Finance and Borrowing

HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway

We have partnered with LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), the sustainable farming charity, to launch the HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway. Under the scheme, farming businesses with the LEAF Marque certification, or who complete a LEAF Sustainable Farming Review (LSFR), are eligible for discounted loan arrangement fees on applicable products.

Support for farm businesses

Like many markets globally, agriculture in the UK is facing sustainability challenges. The sector needs to meet consumer demand for nutritional food, while supporting human health and protecting the environment.

HSBC UK has partnered with sustainable farming charity LEAF, to launch the HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway. Its aim is to support farmers transition to more sustainable farming practices and contribute to a more resilient food supply chain, by offering access to discounted loan arrangement fees.

Today we finance a number of industries that significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, we have a strategy to help our customers to reduce their emissions and to reduce our own. For more information on this, please visit hsbc.com/climate.

What is the HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway?

The HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway enables eligible LEAF Marque certified farm businesses, or eligible farm businesses in the process of applying for LEAF Marque certification, to access discounted loan arrangement fees when applying for applicable products.

Access discounted loan arrangement fees

Eligible farm businesses can access discounted loan arrangement fees on applicable products on amounts between £25,001 and £25m. Lending is subject to credit status.

Applicable products

Flexible Business Loan
Commercial Mortgage
Property Development Loan

Funds can be used for any corporate purpose. To be eligible, you will need to share with us your LSFR Record of Completion or your LEAF Marque certification status. The scheme does not require evidence of use of proceeds.

To find out more about the HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway, please contact our Agriculture team

Find out more about LEAF and LEAF Marque

Your questions answered

How to be eligible for the HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway

Farming businesses who’ve attained LEAF Marque certification are eligible for discounted loan arrangement fees under the HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway.

If you’re still preparing for LEAF Marque certification, you can access the discounted loan arrangement fees upon completion of the LEAF Sustainable Standard Farming Review (LSFR). You’ll need to complete the LEAF Marque audit within 12 months of completing your LSFR to maintain discounted loan arrangement fees on applicable products.

What is LEAF?

What is LEAF Marque?

What are the aims of LEAF Marque?

Support farmers in developing environmentally and economically resilient farming businesses.
Bring together people, farming systems and wider society to share knowledge throughout the food system.
Create more diverse, improved and connected habitats that both protect and enhance biodiversity.
Optimise the management of soils, substrate, water, energy and waste to improve efficiency and reduce pollution and emissions.
Implement Integrated Pest Management to produce healthy crops and plants.
Support the reduction of environmental impacts of livestock while also mitigating the negative impacts of livestock systems on the environment.
Implement regenerative practices to mitigate some of the environmental impacts of farming, sequester carbon and improve soil health.

How do I become LEAF Marque certified?

If you’re not currently LEAF Marque certified, you can become eligible for the HSBC Sustainable Finance Pathway by becoming a member of LEAF and completing the LEAF Sustainable Farming Review. To find out more, visit leaf.eco/join-leaf
You’ll then be eligible for discounted loan arrangement fees within 12 months of completing your LSFR. After this period, you’ll need to attain LEAF Marque certification to continue to be eligible for the discounted loan arrangement fees.

Important information

To participate in the HSBC Sustainable Farming Pathway, you’ll need to share a copy of your LSFR Record of Completion or your LEAF Marque certification status with us. As part of the application process, we’ll validate these details to confirm you meet the qualifying criteria. To find out how we use and manage your data, please review our Privacy Notice.

Disclaimer

By supplying these materials to you, HSBC UK is not providing confirmation that your business is eligible for such third party’s services nor should it be considered as a recommendation or endorsement to use those services. The information provided is general in nature and is not advice to take particular action.

HSBC UK does not warrant or represent that any information provided by the third party will achieve any sustainability goals you may have or establish or that such information will be suitable for your business.

It is your responsibility to make an independent assessment of the third party’s service and you should seek independent advice as required. HSBC UK does not receive a commission or any other payment from the third party in respect of any products or services they provide to you.

HSBC UK does not accept any liability for any direct or indirect losses incurred by your business because of using any service or product provided by such a third party.

HSBC UK Bank plc. Registered in England and Wales (company number: 9928412). Registered Office: 1 Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 1HQ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number: 765112).