage has decreased by over 11%
• Sustainability Advantage Program, Bronze Partner Award, 2011
• Abacus National Sustainability Award, 2011
• Sustainability Advantage Program, Silver Partner Award, 2013
• NSW Business Chamber Northern Rivers Region, Excellence in Sustainability Award 2014

Like you, we want our environment—our home—to be one worth living in, for us and our children. So to assist in sharing our message, we’ve developed Eco Month at Summerland.

Eco Month is a celebration during Spring each year of everything green and sustainable. It’s our invitation for you to join us in helping to keep our earth healthy.

Here are some Eco Month ideas:

• Switch over to eStatements and get your statements delivered electronically
• Apply online to join Summerland, apply for a loan or open an account
• When a customer takes out an Eco loan, not only do we give financial discounts to borrowers, we provide a donation on their behalf to an environmentally focused organisation
• We invest in community activities by providing financial contributions towards environmental organisations and projects and many community based clubs
• Find out your carbon footprint
• Download our great eco-tips
• Visit the Australian Government's Living Greener website, information, how-to's and rebates for sustainable living.

Green Event Checklist

Whatever event you’re planning, there are ways to make it more environmentally friendly. Whether it be preventing or reducing waste and litter; recycling as much as you can; or sourcing sustainable supplies – any of these actions will help to reduce the impact on our environment.

If you can plan a green event, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve conserved resources and reduced landfill waste. Best of all, you’ll also provide a model for others to follow.

Download the Green Event Checklist so you can incorporate the action items into your next event.

Divestment Day

Summerand supports Divestment Day. This growing movement, internationally and in Australia encourages people who disapprove of the big banks investing in fossil fuel/CSG mining to close their accounts at those banks and move to a banking alternative that shares their values, like Summerland.