Ecology Building Society has formed a partnership with a number of ethical and green businesses, to encourage its customers to spend as well as save in a sustainable way, it says. Those offering discounts through the scheme include Good Energy, Greenfibres, Parity Projects, The Co-operative Phone and Broadband, Vintage Roots, Insure Green, Foresters Friendly Society and Paycare.

11 June 2013 – Leading sustainable finance institution Ecology Building Society today launched a unique package of benefits with partners from across the ethical and green business world. The new scheme, which is available to all Ecology members, aims to encourage members to spend, as well as save, in line with their values.

The Society, which has just under 9,000 members, sees the partnerships as a natural extension of its mutual principles and its mission to build a greener future. Partners involved in the scheme include renewable electricity supplier Good Energy, energy efficiency experts Parity Projects, organic textiles retailer Greenfibres, ethical telecommunications provider The Co-operative Phone and Broadband, and organic wine suppliers Vintage Roots. Ecology has also formed partnerships with Insure Green, the world’s first carbon neutral insurance broker, Foresters Friendly Society, a mutual focussed on family finance, and Paycare, a not-for-profit provider of healthcare benefits plans.

Commenting on the launch of the scheme, Ecology Chief Executive Paul Ellis said: “Money is power: where you save it and where you spend it shapes the world we live in. Some financial institutions focus on extracting value from their customers to generate short-term profit. We see our role as delivering value for our members and contributing to a greener future. That’s why we’re connecting our community of members to other businesses who share our principles and can help them to live more sustainably.”

Greenfibres founder William Lana commented: “Greenfibres have partnered with Ecology not only because we share principles, but also because we believe that ethical consumers and ethical organisations can – together – build an exciting new way of doing things, which will demonstrate that it’s possible to tackle the huge environmental and social issues of the day in a positive, creative, and life affirming way.”

Juliet Davenport OBE, CEO and founder of Good Energy, said: “Good Energy was established to enable consumers to make a difference by choosing an energy supplier that sources its electricity from wind, sun and water. We are very pleased to partner with Ecology who share our mission to build a greener future here in the UK and empower ordinary people to be part of that.”

News of the launch comes shortly after Ecology joined the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) a membership organisation made up of the world’s leading sustainable banks. Joining GABV will enable Ecology to increase its influence at the international level and work in global partnership to build a positive alternative to the current banking system.

For further information, please visit www.ecology.co.uk/benefits