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ANZ's Forests Policy (PDF, 59kb) sets out the standards of practice we will work with our clients to meet in transactions that may have a potential impact on forests or forest biodiversity. It was developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders including clients, environmental NGOs, governments and forest industry associations.
The Policy is primarily designed to facilitate our engagement with our forestry clients about social and environmental issues and how they can best respond to those issues to ensure the long-term sustainability of their business.
Read FAQs about the Policy
The Policy applies to products and services ANZ provides to business clients, such as lending and financing; capital raising; equity investments; corporate advisory; and capital markets.
Under the standards contained in the Policy, ANZ will:
- only support legal logging activities
- avoid supporting the logging of areas of high conservation value or areas protected by specified legislation or international environmental treaties and conventions;
- work with clients to ensure the preparation of social and environmental assessments, action plans and management systems so both ANZ and the client may actively monitor the impacts of the client’s proposed project/activities
- promote the adoption by our clients of best practice pollution prevention and control technologies into their business practices
Our aim is for the Policy to provide a framework comparable with internationally recognised certification schemes such as those endorsed under the Programme for the 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 clients to establish compliance with our Policy
The Policy applies to new customers with immediate effect. We will also work with our relevant existing business clients to ensure the requirements of the policy are implemented within six months, or that an agreed plan is in place to achieve timely conformance.
For more information or to provide any feedback you have on the Policy please contact:
Michael Vasta
Stakeholder Communications, Corporate Responsibility
22/100 Queen St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: michael.vasta@anz.com
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