The Investors in the Environment (iiE) certification scheme is an environmental management system designed to support organisations that want to make a positive impact on the planet. The national environmental accreditation scheme is designed to support organisations on their sustainability journey and helps businesses to reduce their environmental impact.

Charity Bank has successfully met the criteria of the iiE’s Silver Level which involved meeting specific criteria related to energy efficiency, waste management, water usage and other environmental considerations. The bank has successfully developed organisational change by analysing data, making measured improvements through performance tracking and worked towards wider sustainable development targets.

Criteria met at the Silver Level includes:

• Setting & achieving targets to reduce resource use
• Establishing a travel plan
• Minimising waste
• Improving the environmental management system
• Reducing the carbon impact of operations
• Engaging people in sustainability improvement

This achievement signifies that Charity Bank has made significant progress towards sustainability and demonstrates our strong ongoing commitment to environmentally responsible business practices.

Charity Bank will now begin to work towards the iiE’s ‘green’ certification. This will mean we will start to deliver successful and measured impact that will drive our wider sustainable development.

This will involve:

• Broadening the focus of environmental action
• Managing the impact of work-related travel
• Assessing supply chain and greening procurement
• Setting ambitious carbon reduction targets
• Undertaking impactful projects
• Reporting progress to stakeholders
• Preparing to reach net zero and more.

To learn more about Charity Bank's accreditation and the Investors in the Environment (iiE) scheme, please visit their website here.

Additionally, you can read the following documents in full:

• Investors in the Environment (iiE) audit report on Charity Bank
• Charity Bank Environmental Policy
• Charity Bank Travel Policy

You may also like to read the following blogs:

• Charity Bank launches Green Loan offers in response to climate crisis and in support of its updated Vision Statement.
• Charity Bank joins the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF).
• Totnes Renewable Energy Society: a community fighting climate change.

About Charity Bank

Charity Bank is the loans and savings bank owned by and committed to supporting the social sector. Since 2002, we have used our savers’ money to make more than 1,200 loans totalling over £450m to housing, education, social care, community and other social purpose organisations.

Find out more about us here.

Nothing in this article constitutes an invitation to engage in investment activity nor is it advice or a recommendation and professional advice should be taken before any course of action is pursued.