Environmental policy

CCLA has implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) in line with the requirements of the internationally recognised voluntary standard ISO 14001:2015 to effectively manage these impacts and to show continuing commitment to the protection of the environment.

CCLA provides investment management products and services to charities, religious organisations and the public sector. Our purpose is to help our clients maximise their impact on society by harnessing the power of investment markets. This requires us to provide a supportive and stable environment for our staff and deliver trusted, responsibly managed and strongly performing products and services to organisations, irrespective of their size. We are largely owned by our clients’ funds.

We recognise that there are environmental, social and ethical issues associated with our activities.

In particular, CCLA as a firm aims to:

• reduce its impact on the environment through the use of energy saving initiatives, in cooperation with the landlord of our head office building
• reduce the impact of our waste through increased waste recycling and improved waste management
• consider social and environmental issues in the purchase of stationery and consumables and purchase Fair Trade items whenever possible
• ensure good management practice and tenant engagement through our Environmental Audit which is central to our property investment process for clients
• meet or exceed all our legal and other requirements relating to the environment, and prevent pollution.

As an investment manager, CCLA aims to:

• act to increase the pace of climate action by leading impactful engagements with the companies in which we invest and push policymakers for progressive regulation and legislation
• assess companies’ position against the energy transition as part of our investment process and avoid those that do the most harm
• align our portfolios with our clients’ requirements and disclose information about our approach to managing the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.

The firm’s objectives will be met by setting a framework of environmental objectives and targets, which will be reviewed regularly by the Environmental Management Committee in order to ensure continual improvement of our EMS.

CCLA’s executive directors have ultimate responsibility for environmental management. Our environmental manager is responsible for day-to-day management of the EMS. We recognise that all staff have a part to play in improving CCLA’s environmental performance, and training will be provided as necessary to ensure our objectives are met.

The executive directors of CCLA give their full endorsement to this policy.

Peter Hugh Smith
Chief Executive and Chair of the EMC

July 2023