Apex Group Ltd, the Bermudian-based global financial services provider, has announced that it has offset its entire lifetime of carbon emissions, and believes it is the first company to do so in the financial services industry.

Now a carbon neutral business, Apex said, it has grown into a leading global financial services provider, employing more than 8,000 people and servicing $2.3 trillion of assets.

Apex is vocal about its purpose to drive positive change and inspire the industry to take action on environmental and social issues; its global sustainability efforts to date, involve advancing insights into environmental, social and governance impacts (ESG) across private markets, nurturing an internal culture of transparency, and promoting ethical stewardship across its business and beyond.

Apex is a signatory of the Principles of Responsible Investment and a member of the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative.

In addition to continually educating employees and implementing an ethical marketing policy, the group said, it has an existing partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects – a non-profit NGO committed to rebuilding local communities in developing countries that were destroyed by deforestation.

In 2021, the group planted 200,000 trees in Madagascar – ten trees being planted for every new client contract signed and five for every five years of an employee’s tenure.

Apex said its historic emissions will be offset by Carbon Footprint Limited, a leading independent climate change consultancy.

Carbon Footprint is a founding member of the Quality Assurance Standard for carbon offsetting and is a provider of choice to many well reputed organisations including the UK government, Apex said.

The group’s emissions will be offset through domestic energy projects in Malawi and Nigeria, ecosystem conservation in Cambodia, as well as renewable energy systems in Brazil, Turkey, and China.

Apex said it will continually review and assess measures to reduce and offset future emissions, including increased use of renewable sources of energy, removing single use plastics from across its offices, limiting international travel where possible and informing staff on best-in-class sustainability practices through its regular Eco-Watch newsletter.

Peter Hughes, founder and CEO of Apex Group, said: “We are extremely proud to set the standard for the industry in being the first to offset our lifetime emissions – but we are not satisfied with leaving it at that and will continue to improve our ESG credentials across our operations and in the way we do business.

“We are committed to positive change and being a force for good in both the way we conduct business, and by setting an example.

“With our global platform we feel we have a responsibility to do the right thing and we therefore continually strive to be a responsible corporate citizen, focused on making a difference to our people, our planet and our society.”