In an era where climate change is firmly on the global agenda, FNB is pleased to launch a new nav» Earth feature of the FNB App to help millions of its customers to improve sustainable living by understanding the impact of their carbon emissions on the environment and ways to reduce it.
The innovative tool uses FNB’s data and analytics expertise, accompanied by international best-practice carbon factor methodologies, to estimate a monthly carbon emissions score based on your transactional spend data. The tool provides a ‘peer comparison model’ to assist customers in benchmarking their carbon footprint against others. In addition, nav» Earth offers access to education through a ‘Carbon Coach’ on climate change impacts and actions one can take that makes it relatable to clients and provides ways to seamlessly donate to carbon offsetting causes using cash or eBucks to improve their carbon emissions score.
“The solution is another tangible expression of our commitment to sustainability,” says Sizwe Nxedlana, CEO of FNB’s Private Segment. “It’s yet another contribution to building a better, more sustainable world. By providing customers with the ability to monitor their carbon footprint and offering practical guidance on how to reduce it, we’re effectively empowering the average citizen to contribute to the global agenda to resist climate change. The introduction of nav» Earth provides customers with actionable insights based on their activities and recommends easy ways to mitigate the adverse impact on the environment. Being able to do all this on the FNB App, which generates in excess of 1.2 billion logins annually, makes this much more accessible.”
Kival Singh, Sustainability Lead for FNB’s Personal and Private Segments, adds that “As a country that continues to experience natural disasters due to an increasingly unpredictable climate, environmental sustainability needs to be at the top of everyone’s priorities. We believe that our efforts to provide relevant information and simple but effective ways to address areas of concern is key to driving positive change in society. Our customers can access nav» Earth under the ‘navigate life’ tab of the FNB App and follow a few quick prompts to resume their sustainable living journey.”
The introduction of nav» Earth is one of many initiatives that FNB has announced in recent months to improve the sustainability of its own operations while helping customers along the same journey. FNB recently announced plans to equip 100 of its branches with solar power, and earlier this year, it also launched nav» Energy to help customers with education and access to alternative energy solutions. In addition, the Bank is participating in the National Treasury’s energy loan scheme, which will provide funding at low interest rates for consumers and businesses to install alternative energy solutions such as solar.
Freaky Ratbuster
Sibongile Sambo from a young age had an interest in flying, but when she was rejected from South African Airways for not meeting the height requirement, she decided to reach her dream another way. In 2003, with the help of a small family loan, she launched SRS Aviation. Not long after she started up, she won a tender from the government, which gave her the perfect opportunity to enter the industry and learn the ropes. In 2006, her business was issued with a formal Air Operating Certificate, making her business the first black operational enterprise in South Africa to have full rights to undertake commercial flying activities. In 2010, SRS Aviation opened its first airport-based shop and has since opened a chain of retail shops across South Africa.