The financial sector has a disproportionately large carbon footprint, with emissions from some investments accounting for over 700 times those of firms themselves. Allan Wong explains how Matthew Douglas is driving vital transformational change to reduce its environmental impact – and improve our user experience for investors.
With worsening climate events, such as Antarctica’s largest glacier melting much faster than anticipated, and record-breaking temperatures being reported globally, more and more companies are seeking to slash their carbon footprint to reduce their environmental impact.
In fact, as of 2022, 99% of all UK companies provide detailed sustainability reporting – detailing their overall emissions as well as current and future measures to minimise them.
At Matthew Douglas, we are proud to be part of this movement, actively committed to reducing our environmental impact across all operations. A key part of this journey is our decision to go paperless, starting with how we manage investments.
Investing in the future: a paperless portfolio
One of the most effective steps we’ve taken is transitioning to a completely paperless investment management system. By adopting CashCalc—a trusted online portal—we’ve replaced paper-based processes with secure, digital alternatives. Through CashCalc, you can securely send messages, upload documents, and complete Fact Finds—all without the need for printing or posting materials.
This shift is more than just a change in operations; it’s an essential part of our commitment to sustainability. The pulp and paper industry consumes 15% of the world’s wood supply, contributing to deforestation and energy use. By moving to digital solutions, we’re drastically reducing paper waste and the energy used to transport documents—helping to minimise our carbon footprint while offering clients greater flexibility and accessibility.
Improving our operations and your experience
While we can’t directly control the carbon emissions generated by the investments themselves (which are reported to be 700 times higher than those of financial institutions according to the carbon reporting platform CDP), we can take decisive action in areas where we can make a difference. By streamlining our operations, such as uploading all documents online rather than posting them, we’re making our services faster and more secure.
This not only reduces our environmental impact but also enhances your experience by providing quicker response times and safeguarding your investments through secure, innovative systems. Digital documentation ensures the protection of your sensitive information with industry-leading security measures—all while contributing to a greener planet.
A shared journey toward sustainability
To all our clients who have already onboarded onto CashCalc, we extend a heartfelt “thank you” for being part of this vital change. By choosing digital over paper, you’re helping drive transformational change at Matthew Douglas, contributing to a more sustainable future for us all.
For those who haven’t yet switched to our paperless system, we encourage you to reach out to your adviser. You may have been emailed an onboarding invite from CashCalc, so keep an eye out in your inbox. A member of our team will be in touch soon to assist you in transitioning to this more eco-friendly and convenient method of managing your investments.
Looking ahead: our continued commitment
As we continue our journey toward reducing our environmental impact, rest assured that this is just the beginning. We are exploring further initiatives to become even more eco-friendly, from refining our digital services to investing in sustainable practices across the board. Together with our clients, we are committed to taking meaningful steps toward a greener future—one investment at a time.