ESG – BEST COMPANIES IN EQUIPMENT FINANCE
Backed by the resources of M&T Bank, the M&T Equipment Finance Group brings together a collection of highly specialized, deeply knowledgeable finance teams that leverage large-bank infrastructure and assets, extensive industry involvement and specialist expertise to offer flexible finance solutions uniquely tailored to meet the distinct needs of a variety of industries across the nation.
People Matter Most
Making a difference in peoples’ lives is an expression of M&T Bank’s sustainability strategy and a core aspect of the company’s corporate purpose. M&T Bank works closely with customers, vendors, investors, communities and other stakeholders to identify ways to limit negative impacts of climate change while increasing positive impacts on emissions reductions, managing risk and seizing opportunities across seven
key focus areas, including financing a more inclusive, sustainable, equitable and thriving economy. M&T Bank is additionally focused on providing guidance, insight and capital to help customers both understand and adapt to the physical and economic implications of a changing climate while reducing its own environmental footprint, mitigating risk and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
Equipment Finance Should Lead the Way
M&T Bank believes equipment finance companies can lead the way on ESG initiatives for their clients. This is because M&T Bank believes equipment of all varieties is essential to the operation of most businesses. Additionally, because of the sizeable impact equipment has on a business in regards to sustainability, equipment finance companies play a key role and responsibility in helping these businesses convert and adapt to a low-carbon economy and, in the process, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change. To fully leverage the cost-saving impacts of championing ESG initiatives and make this transition successful, businesses need equipment finance partners who are committed to making the generational investment needed to electrify equipment, increase efficiency and equipment lifespan, identify
opportunities to reuse equipment and find ways to generate low or no carbon emissions.
Where Do We Start This Transition?
M&T Bank says equipment finance companies can start creating and implementing ESG initiatives by first identifying the greatest areas of opportunity, risk and impact across the pillars of ESG. In particular, it’s important to understand how equipment finance companies’ products and services impact their customers, the equipment they finance and their communities. With that insight, industry organization can then pinpoint their best opportunities to play a role in financing the transition to a low-carbon economy and support efforts to adapt to the physical impacts of climate change.
Sustainable Impact on Climate Change
Climate change is a global problem that requires local solutions, according to M&T Bank. Financing equipment and technology to help businesses reduce emissions, pollution and operating costs will have a substantial impact. While much of this equipment and technology is similar to traditional solutions, there are key differences that make it imperative to find new ways to finance it and help businesses access the new opportunities offered by these solutions, as well as the cost savings they can generate. •
