ANZ rated ‘most sustainable bank’

Business, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 18th September, 2012

ANZ has welcomed the announcement that it has been ranked the most-sustainable bank globally in the 2012 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the fifth time in six years.
ANZ chief executive officer Mike Smith said: “We’re pleased the efforts of our 48,000 people to improve our contribution to sustainability have been recognised by the world’s leading organisation for measuring sustainability performance.
“Across the bank we have worked hard to improve our performance through initiatives such as our target to increase the finance we provide to the renewable sector or through the work we’ve done to improve financial literacy in underserved communities in the Pacific.
“We recognise there is still plenty to be done but we’re making good progress and we’re pleased to be recognised for our achievements to date.”
The report said: “ANZ’s sustainable business practices, exceptional risk and crisis management procedures and its strong focus on sustainable investment products as key factors for its leading position in the banking super sector.”
Other key points highlighted in the report include :
n The introduction of a new financial inclusion strategy, making it one of the leaders of its field in Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific;
n ANZ’s clear strategy to reduce its long-term environmental footprint as well as transparently communicating its targets and progress; and
n Its commitment to diversity, including its ambitious and publicly-disclosed targets for women in management positions and equal remuneration.
DJSI is the most widely-accepted global assessment of how companies approach their social, economic and environmental responsibilities.  
It assesses business management practices such as corporate governance, risk management, customer relations, brand management, human resources, corporate community investment, climate change mitigation and environmental performance.