Together we count for more
Being a responsible business is part of our mutual heritage. From our people to the environment and communities we serve, we're taking actions to help more people have a home, help people save for life ahead, and support long-term financial wellbeing.
What is ESG?
The acronym ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social and Governance – refers to a set of standards used to measure an organisation’s environmental and social impact and how transparent and accountable it is. This has become the backbone for many reporting frameworks used today to measure how an organisation is run, and what impact it has.
ESG is important because it helps us to:
- Protect the future of Scottish Building Society and its members by promoting sustainable business practices.
- Identify risks early – companies with strong ESG practices are better equipped to handle risks related to environmental regulations, social issues and governance challenges.
- Continue to invest in local communities – companies with a focus on ESG practices can invest time and money where it will make the most impact.
- Look after our colleagues, who are the backbone of our service, and attract the right people to ensure we continue to thrive. We will do this by demonstrating that we are an employer that is doing the right thing by our people and our communities.
Since 1848, Scottish Building Society has been there to provide certainty and security to our savings and mortgage members. Today, that means ensuring that our sustainability agenda is central to how we operate.
Our Environmental Role
We all have a role to play in tackling climate change and the shift to Net Zero and we are committed to ensuring a sustainable future for the Society, our members and our colleagues.
- As a mortgage provider, we want to help our members understand how to make their homes as energy efficient as possible. That is why we have partnered with Snugg to give our members access to a personalised energy-saving plan that can reduce carbon emissions and cut energy bills.
- We are also partnering with GreenFox Energy to provide our members with a discount on the design, purchase and installation of solar panels on their homes. Embracing solar energy will allow members to reduce their energy bills as well as their carbon footprint.
- We commissioned a full carbon footprint report, detailing emissions from our properties (gas and electricity), business travel, and colleague commuting. This comprehensive analysis has helped us pinpoint areas where we can actively reduce emissions. Using this data, we have successfully achieved ISO 14001 Certification the international standard for improving environmental performance demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
- We completed energy audits for all our Relationship Centres and Head Office, allowing us to identify possible efficiencies and appropriate actions.
- We have launched an Electric Vehicle (EV) scheme for colleagues, and we have two EV chargers for colleagues and visitors.
Our Community
We're helping to build stronger communities by supporting good causes and by investing in educational initiatives.
- We teamed up with Edinburgh Rugby to set up Tackle Maths – a community programme that takes maths out of the classroom and on to the rugby pitch. We’re delighted that over 800 school children have now taken part in the programme that allows them to apply their maths skills to practical, real world scenarios.
- We partnered with digital learning specialists ITZA to launch One Planet, a dynamic online resource designed to educate young people about climate change. As part of our involvement in One Planet, we’re working with ITZA to develop two digital learning modules aimed at helping teenagers build financial literacy through a climate-conscious lens.
We're here to help
You can visit us in our Relationship Centres, or call us on 0333 207 4007. Our lines are open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday (10am - 5pm Wednesday). Calls may be recorded and/or monitored.