NatWest is set to introduce a complimentary carbon footprint tracker within its mobile banking application, aimed at empowering customers to minimize the environmental impact of their spending.
The national rollout comes after a successful eight-week pilot program involving 250 bank employees. This innovative app feature, developed by CoGo, enables users to observe the CO2 emissions linked to their everyday purchases. Additionally, it offers practical tips and resources to promote more sustainable living.
Initial trials indicated that participants reduced their carbon emissions by an average of 11 kg per month by adopting eco-friendly habits, such as composting, lowering meat consumption, and switching utility providers. David Lindberg, CEO of Retail Banking at NatWest, emphasized that if these behavioral changes were adopted by all eight million customers using the mobile app, the potential reduction in CO2 emissions could exceed one billion kg annually—equivalent to planting approximately 17 million trees.
“We understand that many individuals in the UK are eager to lessen their environmental footprint,” Lindberg noted. “To effectively drive meaningful change, measurement is key. By leveraging CoGo’s expertise in carbon tracking, we are taking an essential step toward facilitating greener spending and living, allowing customers to harness their financial choices for positive environmental impact.”
Users of the NatWest app can expect to find this feature integrated into the ‘spending’ tab in the upcoming months.