FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards: the nominees at a glance

On Thursday, hundreds of representatives from across the world will gather at the Landmark Hotel in London for the Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation’s Sustainable Finance Awards. Here, we look at some of the nominees.

Financial organisations from 22 countries, including the UK, Germany, Palestine, Australia and Morocco, are in the running for eight awards, including recognition for the most sustainable bank.

Seven UK companies are up for a gong, including the Co-operative Banking Group, which in February, we placed second, behind Triodos, in a rundown of the UK’s most ethical banks, based on data from YourEthicalMoney.org.

The group is famed for its ethical tag, and its latest ethical policy is the most positive yet, with evidence of decreases in carbon emissions and water consumption, and an increase in lending to green energy projects.

“Sustainability lies within the DNA of our business”, says Barry Tootell, acting chief executive of the Co-operative Banking Group.

“It is what brings our Co-operative difference to life and reinforces the strength of being a member-owned, customer-led and ethically-guided business.

“Our unique ethical policy, which has been in operation now for 20 years, provides clear evidence that banking can have a sustainable and social purpose.

“It has enabled us to become market specialists in areas such as renewable investment and social banking, where the benefits can be felt on a number of levels.”

The Co-operative is up against Bank Sarasin of Switzerland and Turkey’s Sekerbank in the European arm of the sustainable bank of the year category.

Another UK bank in the running for an award is Standard Chartered, which is vying for recognition in the sustainable global bank of the year section.

“At Standard Chartered, our aim is to promote sustainable economic growth through our core business of banking”, a spokesperson for the bank said.

“Sustainability is embedded into our business model. We have strong governance standards and all business that we finance must adhere to international best practice in mitigating social and environmental impact, as outlined in our 14 position statements.”

Among the other UK nominees are the Environment Agency and Bridges Ventures (both sustainable investor of the year), whilst deals made by three UK organisations appear in the sustainable investment of the year category.

For a full list of nominees, click here. Meanwhile, if you’d like to read up about the speakers scheduled to talk at the partnering conference during the day, have a look here.

Blue & Green Tomorrow will be bringing you all the news from the conference and the awards ceremony.

Further reading:

FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards: the speakers

Sustainable Finance Awards shortlist announced

Financial Times and IFC honour sustainable investment