Throughout 2010/11 bankmecu’s environmental performance was impacted by post merger activity, Service Centre consolidation, Service Centre closure and decentralised operations.
bankmecu developed an Environmental Management System (EMS) to provide consistency across the organisation in managing environmental impacts. Targets have been established and action items identified with clear responsibility to continually monitor and improve performance against bankmecu’s environmental policy objectives. bankmecu will report against these targets next year.
bankmecu’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 7% in 2010/11. This is largely the result of increased gas consumption and travel, plus including previously unreported emissions in bankmecu’s emission profile.
bankmecu’s overall electricity consumption decreased by 8% due to service centre closure and consolidation, while overall gas consumption increased by 28%. Changes are consistent with weather patterns experienced throughout the year and the use of gas heating versus electric cooling.
Overall business related car travel increased by 22% compared to 2009/10. Car travel increased largely as a result of including business use mileage from salary packaged cars in the figures this year. In previous years only job needs vehicles were measured, i.e. pool cars and personal cars used for business purposes. Kilometres from pool car use and personal cars used for business purposes increased marginally as a result of increased activity due to larger operations.
There was also an increase in the number of flights taken by bankmecu staff, management and Directors, increasing overall air travel by 35%. This is attributed predominantly to more interstate travel being taken as a result of expanded operations, together with some international flights to attend conferences.
Water consumption decreased by 29%. The decrease in water consumption is attributed to a reduction in premises occupied.
During the year, 41.48% of stationery purchases had a recycled content, an increase of 30% from 2009/10. The increase is due to the development of a preferred product list with sustainability criteria.
General office paper usage decreased 19% compared to 2009/10. This is attributed to staff overcoming post merger changes, which would have required an initial need to print more through the learning process for new procedures.
Total paper sent to customers decreased by 9% from 2009/10 as more customers subscribed to electronic statements and receiving their statements via internet banking.
bankmecu revised its Procurement Policy and Procedure to include specified sustainability criteria when engaging potential new suppliers.
With the acquisition in 2011 of 220 hectares adjoining the existing Minimay property, originally purchased in August 2008, bankmecu increased its Conservation Landbank on behalf of customers to 657 hectares (about 90 Melbourne Cricket Grounds).
During the 2010/11, bankmecu offset 8732 tCO2-e in the Conservation Landbank for cars financed, increasing bankmecu’s total GoGreen Car Loan carbon sequestration commitment to 32,747 tCO2-e.
bankmecu allocated a biodiversity offset of 95,718 square metres in its Conservation Landbank, increasing bankmecu’s total biodiversity offset commitment to 253,260 square metres. This represents 3.85% of the total square metres currently available for offset in the Conservation Landbank.
bankmecu continued to provide sustainable living content for customers and employees on bankmecu’s website.