Bendigo and Adelaide Bank

Not verified. Claim this page

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Sustainability Actions

Publishes sustainability disclosures

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank publishes a sustainability disclosures page and an annual reporting suite. It says its reports are prepared with reference to the GRI Standards (Global Reporting Initiative, a common way to report environmental and social data) and that its 2025 reporting also follows AASB S2 climate disclosure guidance. The bank also keeps archived sustainability reports, climate disclosures, ESG data summaries, and modern slavery statements from recent years. This shows it has an ongoing reporting process for sustainability-related risks, impacts, and progress.

13

Targets four priority SDGs

The bank says it focuses its sustainability approach on four UN SDGs: SDG 8, SDG 10, SDG 11, and SDG 13. These stand for decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, and climate action. It says these goals help shape its strategy and define its material topics, meaning the issues it sees as most important to manage. This suggests the bank has linked its sustainability work to a clear set of priorities rather than trying to cover every goal at once.

8 10 11 13

Measures community investment

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank says it is a member of the B4SI network, which uses a shared method for measuring community investment. B4SI stands for Business for Societal Impact, a framework that helps companies track how much they invest in communities in a consistent way. The bank says its community investment is measured using this method and reported in its ESG data summary. This points to a structured approach to community giving and local impact reporting.

11

Reduced operational emissions

A press report says the bank created a BENZero policy and had already cut operational emissions by 35% against a 2019-20 baseline. Operational emissions are the greenhouse gases from running the bank’s own buildings, vehicles, and day-to-day operations. The same report says the bank aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 and a 50% cut by 2030. It also says the bank wants to run fully on renewable energy by 2025 and is switching its sealed road fleet to electric vehicles.

13

Uses green lending products

The bank offers green loans, which are loans with incentives such as lower interest rates for projects that help the environment. A press report says these loans can support electric vehicles, charging equipment, solar panels, and infrastructure for energy and water efficiency. The same report says demand for green loans had risen by more than 600% by the end of December. This shows the bank is using lending to support customer projects linked to lower emissions and resource efficiency.

7 13

Screens suppliers and lending

The bank says it now asks suppliers about their ESG business practices during tender processes. ESG means environmental, social, and governance factors. It also says it does not lend directly to fossil fuel companies or projects, or to native forest logging projects. At the same time, it says it still serves customers and communities that rely on those sectors for their livelihoods. This shows a selective lending approach that tries to balance climate concerns with local economic dependence.

13 15

Updates animal welfare policies

The bank says its animal welfare and livestock policies are revised every year. These policies are meant to encourage customers to follow more sustainable and ethical practices in farming. The bank’s public comments also link this work to climate volatility, soil improvement, and changes in agriculture. This suggests it is trying to shape lending and advice in a sector that has a large climate footprint and strong links to land use and animal care.

12 13 15

Supports community banking

A press report says the bank’s Community Bank model has helped create more than 300 community enterprises across Australia, which have returned more than $292 million to local communities. In this model, towns help run their own branches in partnership with the bank. While this is not a direct environmental action, it is a major social and community investment model that fits the bank’s stated focus on local prosperity and reduced inequality.

10 11

What do our labels mean?

UNGC Participant Logo

UNGC Participant