Westpac Group announces 2020 Sustainability Strategy

15 November 2017

Westpac Group’s 2020 Sustainability Strategy released today outlines the Group’s commitment to building a sustainable future by taking action in the areas where it can have the greatest impact.
 

Brian Hartzer, Westpac Group CEO said that when the Group set out its first sustainability strategy fifteen years ago, it made clear its position on the responsibility of business.
 

“Our world is changing at an unprecedented rate, affecting how we all live and work. Through our 2020 Sustainability Strategy we want to challenge ourselves on ways to create the most meaningful economic, social and environmental impact.”
 

“Our strategy is centred around service and how we can best support our customers, our communities and our people as we navigate the most pressing current and emerging issues. We want to foster a fairer and more inclusive future for all.”
 

“It’s about all of us. We want to support our customers in both the good and the tough times, and to build innovative partnerships with industry, the social sector and government to tackle complex issues in areas where we can make a difference,” said Mr Hartzer.
 

Westpac Group's 2020 Sustainability Strategy (PDF 2MB) has three priority areas, underpinned by 28 initiatives designed to help our customers, our community and our people. It also includes a commitment to continue to lead on the Sustainability fundamentals – policies, action plans, frameworks and metrics reporting, in particular building on the climate change, human rights and reconciliation action plans developed earlier this year.
 

Initiatives under the three priority areas include:

  • Helping people make better financial decisions.
    • Delivering products and services that help customers make better financial decisions;
    • Implementing financial health check programs;
    • Delivering financial capability training programs and resources; and
    • Providing additional insights to business customers.

 

  • Helping people by being there when it matters most to them.
    • Providing targeted support to help customers recover from financial hardship;
    • Making support available to customers experiencing significant life events such as the death of someone close to them, divorce or the birth of a child;
    • Providing support to communities impacted by a disaster or by major changes in local economies; and
    • Supporting business customers through transitions, such as family succession.

 

  • Helping people create a prosperous nation.
    • Providing our employees with access to learning opportunities to help build the skills needed for the workforce of the future;
    • Investing $50 million by 2020 to back the people and ideas shaping Australia; and
    • Backing the growth of climate change and housing affordability solutions.