Description of business

A building society providing ethical savings accounts and green mortgages for properties that benefit the environment.

Business vision

To promote the concept of sustainability in the built environment through our mortgage lending and offer a range of ethical savings accounts to enable members to support this.

Business aims

The prime focus of the Ecology Building Society is to promote an ecological approach to the built environment in the UK, and thereby foster sustainable communities. We seek to minimise energy use and waste in both our office and business practices.

Business philosophies and beliefs

The Memorandum of the Society contains a requirement "to promote... ecological policies designed to promote or enhance the environment in accordance with the principles of sustainable development". Sustainable development is defined as "improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems". Ecological policies are understood to include those which promote, encourage or support the following objectives:

• The saving of non-renewable energy or other scarce resources


• The growth of a sustainable housing stock


• The development of building practices, ways of living or uses of land having, in each case, a low ecological impact

Business Values

We are committed to improving the environment and consider the environmental and ethical impact of all our decisions.

Business mission

A building society dedicated to improving the environment by supporting and promoting ecological building practices and sustainable communities.

The Ecology Building Society offers a range of truly green mortgages and ethical savings accounts throughout the UK. Our lending policy is governed by the principle of sustainable development which is dedicated to improving the environment by supporting and promoting ecological building practices.

We lend on properties requiring substantial renovation, for the conversion of disused or redundant buildings, and on ecological new builds incorporating sustainable building materials and high levels of energy efficiency.

Our mortgages are available to owner-occupiers, landlords, housing co-operatives, housings associations, companies and individuals.

We offer a wide range of savings accounts, including a penalty free instant access account, a 60-day notice account and a tax-free Cash ISA. By saving with us, you are helping to build a more sustainable future.

The Ecology Building Society believes in a commitment to fairness. Our mutual structure allows us to place the needs of our savers and borrowers at the centre of our business practice. This has led to the development of a number of principles that govern the service we provide to our members.

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Click on a topic area to reveal business responses:

Community Relations

Community Relations is about a business in a social and economic context. A business can strongly influence the quality of life not only for employees, but also for the wider community in which it operates. It is recognised that a sustainable community promotes sustainable business.

Corporate Governance

Corporate governance is about how a business is structured and whether rights, responsibilities and duties are clearly set out and understood. These issues are critical in maintaining accountability and providing strong decision-making functions.

This section provides an opportunity for a company to indicate how it remains honest, transparent, equitable and reputable in its conduct. These objectives are relevant to any business whether large or small.

Donations and Payments

To whom and exactly how companies make donations and payments, including those to charitable organisations, professional associations and government, are extremely complex issues. It is important that companies disclose their corporate donations, publish their payments and explain what they hope or expect to receive in return.

Environment

Natural resources are vital to sustain our lives and lifestyle. This section looks at the impact business operations have on the physical environment. It is not always easy to address the challenges, but companies have the opportunity to show the problems they face and how they tackle them.

Human Rights

This section is about how businesses ensure that their operations do not violate the fundamental rights of individuals and communities at home or abroad. Businesses have the opportunity to examine this issue with regards to their own practices, supply chains and business relationships.

Marketplace Ethics

This section is about how businesses handle consumer rights and wider welfare issues. Many of the questions cover areas where there is a fair amount of legislation and regulation: it is an opportunity for businesses to show how they go beyond a legal minimum to address ethical issues in the marketplace.

Workforce

It is widely acknowledged that people are the most valuable asset to any business. In this topic, the questions are addressing the treatment of workforce. It is quite diverse but the focus is on promoting a fair, equitable, honest and supportive work environment.