Missoula, MT -  Missoula FCU's mission is to be a force for good in banking, in the communities it services, and in the lives of its members. And, the credit union considers part of that commitment is being good stewards of the environment. To that end, Missoula FCU conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to better understand and take responsibility for the environmental footprint of its business operations.

The EIA measures both the broad and local impacts like energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, solid waste generation, and air pollutant emissions. Paul Herendeen, director of impact market development at Missoula FCU, explained in an interview that the EIA is a "critical first step," and the credit union is following it up with an action plan that should help them reduce their impact in significant and cost-effective ways. But, Paul notes, "reducing our environmental impact isn't a one-time thing; it's an ongoing effort to incorporate sustainability into our day-to-day operations."

The credit union plans to conduct an EIA and develop an action plan on an annual basis from here on out. While time-consuming, the effort is popular with the Missoula FCU staff and membership. "Reducing our environmental footprint is good business," said Paul. In addition, the credit union hopes that their work will educate and inspire others to follow their example.