Policies & guidelines

ANZ

ANZ has developed a series of social and environmental management policies which set out how ANZ will engage with customers in socially and environmentally sensitive sectors.

They are designed to guide our decision making and help our customers understand how they can best respond to the social and environmental issues facing their industry and therefore ensure the long-term sustainability of their business.

Our aim is to create workable policies which have a realistic chance of driving improvement in our customers' business practices.

ANZ develops the policies in consultation with customers, environmental NGOs, governments, industry associations and sector experts.

The policies apply in all jurisdictions where ANZ operates and cover products and services ANZ provides to business customers such as lending and financing, capital raising, equity investments; corporate advisory and capital markets.

Each policy incorporates industry-specific social and environmental standards, however all contain a common framework that ANZ will apply in all cases. Under this framework, ANZ will:

The following summaries outline the main provisions of each Policy and the clients they apply to.

Forests Policy

What does it say?	ANZ will only support legal logging activities and will avoid supporting the logging of high conservation value areas or areas protected by specified legislation or international environmental treaties and conventions.
Forest Certification	The Policy provides a framework comparable with internationally recognised certification schemes such as those endorsed under the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (e.g. the Australian Forest Certification Scheme) and Forest Stewardship Council accredited schemes. The Policy does not endorse or require the adoption of a particular certification scheme however we will be relying heavily on the certification of customers to establish compliance with our Policy.
Who does it apply to?	Forestry, logging and related primary production companies.
From when does it apply?	The Policy came into effect for new customers on 1 March 2008. All existing customers have either demonstrated compliance with the Policy or have committed to an agreed plan for timely conformance with the Policy.
Our policy and local laws	While the Policy applies to all geographic regions where ANZ provides services to business customers, ANZ recognises that respective governments may prioritise different objectives in relation to social and environmental objectives and the need for social and economic development. Within this context, ANZ businesses may on occasion be called upon to make balanced judgments on how best to implement the Policy, taking into account a range of relevant considerations, including country-specific standards.

Greenhouse and Energy Policy

What does it say?	ANZ will continue to look for opportunities to finance energy efficiency improvements for our customers and renewable energy and GHG reduction projects. ANZ will also actively support the development of financial markets in greenhouse gas credits and offsets. The Policy commits ANZ to assessing the emission intensity and environmental performance of customers in comparison to industry and sector benchmarks to identify potential for improvement. The Policy incorporates the standards contained in: national emissions reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol; the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard (World Business Council for Sustainable Development and World Resources Institute); the Equator Principles and the US Carbon Principles.
Who does it apply to?	All customers engaging in greenhouse gas intensive activities including power generation from fossil fuels, primary industrial (e.g. smelters, cement production) and renewable energy and customers who support these sectors. The Policy does not apply to agriculture or agricultural related emissions.
From when does it apply?	The Policy came into effect for new customers from September 2008. We are consulting with all existing customers to ensure they demonstrate compliance or commit to an agreed plan for timely conformance with the Policy within 6 months of the Policy�s commencement.
Our policy and local laws	While the Policy applies to all geographic regions where ANZ provides services to business customers, ANZ recognises that, in some of its geographies, respective governments may prioritise different objectives in relation to energy development. Such government policies may establish different economic and social objectives from those followed in Australia. ANZ will take these objectives into account when applying the policy.

What does it say?	The Policy commits ANZ to support customers adopt cost-effective water use efficiency, recycling and re-use initiatives. ANZ will ensure customers covered by this Policy develop water management plans, including water loss prevention measures, water quality plans, metering and management of off-farm discharges. The Policy is designed to guide customers towards internationally and nationally recognised standards and practices for water management. The Policy�s standards are based on International Finance Corporation standards; Asian Development Bank standards and the Australian Federal Government�s National Water Initiative
Who does it apply to?	All business customers involved in high intensity freshwater use (e.g. irrigators, food processors and manufacturers) as well as customers with the potential to significantly impact water quality through their activities or use of water.
From when does it apply?	The Policy came into effect for new customers from September 2008. We are consulting with all existing customers to ensure they demonstrate compliance or commit to an agreed plan for timely conformance with the Policy within 6 months of the Policy�s commencement.
Our policy and local laws	While the Policy applies to all geographic regions where ANZ provides services to business customers, ANZ recognises that, in some of its geographies, respective governments may prioritise different objectives to allocate scarce water resources. Such government policies may establish different economic and social objectives from those followed in Australia. ANZ will take these objectives into account when applying the policy.

What does it say?

The Policy commits ANZ to support customers adopt cost-effective water use efficiency, recycling and re-use initiatives. ANZ will ensure customers covered by this Policy develop water management plans, including water loss prevention measures, water quality plans, metering and management of off-farm discharges. The Policy is designed to guide customers towards internationally and nationally recognised standards and practices for water management. The Policy�s standards are based on International Finance Corporation standards; Asian Development Bank standards and the Australian Federal Government�s National Water Initiative

Who does it apply to?

All business customers involved in high intensity freshwater use (e.g. irrigators, food processors and manufacturers) as well as customers with the potential to significantly impact water quality through their activities or use of water.

From when does it apply?

The Policy came into effect for new customers from September 2008. We are consulting with all existing customers to ensure they demonstrate compliance or commit to an agreed plan for timely conformance with the Policy within 6 months of the Policy�s commencement.

Our policy and local laws

While the Policy applies to all geographic regions where ANZ provides services to business customers, ANZ recognises that, in some of its geographies, respective governments may prioritise different objectives to allocate scarce water resources. Such government policies may establish different economic and social objectives from those followed in Australia. ANZ will take these objectives into account when applying the policy.

What does it say?	ANZ will support activities demonstrating best practice environmental protection and community engagement measures: submarine tailings disposal; heap leach treatment; in-situ leaching/mining; acid and metalliferous rock drainage (AMD/ARD); perpetual treatment of mine waste; all technically feasible steps to minimise environmental and social impacts support mining on sites with environmental legacies, including the monitoring of long-term impacts after mine closure; mine closure considerations and rehabilitation funding mechanisms in project planning and impact assessment; consent from indigenous people and local communities in project planning; and appropriate community engagement plans as part of the mine development process
Who does it apply to?	All business customers involved in exploration, mine development and operation, mineral extraction, mine closure and reclamation and primary processing of minerals and customers involved in projects related to or associated with mine development such as ports, railways and roads.
From when does it apply?	The Policy came into effect for new customers from September 2008. We are consulting with all existing customers to ensure they demonstrate compliance or commit to an agreed plan for timely conformance with the Policy within 6 months of the Policy's commencement.
Our policy and local laws	While the Policy applies to all geographic regions where ANZ provides services to business customers, ANZ recognises that respective governments may prioritise different objectives in relation to environmental and social objectives and the need for social and economic development. Within this context, ANZ businesses may on occasion be called upon to make balanced judgments on how best to implement the Policy, taking into account a range of relevant considerations, including country-specific standards.

What does it say?

ANZ will support activities demonstrating best practice environmental protection and community engagement measures:

submarine tailings disposal; heap leach treatment; in-situ leaching/mining; acid and metalliferous rock drainage (AMD/ARD); perpetual treatment of mine waste;
all technically feasible steps to minimise environmental and social impacts support mining on sites with environmental legacies, including the monitoring of long-term impacts after mine closure;
mine closure considerations and rehabilitation funding mechanisms in project planning and impact assessment;
consent from indigenous people and local communities in project planning; and
appropriate community engagement plans as part of the mine development process

Who does it apply to?

All business customers involved in exploration, mine development and operation, mineral extraction, mine closure and reclamation and primary processing of minerals and customers involved in projects related to or associated with mine development such as ports, railways and roads.

From when does it apply?

Our policy and local laws

While the Policy applies to all geographic regions where ANZ provides services to business customers, ANZ recognises that respective governments may prioritise different objectives in relation to environmental and social objectives and the need for social and economic development. Within this context, ANZ businesses may on occasion be called upon to make balanced judgments on how best to implement the Policy, taking into account a range of relevant considerations, including country-specific standards.

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