The Small Print

Saying we are a climate positive company on our journey to becoming a carbon negative organisation is a big statement. This rightly, leaves us open to criticism and judgement by our stakeholders and the wider population. Hence, detailed here in ‘The Small Print’ of our Chairman’s Statement are some clear facts of our intentions, beliefs and most importantly, caveats around our climate positive pledge.

VAT Loans, our employees, and team members of our associated companies are not experts in the environment and the damage that CO2 emissions are creating. We rely on third party advice from people and organisations we believe to hold a greater knowledge on this subject than we do. However, saying this, we have done thorough research on this subject. This is why we believe has allowed us to make educated decisions such as working with Ecologi.

About our green agenda

Our pledge is a statement to how we do our part to help save the world in which we operate. We have focused on a tree planting program that may or may not be the best solution to reducing CO2. However, due to accessibility we have chosen this approach. Planting of trees can be viewed as a marketing gimmick. However, when we are using marketing headlines such as ‘WestWon Woodland,’ we are not suggesting in any way that we own a woodland ourselves. We are referring to woodland where monies we have donated are used to plant trees. This is around the world in places such as Mozambique, as well as a small portion of trees planted here in the UK.

Likewise, we have been given an average of how much CO2 an individual employee is accountable for in a year. We know from using the Ecologi carbon calculator that the rough number of trees that need planting for 25 employees is around 3,600 trees. This is an average, taken from the calculator based on advice taken on this subject.

Who we are and what this means for us

VAT Loans are a leasing company, we facilitate business growth by helping to fund assets. These range from a laptop to an office move, vehicle, or dentist chair. Fuelling investment into companies provides funds to buy more assets, hence creating more CO2 in the production process. We, like any other leasing and asset finance companies, leave ourselves wide open to criticism. This is when we talk about our green, climate positive or sustainability program.

To help tackle this, we have a continual plan to work with likeminded suppliers of equipment in the UK.

Working with Ecologi – a carbon conscious company

WestWon have therefore undertaken research into companies who focus on how to become a carbon neutral or climate positive company. One of the simplest solutions, which most people can clearly relate to, is the planting of trees.

There are several companies that operate in the UK in this sector. After careful consideration, WestWon have chosen to team up with Ecologi. They are a not-for-profit organisation. We have a contract in place with this company where we make a monthly donation that is used to plant trees. Some of these monies will be used for administrative and marketing purposes. The donation payment will vary based on pledges we have made. For example, as and when we hold an external meeting with a prospect, customer, or supplier, we will pay for a tree to be planted. These are both to offset the amount of CO2 we use as employees. As well as for every month of a lease agreement with our customers.

Ecologi can be contacted on [email protected]. Please call them if they can assist your business in any way. Or if you would like comfort surrounding the donations that we make.

‘WestWon Woodland’ and ‘Branch out and lease a Tree’

We use various marketing terms, slogans, and strap lines in our Chairman’s Statement.

WestWon does not own woodland. Our donations go into a central fund used to pay for the planting of trees in the UK and abroad. The WestWon Woodland is our vision of a large expanse of area covered by trees funded by our company.

Likewise, you cannot lease a tree directly.

For further information on our Chairman’s Statement please contact the VAT Loans Marketing team.