Car sharing and energy saving IT help Chapters Financial slash carbon emissions
Green SME news – by GreenWise staff
30th September 2015
A small firm of Surrey-based independent financial advisers has reduced its carbon emissions by almost a quarter in the last 12 months thanks to putting in place sustainable practices such as car-sharing, energy saving computers and paper recycling.
Chapters Financial, a chartered firm of financial planners and independent financial advisers, achieved a 22 per cent reduction in its comparative carbon emissions between June 2014 and June 2015, according to figures released by The Planet Mark, a certification programme operated by sustainability consultancy Planet First.
Chapters Financial, which operates from offices in Guildford and Woking, was first certified to The Planet Mark in 2011. The latest analysis shows the big fall in the company’ footprint was mainly due to a 14 per cent reduction in electricity usage, which accounts for 50 per cent of the company’s emissions. Business travel, which accounts for 7.5 per cent of the firm’s carbon footprint, also contributed to the reduction with a 29 per cent fall in combined diesel and petrol tailpipe emissions. The improvements mean the total carbon emissions dropped 22 per cent per employee on a like-for-like basis.
Innovation in online financial advice
“Being an online-only one-stop shop financial planning service, SaidSo.co.uk is a great example of how to run an environmentally friendly company. This year has really seen the coming of age for the innovation of online financial advice with SaidSo winning several awards in recognition of this, ” Churchouse said. “We’re very proud of its progress to date and its contribution towards the Chapters Financial Planet Mark certification.”
Steve Malkin, ceo of Planet First, provider of The Planet Mark, said it was “a testament” to Chapters Financial’s commitment to sustainability that the company has achieved deep cuts its overall carbon footprint. “Chapters Financial is a small firm of financial advisers showing real leadership on sustainability in the financial sector through The Planet Mark certification.”
The Planet Mark works in partnership with UK educational and environmental charity, the Eden Project, to provide a sustainability certification for all businesses, buildings and projects that are committed to improving their sustainability year on year.
Chapters Financial was certified for its 2014-15 reporting period in September.
Chapters Financial, which operates from offices in Guildford and Woking, was first certified to The Planet Mark in 2011. The latest analysis shows the big fall in the company’ footprint was mainly due to a 14 per cent reduction in electricity usage, which accounts for 50 per cent of the company’s emissions. Business travel, which accounts for 7.5 per cent of the firm’s carbon footprint, also contributed to the reduction with a 29 per cent fall in combined diesel and petrol tailpipe emissions. The improvements mean the total carbon emissions dropped 22 per cent per employee on a like-for-like basis.
“We’re delighted Chapters Financial has once again achieved this certification,” said Keith Churchouse, director, Chapters Financial. “We work very hard as a team to monitor and improve our carbon footprint. This includes car sharing, energy saving computers and printers, paper recycling, and encouraging our clients to receive information from us via email rather than in the post. Running a sustainable business is important to us and we aim to improve year-on-year.”
Innovation in online financial advice
Chapters Financial was established in 2004 to provide its clients with both commercial and private financial planning solutions. As part of its drive to provide a more sustainable and cost-effective service to its clients, the company this year launched Saidso.co.uk, an online service providing direct financial planning advice to private individuals.
“Being an online-only one-stop shop financial planning service, SaidSo.co.uk is a great example of how to run an environmentally friendly company. This year has really seen the coming of age for the innovation of online financial advice with SaidSo winning several awards in recognition of this, ” Churchouse said. “We’re very proud of its progress to date and its contribution towards the Chapters Financial Planet Mark certification.”
Steve Malkin, ceo of Planet First, provider of The Planet Mark, said it was “a testament” to Chapters Financial’s commitment to sustainability that the company has achieved deep cuts its overall carbon footprint. “Chapters Financial is a small firm of financial advisers showing real leadership on sustainability in the financial sector through The Planet Mark certification.”
The Planet Mark works in partnership with UK educational and environmental charity, the Eden Project, to provide a sustainability certification for all businesses, buildings and projects that are committed to improving their sustainability year on year.
Chapters Financial was certified for its 2014-15 reporting period in September.
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