Affinity Water unveils new finance framework to draw green investment

Affinity Water has published its Green Finance Framework covering a spread of initiatives including sustainable water and wastewater management; pollution prevention and control; terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity conservation and energy efficiency.

The company said the framework will help it to attract investors who are supportive of these goals, “and who will act as valuable partners in supporting its journey and the company’s contribution to a more sustainable society.”

The Green Finance Framework, according to Affinity Water, aligns its strategic and sustainability priorities with its funding and financial strategy. Affinity Water’s interim chief, Stuart Ledger, said: “We are committed to protecting the environment, by preventing pollution and complying with environmental legislation, regulations and other requirements that are applicable to us. “We will now be able to issue green bonds and financing instruments to support our environmental objectives. We have set up a Green Finance Committee who will meet annually and oversee the evaluation and selection of suitable eligible green projects for funding.”

Affinity Water’s head of environmental strategy, Aaron Burton, said: “Our Green Finance Framework sets out what green investments can be made and takes potential investors through the type of projects we will be asking for investment in.

Affinity Water has appointed DNV Business Assurance Services UK to provide an independent Second Party Opinion confirming that the framework meets the required criteria and is “aligned with the stated definition of green bonds within the Green Bond Principles 2021 and the Green Loan Principles 2021.”