We know it's not only important for Australians when it comes to finding the right brand or service for us, but the planet too. Enter: the inaugural Finder Green Awards.
According to Finder's CSR & Public Affairs Manager, Ben King, "75% of Aussies believe a company's social or environmental efforts are important, indicating they want to buy from brands that are making a conscious effort to minimise their impact on our planet."
But anyone who has ever tried to look at their super fund or energy company's website to try and work out if they're doing the right thing will tell you how confusing it was amongst all the finance-y or science-y words.
Thankfully, Finder has put in the hard yards for us, sorting through all the jargon to find which brands and services do the best when it comes to factors like their greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy usage and waste avoiding landfill.
In a landscape where it's cool to be eco and 'green washing' is rife, the Finder Green Awards shine the spotlight on brands and services we can all trust.
We were so excited to see some of our favourite businesses and partners nominated and even winning categories in the awards program!
Here are some of our favourite winners:
Green Superannuation Fund of the Year
Australian Ethical
All the staff at 1 Million Women have our super with Australian Ethical - so we're not surprised to see them here! With so much of the world's super contributing to global warming and climate change, Australian Ethical offers a transparent and trustworthy alternative. For over 30 years they have been investing ethically, making sure your super is doing 'good' while you save for retirement. Their returns are good too.
Australian Ethical are committed to a zero-emissions future and don't invest in coal, oil or gas companies. Instead, they invest in wind turbines and solar panels, they help advance electric cars, better recycling centres, amazing public transport systems and healthcare. They even give 10% of our after-tax profits to charities and social impact initiatives to improve the lives of people, animals and the environment.
One last thing we love about Australian Ethical at 1 Million Women, is their commitment to ensuring that women are economically empowered, and know the importance of their super. We've been working on campaigns to get this, along with the environmental message out to our audience. But we'd never have known how important it is for women in particular to be on top of their super without Australian Ethical showing us. If you're a woman who cares about the planet, Australian Ethical have got your back.
Green Bank of the Year
Bank Australia
Bank Australia is a bank that doesn't invest in fossil fuels, is run on 100% renewable electricity, and it's the only bank in Australia to have a Conservation Reserve where they're protecting 13 threatened species, such as the red tailed black cockatoo.
Bank Australia is customer owned, instead of shareholder-owned like the big banks, so it's customers get to decide on the direction the bank takes, including where profits are spent. That's why they decided to purchase a Conservation Reserve, because their customers told the bank that creating positive environmental impact is really important to them.
We know right, it doesn't even sound like a bank! It definitely is though – offering all the same services and different accounts, and just as secure. Check out their website to learn more about them and check out how they compare to other banks when it comes to fossil fuel investments at Market Forces.
Green Telco of the Year
Belong
Services like Belong help connect people online and over the phone - they're a communications company that hook people up to the 'network'. Like many other telcos, they often save tonnes and tonnes of carbon emissions by connecting people virtually and cutting out the need for travel, but they do still emit greenhouse gases. But Belong have owned this and acted on it and we love seeing the initiative they're taking! They agree with the findings in the recent IPCC reports, and they want to, in their words, "clean up [their] mess". As a result, Belong is Australia's first ever certified carbon neutral telco, under the Climate Active program. The program was put together in partnership with the Australian Government and Australian Business.
To go carbon neutral, Belong measured the emissions they create through the running of their business, as well as how their products are sold and then used. They've then offset this amount by supporting existing and new renewable energy projects.
Green Online Retailer of the Year
Seed & Sprout
We love Seed & Sprout because their philosophy around how much of a difference we can all make in our everyday lives, and how we spend our money, is so in line with ours at 1 Million Women. The online shop was started by founder Sophie, when she realised she wanted a lunch box for her child that was plastic free and would last a lifetime, but couldn't find one anywhere. So, she created one herself! And from there, Seed & Sprout was soon born, with the same principles. They want to make it easy for people to move away from plastic in their everyday lives, but also wanted to educate people on making sure the items you replace your plastic with are items that you can keep for good, never having to replace them again (or if it's something that does wear out, its compostable). Through their shop, they provide the tools for people to do this.
Seed & Sprout stock everything you need to live plastic free - from your reusable food storage needs, to package free bars to replace all the plastic bottles in your bathroom. To top it all off, Seed & Sprout HQ has rooftop solar, so part of your plastic free purchase is powered by renewable energy!
And here are all the other winners – a bunch of leaders and great success stories of how businesses can operate in our economy and help people help the planet all at the same time.
Green Lender of the Year
Brighte
Green Insurer of the Year
QBE Insurance Group Limited
Green Hotel Chain of the Year
InterContinental Hotels Group
Green Hotel of the Year
Swell Lodge
Green Energy Retailer of the Year (Traditional)
Powershop Australia
Green Energy Retailer of the Year (Retail-Only)
Energy Locals
Green Leader of the Year
Katherine McConnell (Brighte)
Green Team of the Year
Future Super team
