Who we invest in
We are one of the few fund managers that disclose all of our investments. We believe it is important that investors know where their money is invested and what activities it is funding.
As with most active managers, Australian Ethical continually monitors its investments to ensure that each one will continue to provide superior and sustainable returns. However, unlike most managers, we also rigorously monitor and engage with our investee companies to make sure that their ethical standards are not only maintained, but improved upon.
The following company profiles are from our screened portfolios. The profiles are effective as of six months prior to the below date.
Date: 31 December 2012
Renewable and clean energy
Solar power
- United States of America
GT Solar is a provider of production equipment and engineering packages for the solar, LED and other specialty markets. The company is a leading supplier to polysilicon manufacturers – the key feedstock for the solar industry.
Geothermal energy
- New Zealand
Contact Energy is one of the largest retailers of electricity in New Zealand, and generates about 25% of the country’s energy requirements. Contact’s energy is generated using hydro, geothermal and gas turbines.
- United States of AmericaOrmat has combined ecology with economy to produce environmentally sound energy systems since 1965. It is a leading vertically integrated company focussing on geothermal power, recovered energy generation and remote power. With over four decades of expertise, the company has pioneered significant advances in the industry. The company has built or supplied equipment for approximately 1370 MW of geothermal and recovered energy power generation power plants in more than 71 countries.
- Australia
Petratherm is aiming to produce commercially sustainable, emission-free, renewable energy by identifying and developing hot geothermal source rocks. Unlike burning fossil fuels, geothermal energy emits no greenhouse gases, pollution or hazardous wastes. The company has geothermal energy projects in Australia, Spain and China.
Wind power
- New Zealand
Established in 1925, Tauranga-based TrustPower generates 100% renewable electricity from wind and hydro power generation units across New Zealand and Australia. TrustPower owns and operates 621MW of hydro and wind generation assets in New Zealand and the 99MW Snowtown wind power farm in South Australia.
- Denmark
Danish company Vestas began wind turbine manufacturing in 1979, and is now a global, market leading producer of high technological wind power solutions. With more than 25 years experience, the company has an extensive portfolio of turbines which are suited to specific conditions and requirements.
Hydro power
- New Zealand
Contact Energy is one of the largest retailers of electricity in New Zealand, and generates about 25% of the country’s energy requirements. Contact’s energy is generated using hydro, geothermal and gas turbines.
- New Zealand
Established in 1925, Tauranga-based TrustPower generates 100% renewable electricity from wind and hydro power generation units across New Zealand and Australia. TrustPower owns and operates 621MW of hydro and wind generation assets in New Zealand and the 99MW Snowtown wind power farm in South Australia.
Biomass energy
- Australia
Energy Developments is engaged in the development and management of an international portfolio of projects with a particular focus on waste-gas fuels and low emission power generation. Power plants operated by Energy Developments are providing greenhouse gas emission reductions equivalent to approximately 10.6 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Water technologies
- United States of America
Close monitoring of resource use is an important aspect of any energy efficiency program. Itron provides a range of products and services in the area of water and energy metering. The company's clients are able to improve data analysis, optimizing the delivery and use of water and energy. Increased efficiency of resource use leads to positive outcomes for customers, utilities and the environment.
Infrastructure
Telecommunications
- Australia
Broadcast Australia develops and operates communications infrastructure, including analogue and digital television and analogue radio broadcast infrastructure, which is used by organisations such as SBS, the ABC, and the emergency services.
- Australia
Macquarie Telecom is an Australian-based provider of data hosting, fixed-line and mobile telecommunication services to businesses and government departments in Australia and Singapore. The company has implemented a number of energy saving initiatives at its data centres to reduce the impact of its operations.
- Australia
Telstra Corporation Ltd is Australia’s primary provider of information and telecommunications goods and services, including mobile and fixed line telephone services and infrastructure, payphones, mobile and fixed line internet services, and telecommunications hardware sales to the public, business and government. Telstra provides equitable access to telecommunications Australia-wide under the Universal Service Obligation, mandated by the federal government.
- Australia
TPG Telecom is a telecommunications and internet service provider based in Australia, and owns the Pipe Pacific Cable (PPC-1) link between Sydney and Guam which provides significant broadband capacity between Australia, Japan and the USA. The company has a significant presence in regional areas of Australia.
Energy supply
- Australia
APA Group owns and manages gas transmission and distribution assets across all Australian states and territories. With its 12,700km of gas transmission infrastructure and 2,800km of gas distribution networks the company is the country’s largest natural gas transporter. APA Group delivers more than half of Australia’s annual gas needs. Natural gas is a low emission energy source which provides an affordable and quick transformation from conventional fossil fuels such as coal.
- New Zealand
Contact Energy is one of the largest retailers of electricity in New Zealand, and generates about 25% of the country’s energy requirements. Contact’s energy is generated using hydro, geothermal and gas turbines.
- Australia
The Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline stretches almost 1,600km across Western Australia. The pipeline of one of the State’s key energy assets transporting natural gas from remote gas operations in the north to households, industrial users and power generators in metropolitan and regional centres on the south-west. Natural gas is a transitional low emission fuel. It has considerably lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels such as oil and coal.
- Australia
DUET Group owns energy utility assets that facilitate natural gas use in Western Australia and Victoria. The company invests in the Dampier Bunbury Pipeline gas transmission system, the Multinet gas distribution system and the United Energy electricity distribution network.
- AustraliaElectraNet owns and manages the South Australian transmission system in the National Electricity Market. The network compromises 5,700 kilometres of transmission line, and 76 substations and switchyards. South Australia's electricity is in majority generated from low emission natural gas and renewable energies. ElectraNet accepts electricity from generators transforming it to high voltage for efficient transportation to low voltage distribution networks.
- Australia
Energy Developments is engaged in the development and management of an international portfolio of projects with a particular focus on waste-gas fuels and low emission power generation. Power plants operated by Energy Developments are providing greenhouse gas emission reductions equivalent to approximately 10.6 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide equivalent.
- Australia
Envestra owns approximately 20,000km of natural gas distribution networks and 1,000km of transmission pipelines, serving consumers in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The creation of Envestra was directly linked to federal government policy to introduce greater competition into the natural gas industry by splitting the retail function from the ownership and operation of the distribution networks.
- United Kingdom
National Grid is a UK-based utilities company involved in the delivery of electric power and natural gas. It operates electricity and gas infrastructure networks in the UK and Northern US, serving around 19 million customers directly. National Grid also has solar generation units in Massachusetts that generate 3.4MW of solar power.
- Japan
Established in 1897 Osaka Gas provides natural gas services to approximately seven million customers in the Kansai region of Japan. The company has 19,000 employees and is the second largest provider of gas in Japan. Osaka Gas also owns interests in two Japanese wind farms.
- Malaysia
Petronas Gas Berhad generates a majority of its revenue from the processing and transmission of natural gas. The company owns six gas processing plants and operates the Peninsular Gas Utilisation Pipeline in Malaysia. Other activities include the supply of industrial utility products and provision of project management services to the Group.
- Japan
Tokyo Gas generates the majority of its revenue from the sale of natural gas and gas appliances. Other activities include the supply of district heating and cooling systems for cold and hot water and vapour and the supply of electricity. Tokyo Gas has developed a co-generation system that uses a fuel cell to provide energy and heating for their residential customers.
Gas supply/network
- United States of America
Spectra Energy Partners is a U.S based Master Limited Partnership that owns natural gas pipeline and storage businesses. The company wholly owns East Tennessee Natural Gas, Ozark Gas Transmission, the Big Sandy Pipeline and Saltville Gas Storage Company. The company also has significant ownership interests in Market Hub Partners (50%) and Gulfstream Natural Gas System (49%). Natural gas is a low emission energy source which provides an alternative to conventional high-emitting fuel sources such as coal and oil.
Recycling and waste management
- United States of AmericaAegion Corporation is a US-based leading worldwide provider of proprietary technologies and services for rehabilitating sewer, water, energy and mining piping systems and the corrosion protection of industrial pipelines. The Company’s technology has been used to reconstruct over 17,000 miles of underground pipe infrastructure throughout the world as its pioneering trenchless technology responds with long-term, less disruptive solutions that are affordable to customers seeking pipeline rehabilitation and protection.
- Japan
Asahi Holdings is a Japanese company involved in the recycling and sale of precious metals. The company extracts precious metals from a range of waste streams including dental materials, photosensitized materials, electronic materials and jewellery industry waste. The company also has a specialised waste treatment business that handles a wide range of industrial wastes including acids, sludge, oils, plastics, inks, photographic waste, chemical reagents and other persistent organic pollutants.
- United States of America
Darling International is a US-based processor of food industry waste, producing useful goods from waste which is otherwise difficult to dispose of. Without these services, landfills would struggle to cope with the large volume of food industry waste.
- Canada
Newalta is a Canadian industrial waste management business. The company provides industrial waste management, treatment, disposal and recycling services including recycling lead-acid batteries and recovering and recycling usable oil from industrial waste streams.
- Australia
Sims Metal Management is a leading metals recycling company, with operations throughout the world. The company has also expanded into the recycling of electronics waste in Europe, North America, Australasia, Asia and South Africa. This includes the identification of products and components that can be reused, as well as the extraction of raw materials from the remaining waste.
- Norway
Tomra is a Norwegian manufacturer of 'reverse vending machines' (RVMs) that collect beverage containers for recycling purposes, and dispense an appropriate refund. In addition to reducing costs and increasing efficiencies for retailers and the recycling industry, Tomra also helps to 'close the loop' in the life cycle of more than 25 billion beverage containers used each year worldwide.
- Australia
Transpacific is Australia and New Zealand’s leading recycling, waste management and industrial services company. The company is involved in a range of other waste-related industries, including the collection, recycling and reuse of used oil (both hydrocarbon based and organic oils); the collection and treatment of biodegradable aqueous wastes; and the collection and treatment of hazardous wastes.
Efficient transport
Bicycles
- Netherlands
Accell Group's bicycle brands have been sold in Europe for over 100 years. The company's sales are focused in the European market. Accell brands cater to a broad range of consumer needs, including children's bikes, racing and mountain bikes and bikes designed for use in European cities. The company also generates a small percentage of revenue from the manufacture of fitness and gymnasium equipment.
- JapanShimano’s primary products are bicycle components and recreational fishing equipment. Cycling has been shown to reduce global warming, pollution and traffic congestion, while improving the health of riders.
Public transport
- United Kingdom
National Express is a leading international public transport company, carrying in excess of one billion passengers a year on their bus, train, light rail and express coach services. UK-based National Express traces its origins back to the establishment of the state-owned National Bus Company in 1968. The company was privatised in 1988 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1992.
- United Kingdom
Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transportation group, with extensive operations in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada. The company employs around 35,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services. The company operations integrate public transport systems that will form the core of future efforts to reduce pollution levels, alleviate road congestion and improve the quality of life in towns and cities. Stagecoach Group aim to be a market-leading public transport business with long term growth prospects based on high-quality services and investment in innovation.
Logistics
- AustraliaBrambles is a leading global provider of support services, operating in approximately 45 countries across six continents and employing over 12,000 people. The two company businesses are CHEP, which issues, collects, repairs and reissues pallets and containers to transport products safely and efficiently and Recall, which manages the secure storage, retrieval and destruction of physical and digital information. Over 95% of the company’s wood is sourced from sustainable sources.
- United States of America
Genesee & Wyoming (GWI) provides rail-freight transportation and supporting services in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Bolivia and Australia, with over 7,600 miles of owned and leased track. Rail is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of land-based freight transport.
- Australia
Qube Logistics provide port and stevedoring services for import and export goods, and related warehousing and distribution services in Australia. Logistics and related infrastructure coordinate freight transport, storage, inventory management, materials handling and related information processing to obtain minimum costs for consumers. At the same time logistics can contribute to energy efficiencies when transporting goods.
Health care
Pharmaceutical
- Australia
Alchemia is a drug discovery company, currently focussed on the commercialisation of a generic treatment for thrombosis and developing treatments for breast and colon cancer. All the disorders for which the company is developing treatments have a significant worldwide disease burden.
- Australia
CSL Ltd develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products of biological origin. CSL was the first to supply Australia's public with such life-saving products as insulin, penicillin and the polio vaccine. CSL Bioplasma has been the national fractionators for Australia since 1952 and has been a partner with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) working closely with federal and state governments to meet the clinical demands of the Australian community.
- New Zealand
Neuren Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company, currently focussing on developing treatments to assist sufferers of brain injury, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
- Australia
Pharmaxis is a specialist pharmaceutical company established to research, develop and bring to market human therapeutic products to treat chronic respiratory and autoimmune diseases. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) encompasses a number of serious conditions affecting the lungs (pulmonary system), including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. Worldwide, COPD ranks as the fifth leading the cause of death. It is projected to be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030.
- Australia
Sigma is a leading pharmaceutical distributor in Australia. It offers daily delivery services to over 4,000 retail pharmacies from its 15 Distribution Centres. It maintains around 12,000 product lines in its major centres that cater for the vast majority of retail pharmacy's needs. The company also manages the pharmacy brands Amcal, Guardian and Amcal Max.
- Australia
Sirtex Medical is a healthcare company currently engaged in the research, development, and commercialisation of treatments for cancers. The company is initially focussing on developing a treatment for liver cancer using its proprietary micro-sphere technology.
Medical technologies
- Australia
Acrux are an Australian biotechnology company which is developing and commercialising a range of health care products. The company is currently utilising its dermal delivery system to develop treatments for hormone deficiencies.
- AustraliaThe company’s central activity is the provision of medical diagnostic tools. Its SphygmoCor range of products allow a more detailed and accurate analysis of blood pressure than is provided by traditional diagnostic methods. The company’s products facilitate better diagnosis, and are used by medical practitioners and in clinical trials.
- AustraliaAvita Medical is an Australian Biotechnology Company currently focussed on the provision of skin regenerative products. The company’s products are based on the “spray-on-skin” technology developed by former Australian of the Year – Fiona Wood. The company’s “ReCell” product can be used to treat burns, wounds and skin conditions such as Vitiligo.
- Australia
Circadian Technologies is an Australian biotechnology company developing therapies for the treatment of cancer and other serious human illnesses. The company has patented a range of angiogenesis inhibitors that may be useful in preventing the growth and spread of cancers.
- Australia
Cochlear Ltd supplies approximately 70% of the world market in cochlear implants for profoundly hearing-impaired people. Almost half of the implant recipients are children. While some in the deaf community reject the cochlear technology, Australian Ethical believes the positive aspects make the technology worthwhile in providing choice to adults and to parents with children having profound hearing impairment.
- New Zealand
Fisher and Paykel Healthcare designs, manufactures and markets a range of products to assist patients with breathing difficulties, including respiratory humidifiers for adults and new-born babies, as well as devices for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea. The company also manufactures thermal management systems and Neonatal Intensive Care Units for new-born and premature babies.
- AustraliaResMed is a leading respiratory medical device manufacturer, specializing in products for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Studies have revealed that SDB can increase the risk of hypertension, coronary heart failure, and stroke, as well as contributing to sleep deprivation.
- Australia
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a condition affecting an estimated 4.2 million Australians. Characterised by headaches, fatigue and high blood pressure, SDB is associated with serious conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. SomnoMed products treat SDB conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and teeth grinding.
- Australia
Universal Biosensors is a specialist medical diagnostics company. It is focused on the development, manufacture and commercialisation of a range of in vitro diagnostic tests for point-of-care testing – testing performed at or near the site of patient care. Its lead product is OneTouch Verio which utilises the company’s propriety opposing electrode technology to create an accurate test for blood glucose levels. The test helps people suffering from diabetes manage the disease.
Health service provider
- Australia
Primary Health Care Ltd works with a wide range of health care professionals who provide comprehensive care to patients. A broad range of medical and related services are offered in Primary's network of medial centres and pathology centres across Australia. Primary is also a leading provider of healthcare technology solutions to medical practitioners, medical practices and hospitals.
- Australia
Ramsay Health Care was established in 1964 and has grown to become a global hospital group operating over 117 hospitals and day surgery facilities across Australia, the United Kingdom, France and Indonesia. The company is Australia's largest private hospital operator. Ramsay commits significant funds each year to health and medical teaching and research and works closely with universities around the country in the training of nurses and medical staff.
- Australia
Since listing on the ASX in 1987, Sonic Healthcare has grown to become one of the world’s largest medical diagnostics companies. The company provides pathology and radiology services to medical practitioners, hospitals, community medical services and their patients. Sonic employs over 23,000 people in its operations in Australia, the USA, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand.
Hygiene
- Australia
Ansell manufactures safety-focussed products in three main areas: professional healthcare, including gloves for surgeons; occupational healthcare, including industrial hand protection; and consumer healthcare, including condoms and household gloves. Australian Ethical’s view is that given the importance of condoms to family planning and individual health, condom manufacture is a positive under the Australian Ethical Charter.
Wealth
Credit unions
- Australia
Credit unions are mutual organisations, owned by their members. They have consistently outperformed other financial institutions in surveys of customer satisfaction. Community CPS Australia (Community CPS) was established in 2006, as a result of a merger between CPS Credit Union (SA) Ltd (CPS SA) and CPS Credit Union Co-operative (ACT) Ltd (CPS ACT). The credit union provides a range of services and benefits that help members to meet their financial needs and aspirations.
- Australia
Credit Union Australia (CUA) is Australia’s largest credit union with over 400,000 members and assets under management of approximately AUD 7.5bn. It was awarded the Credit Union of the Year award in 2009 at the annual Australian Banking and Finance Awards.
- Australia
Maleny is a locally based credit union circulating money within their part of Queensland for the benefit of the community. It has a policy of encouraging loans for socially and environmentally responsible purposes, and the co-operative donates up to 10% of its profits to the community.
- Australia
mecu Ltd has formed over almost 50 years and a succession of credit union mergers. Today mecu is a national credit union that employs over 330 staff and has assets of over $2.3 billion. mecu offers an environmentally friendly goGreen® Car Loan, which through the planting and maintaining of trees, offsets the cars emissions for the life of the loan. Furthermore, mecu offers a goGreen® Home Loan which provides lower interest rates and biodiversity offsets for homes purchased with a 6+ star NatHERS rating. mecu is also the first credit union in the world to become a signatory to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Statement by Financial Institutions on the Environment and Sustainable Development.
- Australia
Police and Nurses is Western Australia's largest home-grown and locally-run financial institution, with an operational history spanning more than 30 years. For the past two years the credit society has won the "Best Credit Union" award from the Australian Banking & Finance Magazine and in a recent independent survey of members scored a 91% satisfaction rating.
- Australia
Savings and Loans Credit Union is Australia’s second-largest credit union, with more than 190,000 members, 620 staff and branches across all of Australia. The credit union has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2010.
- Australia
SGE Credit Union was formed in 1959 to provide state government employees (SGE) of NSW and Victoria, as well as the communities of Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Newcastle, Lismore, Wollongong, Liverpool and Parramatta with personal financial services. SGE currently has over 43,000 members and assets of over AUD 500m.
Building societies
- Australia
Established in 1981, Heritage Building Society has grown to become Australia’s largest building society. Heritage Building Society is a mutual organisation; it is owned by the members it serves. The company supports the communities it operates in through a local sponsorship program and its ‘community branch’ model.
- Australia
IMB is one of Australia’s largest building societies with assets of more than $4.5 billion and over 180,000 members. A recent member satisfaction survey has shown that IMB members have an overall satisfaction level of 95% and the building society received the Illawarra Business Chambers award for the best Professional and Commercial Service Business in 2007.
- Australia
Newcastle Permanent is an independent, mutual, retail financial service provider with total assets of over $6.6 billion. Newcastle Permanent has a Charitable Foundation which actively supports the regions in which it operates. The building society takes great pride in supporting and contributing to the well-being of the communities in which it operates, supporting initiatives that benefit the community in areas such as health, education, the arts, sport, environment, as well as community based projects.
Retail banking
- AustraliaBank of Queensland generates a high proportion of its earnings from retail banking services, including from home loans. It also supports a range of community initiatives and has formed community partnerships in five major youth areas: education, health, welfare, the arts and the environment.
- Australia
Bank of Western Australia generates a high proportion of its earnings from retail banking services. The bank has recently expanded its branch and ATM network in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
- AustraliaBendigo and Adelaide Bank generates a high proportion of its earnings from retail banking services, including from home loans. It also supports a range of community banking initiatives.
- Australia
ING Bank (Australia), trading as ING Direct, is Australia’s 5th largest retail bank and provides services to over 1.5 million customers. The company primarily invests customer funds in retail mortgages in Australia.
- Australia
Members Equity Bank was originally formed in 1999 and supported by the Australian Council of Trade Unions. It was originally designed to offer low cost home loans to its members, but has since expanded to provide a range of other financial services. Members Equity Bank is a signatory to the UN PRI, UN Global Compact, UN Environment Program Finance Initiative and the Victorian EPA Sustainability Covenant.
- Australia
The Suncorp Group is Australia’s fifth largest bank and the largest insurance group in Australia. The company focuses on retail consumers and small to medium business. The company has a number of community involvement programs.
- AustraliaOn 1 December 2008, Westpac merged with St George Bank Ltd, which was an investee company in the portfolios of the australianethical managed funds. St George belonged to a group of banks from the 'second tier': Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (Adelaide Bank Ltd, Bendigo Bank Ltd), Bank of Queensland Ltd, St George Bank Ltd. These banks were chosen for the high proportion of their loans portfolio in home loans, and for community banking initiatives.
- Australia
Wide Bay Australia is one of Australia’s larger non-bank Approved Deposit Taking institutions, regulated under APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority). The company offers a range of personal and commercial banking services including home loans, credit cards, and term deposits.
Stock exchanges
- Australia
The ASX operates Australia’s primary national exchange for equities, derivatives and fixed interest securities. It also provides comprehensive market data and information to a range of users, including investor education classes.
Insurance
- Australia
Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG) is Australasia's leading general insurance group. It owns some of the region’s most respected insurance brands including NRMA Insurance, SGIO, SGIC, CGU and Swann Insurance in Australia, and State Insurance, Circle and NZI in New Zealand. IAG has publicly recognised the link between their insurance business and environmental issues such as climate change. The company has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.
- Australia
QBE Insurance Group is Australia's largest international general insurance and reinsurance group. It is a Sydney based company with operations in 52 countries. In Australia the company provides all major lines of general insurance cover for personal and commercial risks.
- AustraliaTerritory Insurance Office (TIO) commenced operations in the Northern Territory in 1979. The TIO is the Northern Territory's own insurance and banking provider with $1 billion in assets and a branch network across the Territory. The organisation is committed to supporting and investing in the Territory and as a leading government owned business is strongly focused on delivering local products and services.
Venture capitalists
- AustraliaCVC Sustainable Investments Ltd is an investment company that invests in smaller (typically non-stock exchange-listed) Australian companies that are generating innovative solutions to environmental problems or whose operations cause little or no environmental damage. This includes technologies, processes and products that reduce the use of non-renewable resources, increase energy efficiency or reduce pollution, reduce waste or increase recycling opportunities, and provide solutions to environmental problems.
Debt investments
- Mortgage-backed securitiesThe securitisation of mortgages increases the availability of funds for home lending. For prudential purposes we invest in securities from a range of originators.
- State Government Debt
Australian Ethical recognises the important role that governments play in the delivery of essential services to the community. The majority of spending for all State governments is in the areas of health and education. Australian Ethical seeks to avoid State government debt where a high proportion of revenue is associated with activities that wouldn't be supported by the Australian Ethical Charter, such as native forestry or coal-fired power generation.
Knowledge
Schools
- Australia
The Montessori approach offers a broad vision of education as an aid to life. It is designed to help children with their task of inner construction as they grow from childhood to maturity. Montessori classrooms provide a prepared environment where children are free to respond to their natural tendency to work. The children's innate passion for learning is encouraged by giving them opportunities to engage in spontaneous, purposeful activities with the guidance of a trained adult.
- Little Yarra Steiner SchoolAustraliaLittle Yarra Steiner School is one of the New South Wales and Victorian schools of Steiner Education. These schools meet the intellectual, artistic and physical needs of children through reason, imagination and environmental awareness. australianethical loans along with government capital grants have helped finance school expansion, classroom fit-outs, libraries and administrative centres.
- Lorien Novalis Steiner SchoolAustraliaLorien Novalis Steiner School is one of the New South Wales and Victorian schools of Steiner Education. These schools meet the intellectual, artistic and physical needs of children through reason, imagination and environmental awareness. australianethical loans along with government capital grants have helped finance school expansion, classroom fit-outs, libraries and administrative centres.
- Mumbulla Steiner SchoolAustraliaMumbulla Steiner School is one of the New South Wales and Victorian schools of Steiner Education. These schools meet the intellectual, artistic and physical needs of children through reason, imagination and environmental awareness. australianethical loans along with government capital grants have helped finance school expansion, classroom fit-outs, libraries and administrative centres.
Education
- Australia
Navitas Limited’s core business is the provision of education services such as pre-university and university pathway programs, including English courses and assisting international students who wish to access tertiary education courses. The company manages colleges and campuses in 28 countries. Some of the company’s institutes also offer workforce training and undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas. Academic analysis has shown a strong relationship between higher education participation and per capita income around the world.
Media and communications
- Australia
APN News & Media is an Australian-based media group operating in the Asia-Pacific region. Its activities comprise publishing newspapers, magazines, directories and general printing, radio broadcasting, specialist transit and static outdoor advertising. The company’s publications primarily focus on rural and regional areas of Southern Queensland and Northern NSW.
- Australia
Fairfax Media Ltd is a leading Australian publishing group, with its mastheads including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Australian Financial Review, along with a range of business and consumer magazines. It has publications and websites in every State and the ACT in Australia, as well as throughout New Zealand. Fairfax's headquarters have been designed to maximize energy efficiency - with advanced waste water treatment facilities and natural lighting.
- Australia
REA Group is a Melbourne-based global online residential and commercial real estate advertising company. The company runs websites such as realestate.com.au, realcommercial.com.au, casa.it and athome.lu.
- Australia
SEEK Ltd is owned and operated in Australia, it also has offices across New Zealand and the UK. SEEK Ltd offers software that makes it quicker and easier for job seekers to find jobs that match their search criteria. For recruiters and employers, SEEK provides access to the largest audience of job candidates at a fraction of the cost of print advertising with greater functionality.
- New Zealand
Trade Me operates TradeMe.co.nz, New Zealand's largest online second hand auction and classifieds website. The company is majority-owned by Fairfax Media Ltd, an Australian newspaper publishing company.
Property
- 64 Allara Street, Canberra CityAustralia
The 64 Allara Street building, completed in November 2008, is an attractive small scale 'A' grade property in a boutique city location in the Australian Capital Territory. The building has been designed to meet a 4.5 NABERS rating when fully occupied and 5 GreenStar – Office Design rating.
- Australia
The Charter Hall Office REIT invests in office properties across Australia. The Trust is committed to adopting the principles of environmental sustainability in the day to day management of the portfolio. This involves a number of initiatives including the purchase of green power, use of energy efficient plant and equipment, and participation in water saving schemes.
- Australia
Commonwealth Property Office Fund has 29 office assets in its portfolio. The Fund has developed systems and processes which encourage sustainability in the context of the environment and communities in which it operates. In doing so the Fund has achieved reductions in water and energy usage.
- Hume, ACT - local commercial office spaceAustraliaThis Canberra commercial building is tenanted to the Department of Finance and Administration under a long term lease. The building includes a newly constructed warehouse with office at the front. The building office areas include north facing windows with good solar orientation for natural lighting and passive solar benefits.
- AustraliaInvesta Diversified Office Fund offers an opportunity to invest in commercial real estate that incorporates sustainability principles. It is an unlisted property trust with interests in a portfolio of 12 institutional grade CBD office properties in five of Australia's major centres. Investa enhances shareholder value by integrating sustainability practices, which are measurable, accountable and enduring.
- Lawley HouseAustralia
Lawley House is a three storey education and accommodation facility located in Barton. The property is situated on Brisbane Avenue and lakeside Bowen Drive overlooking Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra ACT and leased to the Commonwealth of Australia. The property houses the Australian Federal Police Training College and has played a significant role in the training of police recruits since 1979.
- AustraliaLend Lease are a diversified and integrated property developer. One of the Company’s subsidiaries, Lend Lease Solar, sells and installs residential solar power systems. The company is involved in the construction of buildings that have an obvious social utility, such as hospitals and schools.
- Australia
Mirvac Group is an Australian-based property developer. The company demonstrates a strong commitment to improving the sustainability of the Australian housing, office and retail sectors through the implementation of a range of green building initiatives including a target of a minimum 4 star NABERS rating for its office property portfolio.
- Mornington Park Development LtdAustraliaThe Mornington Park Project is an innovative approach to waste management which minimises the amount of waste transferred to landfill. As a nationwide model, it has potential to redesign society's attitude toward waste management and disposal. The resource recovery unit sorts out and recovers large amounts of recyclable waste for reuse and sale where possible. It also undertakes an active role in the education of future waste managers by housing an on-site education facility.
- Australia
Stockland is an Australian listed diversified property group which develops and invests in office, industrial, retail, residential and retirement living properties. The company commits to sustainability principles through engagement with stakeholders, strengthening the community and reducing its impact on the environment.
- Tourism HouseAustraliaTourism House is solely occupied by the Department of Finance and Administration. This commercial property has some 'green building' features such as double glazed windows, dedicated bicycle storage and showers, it also has north-east orientation.
Technology
- United States of America
Adobe is one of the world’s leading providers of software for creating, managing and delivering digital content. The company’s Portable Document Format has become the de facto standard for sharing documents and other content through the internet and across computer networks, regardless of platform or device. By developing a format that allows easy sharing of electronic documents, Adobe’s activities reduce paper wastage.
- Australia
Amcom Telecommunications Ltd is an Australian provider of internet, information and communication technology services to business and residential clients in Adelaide, Darwin and Perth. The provision of internet and communication technologies facilitates communication and access to information which benefits individuals and businesses.
- Australia
ASG Group is an Australian provider of information and communication technology services to Australian businesses. The Company’s environmental management systems and quality management systems are externally certified to internationally recognised standard.
- United States of America
Citrix Systems is a US company that provides software solutions to deliver mobile work styles and cloud services, making complex enterprise IT simpler and more accessible for 260,000 enterprises. Citrix technology offers flexibility to its users by allowing access to IT services anywhere, anytime from a range of devices, including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets. A Carbon Disclosure Project study estimates that application of cloud computing by large businesses in the US can save up to 85.7 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
- AustraliaGBST Holdings provides information technology services to the financial services sector. The company provides securities transaction software, margin lending software, securities clearing platforms, and offshore trading services. The company also develops software for the wealth management and client registry sector in Australia. Primary customers are brokers, wealth managers and general financial services companies. The company has offices in Australia, USA and the UK.
- Australia
Established in 1993, iiNet is Australia's second largest Internet Service Provider and is based in Perth. The company has recently launched an in-house research and development lab to drive improved digital connectivity and speeds. iiNet provides broadband and dialup internet services, voice and television over IP services, and fixed line and mobile telephone services.
- Australia
IRESS Market Technology Limited provides information, trading, compliance, order management, portfolio and financial planning systems and related tools to investors and wealth management professionals in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. The company has a reputation for producing innovative, sophisticated systems for all types of financial market participants and is committed to excellent customer service.
- Australia
Melbourne IT offers domain name registration, email services, internet content hosting, web site design, website marketing and security. The company’s origins are associated with the University of Melbourne, which was closely involved with the CSIRAC digital computer project in the 1950s, and was the first Australian organisation to be connected to the internet. The University received the rights to the .au domain name almost by default, and in the mid-1990s Melbourne IT was formed. The company has been registering domain names since 1996 and manages approximately 6 million domain names.
- Australia
NextDC is an Australia-based developer and operator of data centres. The company presently has one operational data centre, based in Brisbane, and is developing data centres in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Canberra. The company will be offering a range of highly flexible, scalable, resilient, enery efficient and secure data centre and related services to corporate, government and wholesale customers.
- Australia
Oakton is one of Australia’s largest information technology and business consulting firms. The company provides specialist end-to-end IT services to plan, deliver and operate business systems, as well as business consulting, financial management and assurance service.
- United States of America
Power Integrations supplies integrated circuits (ICs) used for power conversions in many electrical appliances. The company developed the EcoSmart technology which enables the production of energy-efficient, compact and lightweight power supplies. Power Integrations’ technology contributes to reducing the amount of energy wasted by electronic appliances in standby mode. Studies estimate that approximately 10 per cent of electricity used in Australian households is attributed to standby power.
- Germany
SAP is a multinational software company that specialises in making enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. SAP’s software programs allow companies to control different aspects of their business including finance, human resources, procurement, sales, and sustainability. The company is a very large user of renewable energy, with approximately 47% of their total electricity coming from renewable sources.
- Australia
TechnologyOne is one of the largest publicly listed information technology companies in Australia. The growth of information technology has been linked with increases in the efficiency of resource use in our economy. TechnologyOne has designed a number of specialist software packages to assist sectors regarded positively under the Australian Ethical Charter, such as the government and higher education sectors.
- New Zealand
Telecom is the dominant telecommunications and internet service provider in New Zealand. The company operates the Telecom Foundation which funds community initiatives. The company has recently undergone structural separation to demerge its infrastructure assets as part of New Zealand's ultra-fast broadband plan.
- Australia
UXC is an information technology service company offering business solutions to private and public sector clients in Australia and New Zealand. Business solutions include consulting, business applications such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and IT infrastructure.
- Finland
Vacon’s AC drives allow for the operation of electrical motors at variable speeds, resulting in longer engine life and increased energy efficiencies. The company estimates that 35 TWh of electricity was saved in 2010 through the operation of their drives. Vacon generates almost 20% of revenue from the sale of drives to the renewable energy sector.
- United States of America
A rapid increase in the use of information technology means that the IT sector is now estimated to account for as many greenhouse emissions as aviation. VMware’s virtualisation technology helps organisations consolidate servers and increase utilisation rates, greatly reducing power and cooling costs.
Sustainable products and practices
- United States of America
Acuity Brands is a US company and one of the world’s leading providers of lights, lighting control systems and related products and services. The company is considered a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting, controls and daylighting solutions.
- Germany
Aixtron is a provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry based in Germany. The company’s products are used primarily in the LED industry. LED lights are an extremely efficient form of lighting compared to traditional modes of lighting.
- United States of America
Capstone produces microturbines, energy generation equipment that produces considerably less pollution than other fossil fuel-based power technologies. When used as part of a Combined Heat and Power plant, microturbines can achieve efficiencies approaching 90%.
- United States of America
The company is a US-based provider and manufacturer of commercial printing solutions. It is a major provider of UV-curable printing solutions, which have significant environmental and efficiency benefits over solvent-based inks.
- Australia
GWA is an Australian manufacturer of building fittings and fixtures. A majority of the company’s revenue is derived from the sale of energy and water efficient products such as solar hot water heaters and water efficient toilets.
- United States of America
Herman Miller is a US based manufacturer and distributor of furnishings, interior products, and related services for the office and healthcare sectors. The company has won numerous awards for its approach to reducing waste, using recycled material in its finished products, and for outstanding innovation in design. Herman Miller has made a Board-level commitment to become sustainable in all aspects of its operations.
- United States of America
Interface is the world's leading producer of modular carpets, and a case study in sustainable business practice. It has revolutionised its manufacturing processes to reduce waste and energy use, increased use of renewable energy and recycled content, and reduced overall greenhouse gas emissions.
- Australia
InvoCare are Australia's largest provider of funeral services. Funeral directors assist families at very difficult times in people's lives. In addition to providing mainstream funeral services, InvoCare also offers a range of culturally-appropriate ceremonies as well as environmentally-friendly cardboard caskets through their LifeArt business.
- Australia
IXYS Corporation a Silicon Valley company focussed on the manufacture of semiconductors used in the renewable energy sector. The company has also developed portable solar chargers for batteries, laptops and mobile phones. The company is a member of the US-based Climate Savers Computing Initiative.
- GermanyThe company is one of the world’s primary manufacturers of electric forklifts, warehouse logistics hardware and associated products. The company researches and develops next-generation powertrains for forklifts, such as hybrid and fuel-cell designs to improve the energy efficiency of their products. The company’s products and services facilitate an efficiently-run logistics network, which reduces energy use and operating costs
- United States of America
LKQ is the largest provider of recycled automobile parts in the US. The company buys salvage vehicles and dismantles them for recycled parts which it then sells primarily to collision and mechanical repair shops. By sourcing recycled parts the company’s activities result in the use of considerably less energy and resources and reduces the amount of pollution associated with manufacturing original parts.
- Sweden
NIBE Industrier is an international heating technology company, with operations organised around three business areas – NIBE Element, NIBE Energy Systems and NIBE Stoves. The company manufactures innovative heating products including efficient electrical heaters, domestic heat pumps and wood-fired stoves. NIBE’s vision integrates the concept of corporate social responsibility into the work of the entire Group through relations with employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders.
- Australia
Reece Australia is a supplier of bathroom fittings, fixtures, plumbing and hot water systems. The company supplies and distributes a comprehensive range of energy and water efficient hot water systems, showers and tapware
- Denmark
Rockwool International A/S is involved in the manufacture and sale of enery efficient building products. The Company was introduced to the Copenhagen Stock Exchange in 1995. In its lifetime a typical Rockwool insulation product saves more than 100 times the energy invested in its manufacture, transport and disposal.
- Germany
The German company SMA Solar Technology AG was founded as an independent company out of Kassel's University in 1981 with the vision to develop and produce intelligent computer-based control systems for decentralized energy supply. Decentralised and modular energy technology is considered a key component for sustainable energy supply. SMA Solar Technology develops and manufactures photovoltaic inverters for solar plants of any size, on and off the grid. The company also supplies power electronics especially developed for short and long-distance railway traffic.
- United States of America
Tennant Company is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that help create a cleaner, safer world. The company was founded in 1870 (formerly G.H. Tennant Co.) in the USA and engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of cleaning solutions worldwide. The company's floor maintenance and outdoor cleaning equipment, chemical-free cleaning technologies, specialty surface coatings, and related products are used to maintain clean and safe non-residential surfaces. Tennant’s vision is to be a global leader in chemical-free cleaning and other technologies to help create a cleaner, healthier world.
- Germany
Vossloh AG is a transport technology manufacturer based in Germany. The company develops rail infrastructure, locomotives, trams and associated technological systems. The company also develops kits used to convert conventional buses to hybrid vehicles.
Social provisions
Risk and business management
- Australia
Coffey International Limited is a specialist professional services consultancy with expertise in geosciences, international development, and project management. The company works in conjunction with a range of government aid agencies to develop social infrastructure, and provides environmental consultancy services to a range of industries worldwide.
- Australia
Greencap Limited is a listed Australian company and the parent entity to a number of successful businesses in the risk management area. Company subsidiaries offer services that assist companies manage operational risk in a range of areas including environment, health and safety, property risk management, fire safety and communication services. The strategic objective of the company in the short to medium term is to build a national risk management group.
- Australia
Standards Australia’s principal activities focus on assurance services including the development and maintenance of over 120,000 Australian Standards, International Standards, foreign standards and business publications in a range of areas including environmental management systems, product quality and occupational health and safety. SAI is responsible for certification of companies and products based on the respected ISO14001 series of environmental standards.
Shareholder services
- Australia
Combining technology systems and professional services, Computershare manages stock and shareholder accounts for over 30,000 clients around the world. Computershare is one of the largest global suppliers of employee share ownership plan (ESOP) management services. Employee share ownership has been shown to promote the alignment of workers’ interests with those of their employers, allowing them to participate in the growth of the company as a whole.
