Environment

Our environment plays a vital role in our collective wellbeing—and, in climate change, we face an increasingly important and complex challenge.

As an organisation, we acknowledge the risk climate change presents to Australians, and we're intent on reducing our environmental impact across our business activities.

Why? We’ve been here for more than 180 years, and we want to be here for many more.

Read our Impact 2024 Report Back to Our Impact

Our commitments

We’re committed to a sustainable future that supports the Real Wellbeing of all Australians.

Calculating our emissions estimates

In FY24, we took a positive step to reducing our environmental impact-by estimating our FY24 scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Read our FY24 GHG Inventory Report here, containing further information on our emissions estimates across scope 1 and 2 categories, organisational boundary, methodology and data capture processes.

Read FY24 GHG Inventory report

Preparing for future reporting requirements

As we anticipate forthcoming regulatory changes, we are taking proactive steps to align with the Australian Government’s proposed climate-related financial disclosures framework, expected to apply from FY26.

This includes calculating our estimated emissions, preparing for external assurance over our emissions estimates, continuing our Environmental, social and governance (ESG) Forum (central body for overseeing sustainability initiatives) and evaluating climate-related risks and opportunities across our business.

Our impact

Prioritising responsible investment

We’ve established a set of principles for responsible investing, reflecting the growing demand for investments that deliver strong returns and have a positive impact on our community.

These principles integrate an ESG framework into the investment decision-making process; support our net zero transition plan; and align our financial reporting with the recommendations outlined by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. We’re currently implementing these principles across several of our product offerings.

Read more about our approach to responsible investment by our investment specialists, Platypus Asset Management and Altius Asset Management

Green Bond Fund: an Australian first

In the past decade, we’ve seen an increased demand for investments that drive social and environmental impact.

It’s why we launched Australia’s first dedicated Green Bond Fund in 2020. Backed by cornerstone investment from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the fund gives investors a clear climate-focused investment option that supports the transition to a clean energy economy.

The Green Bond Fund’s primary purpose is to help lower carbon emissions. It invests in a range of green, sustainable and social bonds from providers that conduct their business and apply capital responsibly, with consideration to a range of ESG issues.

Healthcare Property Trust

In FY22, the Australian Unity’s $3.33 billion Healthcare Property Trust approved a comprehensive ESG plan to support its ambitions to:

maintain its global and domestic leadership position
attract and maintain investment
drive tenant and investor engagement
position Australian Unity as a trusted and strategic property partner
address, adapt to and mitigate risks associated with the impacts of climate change
minimise resource use, waste and pollution
enhance biodiversity
drive direct and measurable social impact