At Purpose Capital, our vision is clear: drive positive social and environmental outcomes through the deployment of impactful investment. Our values include integrity, courage, wisdom, and justice. That’s why we’re proud to share our organisational Climate Positive re-certification under the Ekos programme for the 2025 financial year.
Why We Do It
We believe in using the power of capital to drive meaningful change. By backing initiatives that reduce emissions, increase renewable energy generation and reduce inequality, we demonstrate how investment can support a thriving future for both people and planet. This certification reflects our voluntary commitment to lead by example in climate action.
Data and Assurance
We’ve completed a quality-reviewed inventory with medium-quality data. Our scope 1 and 2 emissions data are largely historical, while some of our scope 3 data are estimates. While not assured, our inventory has been internally reviewed for completeness and accuracy.
Reduction Performance
Purpose Capital data indicates significant progress, with emissions showing an absolute decrease of 52.9% compared with the reference FY23 year. Even with a slight decrease in FTE numbers, intensity emissions dropped by 55.1%, reflecting real reductions per employee. FY23 has been selected as the benchmark year due to its representation of “business as usual” conditions—unlike FY22, which was still affected by Covid-related travel restrictions.
These reduction results were primarily achieved through targeted actions across key emission categories:
- Business Travel (49.6%) – Reducing flights, increasing online meetings and encouraging carpooling
- Staff Commute (60.7%) – Instituting a 3-day work-from-home policy and removing the staff carpark
- Electricity (53.8%) – Reducing office space, supporting remote work and working with the landlord to implement energy efficiency measures
This strong performance against the reference year reinforces Purpose Capital’s leadership in climate-conscious business operations.
It is noted that upcoming measurement periods may reflect a slight rise in emissions due to necessary business travel as we raise and begin deploying our second fund.
Reduction Targets
- 2025: 4% emissions (absolute and intensity)
- 2028: 21% emissions (absolute and intensity)
- 2032: 42% emissions (absolute and intensity)
Our Boundaries
Using an operational control approach, we measured scope 1, 2 and mandatory scope 3 emissions. Inclusions: commuting, WFH emissions, and office operations. Exclusions: freight (immaterial), capital goods (data not available), and investment portfolios (outside operational control).
Offsets
We maintain that the most important part of any carbon measurement project is emissions reduction in real terms. For those emissions we weren’t able to eliminate in FY2 025, we offset 120% of our emissions with New Zealand-sourced permanent forest carbon credits from Aureate in Waihi Beach and Flax Hill in Kaikōura.
How You Can Help
- Choose low-emissions transport when engaging with us
- If you are a wholesale investor, consider investing in our second fund
If you’re considering measuring your footprint and would like to chat with us about our experience, please get in touch.
Image from Aureate Reforestation Project, October 2024.
Purpose Capital are Impact Investors who drive positive environmental and social change in throughout New Zealand. New Zealand’s largest private impact investment fund, Purpose Capital is founded on the principle that we can effect change through well-run commercial investments that deliver impact as well as financial return.
Through demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach, Purpose Capital aims to increase impact investments from asset and fund managers as well as private and philanthropic wealth. By leading investment opportunities, we provide confidence to other investors to invest alongside us in impactful companies and projects.