Sustainability

Together we can make a difference

Sustainably-minded, making conscious choices

At Southern Cross Credit Union (SCCU), we live and breathe the Credit Union ethos to help support and be there for our customers and communities. A big part of this is caring for the places they call home by addressing the environmental, social and economic challenges that exist today.

We recognise the need to act and are committed to making a positive impact for a more sustainable future that benefits generations to come. We want to encourage others to do the same, influence change and share our learnings. As part of our larger business strategy, our sustainability approach is holistic and grounded by the belief that every step in the right direction adds up.

For us it’s about learning, collaborating with experts, setting the right pace and having a plan that balances little wins with big picture goals.

 

Our Pillars for Sustainable Growth

Engaging All People

Through engagement, shared-learning, collaboration and open communication we strive to partner for environmental and social good, influencing change and embedding a culture of sustainability that extends beyond our team.

Engaging All People
Managing Our Impact

Adapting our operations to reduce carbon emissions and constantly looking at ways to improve processes and procedures to ensure we are acting responsibly and playing our part to manage our impact on the environment.

Managing Our Impact
Sustainable Solutions

We seek to continue providing sustainable solutions, such as our 100% recyclable Visa Debit Cards, allowing our customers to make conscious choices.

Sustainable Solutions
Acting With Integrity

Acting as a responsible business goes beyond our role in finance. We act with integrity and seek to engage in ethical practices, aligning with people who have the same values towards sustainability.

Acting With Integrity

Our Sustainability Journey So Far

Our vision to become a more sustainable business and help contribute to this movement hasn’t just happened overnight. In fact we’ve been intertwining changes within our day to day practices and approach to community for a while now. Here’s a few projects that we’re incredibly proud to bring under a more structured, transparent and consistent approach.

A reusable blue cup placed beside a cardboard box, showcasing the SCCU branding

It’s cool to care

Catching up over a cuppa’ or picking one up on the way to work has never looked so good. After looking at how many disposable cups we were using, we decided to give everyone in the SCCU team a very cool reusable cup from Joco.

 

100% recyclable debit cards

Our new Visa Debit cards made from recycled materials are here. An initiative designed to avoid plastic waste, reduce carbon emissions, and help our customers embark in our sustainability journey with us.

The recycled PVC card is made from waste derived from PVC toys, medical and electric plastic, making it also 100% recyclable after usage.

You can learn more about our Visa Debit Cards here.

#WelcomeHome

To inspire a better tomorrow, we’ve redesigned our gift boxes for new home owners to include eco-friendly products that we hope become everyday ‘go-to’s. We’ve also introduced Australian made seeded cards to say thank you and when planted, grow Snowy River daisies.

It’s just our way of saying #welcomehome while caring for the home we all share.

A box revealing a delicate flower embraced by a gentle hand, while a graceful bird hovers nearby.

Community Partners

We partner with grassroot organisations to address societal and environmental issues that impact people throughout the Northern Rivers and beyond.

We’re proud Community Partners of:

  • Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital
  • Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Positive Change for Marine Life
  • Cudgen Surf Life Saving Club
  • Hockey Tweed and Casuarina

Stay up to date with our Community Partners via our social media, where we post upcoming events and ways to support.

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  • Corporate Responsibility & Policy

    As we continue to grow our knowledge and start new projects, we understand the need to formalise practices, policies and our corporate statements to better reflect the behaviours and actions that we expect of ourselves, and those we choose to work with.

    Formalising our approach by:
    • Updating our corporate statements including our Commitment to Sustainability: We’re committed to making a positive impact for a more sustainable future and demonstrate what it means to care about people and place, through actions that reflect our mutual ethos. We seek to continuously grow our knowledge, inspire others and share our progress in addressing the environmental, social and economic challenges that are most material to our people, customers and communities.
    Providing policies that address:
    • Hardship
    • Vulnerable Customers
    • Flexible Working
    Offering opportunities for our people to be involved through:
    • Volunteering & community involvement
    • Specific sustainability projects with Community Partners
A friend once told me; ‘If you could help a little bit, why wouldn’t you?’ Which stemmed to a larger conversation about not being able to fix the world’s problems instantly. The great point of this is; Imagine if EVERYONE helped, just a little bit! You can take this idea and make ongoing small changes in your life, to help a little bit.
Brendan, SCCU
It can seem like an impossible task to change society’s direction. Being sustainable isn’t always about the headline act or the big efforts. Individually, little changes that stick, that make a difference in our lives and those around us will add up to a sustained, continued, positive change. We can help save our planet and our kids’ future one small action at a time. We just have to roll the sleeves up and get stuck in where we can.
Steven Quirke, SCCU
Southern Cross Credit Union’s financial help was a massive help to our organisation. This money went directly into feeding and caring for the animals that we have rescued and are in our care. With this kind of support we can give the best possible care to these animals so they can be released back into the wild.
Kelsey Banister, Australian Seabird Rescue Assistant to the General Manager
Not everyone is going to be an environmentalist, but it is important to always think about our own earthly fingerprints. Even something as small as picking up rubbish left on the sidewalk, the people of SCCU understand that it’s the little things that make the earth a happier, more sustainable place.
Teaghan, SCCU Eco-Warrior & Lending Support Specialist
Through their yearly sponsorship, Southern Cross Credit Union have demonstrated their commitment to environmental sustainability in our region in a number of ways. As well as funding projects to recycle plastic waste and remediate contaminated soil, they have supported Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital to provide expert veterinary care to native animals. We’re so very grateful to SCCU for their support and applaud their commitment to conservation and sustainability projects.    
Dr Stephen Van Mil - Founder and CEO, Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital
Southern Cross Credit Unit is an outstanding example of a business that is all about doing right by the communities that it operates in. By supporting local organisations such as ours (Positive Change for Marine Life), they are helping to address major issues around sustainability and environmental management. As is true to character for a locally focused, community-oriented business, they not only support us financially, but by actively attending and getting involved in community events. We are proud to have SCCU as a long term partner for our projects and campaigns, as we strive to foster greater community custodianship of the incredible environments we call home.
Dane Marx - Positive Change For Marine Life