>Environment-friendly business
The following is a list of case studies from ESBG members on the implementation of this Charter principle. The case studies are listed by country in alphabetical order.
Austria
Erste Group Bank/Savings banks:
100% Electricity from renewable sources and 40% of the demand from their own hydropower plant
Within Erste Group’s environmental strategy, it is stated that electric energy shall primarily be purchased from 100% renewable sources or – if this is not possible – from a supplier with the lowest CO2 emissions per kWh.
China
Postal Savings Bank of China strategy to support green credit
Postal Savings Bank of China attaches great importance to green credit business, and therefore actively implements the regulatory requirements, including Guidance Opinions on Building of a Green Finance System and Green Credit Guidelines.
France
BPCE International: A leading role in financing the energy transition
The BPCE International network has developed expertise in financing renewable energy in its regions of operation.
France
BPCE: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: implementation of a performant tool
Since 2013, the BPCE Group’s Sustainable Development division has been reinforcing its tool that tracks the Caisse d’Epargne’s industry-specific carbon footprint. This tool is used to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, using a method compatible with that of ADEME, the ISO 14064 standard, and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
France
Caisse d’Epargne biodiversity management
Biodiversity is an important component of Caisse d’Epargne’s environmental stance, in the same way as other aspects (reducing the carbon footprint, developing green banking products, etc.).
Germany
Provinzial Rheinland Green inside and out
Many companies have a green logo, but few are green at heart. Provinzial Rheinland, however, is green inside and out. To offset all unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions, the insurance company had 4,500,000 square meters of forest restored, partly by its employees, who took part in a tree-planting action to grow a climate protection forest.
Germany
Kreissparkasse Heinsberg: The power of wind energy
With a variety of initiatives and sustainable products, Savings Banks contribute to making this century’s project of the “Energiewende” and restructuring the German energy sector a success. Kreissparkasse Heinsberg is a pioneer in this field through the set up of a customer fund. Through the purchase of Environmental Savings Bonds by local citizens, the financing of the Tripsrath wind park project worth EUR 11 million was guaranteed.
Germany
Sparkasse Saarbrücken: Sustainability as a way of life
Savings Banks see themselves as pioneers for protecting nature and the environment – in their branches, and in their regions. Sparkasse Saarbrücken has established the position of an environmental officer to foster the incorporation of sustainability into its corporate structure. Additionally, the savings bank fosters in-house environmental protection and has certified its main branch in line with the EMAS directive.
Luxembourg
BCEE looks after the environment
With regards to the environmental dimension of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), Banque et Caisse d’ Epargne de l’Etat (BCEE) supports the sustainable development policy of its shareholder, the Luxembourg State, and the Environment Resolution of the European Savings Banks Group.
Netherlands
SNS Bank N.V. Climate neutral profit & loss account
SNS Bank N.V. (including its brands BLG Wonen, RegioBank, SNS, ZwitserlevenBank and ASN Bank) aims to become climate neutral for all investments of the Bank.
Netherlands
SNS REAAL Group in the Netherlands – Water Fund project
SNS REAAL Group launched SNS REAAL Water Fund to promote sustainable development, entrepreneurship and innovation in the area of water management in 2005. The fund’s strategy is to invest in projects related to water purification, irrigation, sanitary and drinking water facilities in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and other regions.
Norway
The Norwegian Savings Banks Association and environment-friendly business
The Norwegian Savings Banks Association is promoting environment-friendly business through environmental certification schemes, cooperation, green investments, green loans, and partnerships with the Government.
Portugal
CGD - Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2012)
CGD has decided to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) in compliance with ISO 14001:2012. The implementation of an EMS has economic, environmental and competitive benefits for the organization and society in general.
Portugal
Montepio: Business friendly to the environment
MONTEPIO group and, very particularly, Caixa Económica Montepio Geral, are committed to the environment and the development of measures to improve the environment, by implementing a model of energy efficiency.
Portugal
CGD and the Hypercluster of the Sea Economy
Caixa Geral de Depósitos has been strengthening its position as a bank that promotes and encourages the development of the sea economy. From the R&D point of view, Caixa collaborates with universities through a set of initiatives that range from support of incubators to the creation of the CGD - Sea Studies chair, which was launched in partnership with the University of Aveiro. Our initiatives aim to sensitise new generations and open up the portfolio of professional graduates, contributing to their professional future.
Portugal
CGD Carbon Calculator
The CGD Carbon Calculator is a tool that allows each citizen to calculate his or her carbon footprint, and to analyse options for reducing it. In other words, it is possible to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with day-to-day activities. The CGD carbon calculator thus serves an educational purpose, facilitating the quantification of emissions associated with users’ day-to-day activities and presenting specific solutions to reduce these emissions, calling upon them to make a personal commitment to take action in combating climate change.
Portugal
FLORESTA CAIXA
Floresta Caixa (Caixa Forest) is CGD’s structured involvement with Portuguese indigenous forests, through plantation and awareness building activities since 2006. Its main objectives are environmental sustainability; recognising trees as one of the fundamental elements for the survival of the species and the balance of ecosystems and the resulting continuity of future generations; compensation for GHG emissions resulting from CGD’s activities; see children as leaders in the defence of forest heritage and biodiversity; positioning the Caixa brand among younger customers and their parents, through environmental responsibility perceived in CGD’s activity and the concern for leaving a legacy for the future of each child customer.
Portugal
Caixa Carbono Zero (Zero Carbon) programme: Practical Low Carbon Guide
The Caixa Carbono Zero (Zero Carbon) programme is a strategic project, cutting across all the Bank’s activities. Its mission is to simultaneously take responsibility for reducing own emissions; meet the challenge to market new financial solutions to facilitate access to low-carbon goods and services; promote, with a wide range of target audiences, knowledge on the subject and adopt behaviours that reduce the energy and carbon intensity of their activities.
Portugal
Caixa Carbono Zero (Zero Carbon) programme: Dia-a-dia Carbono Zero (Day-to-day Zero Carbon)
Day-to-Day Zero Carbon offers a set of good practices that contribute to reducing emissions that can be adopted by all of us in day-to-day life, whether at work or at home. All photos illustrating Day-to-Day Zero Carbon portray real situations of the Caixa employees, Divisions and Companies of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos Group involved in this project. All the children pictured are the sons and daughters of Caixa employees.
Portugal
Environmental Policy
The commitments that CGD has made in its environmental policy are based on three fundamental pillars: i) compliance with environmental legislation and other requirements, even exceeding them in some areas, ii) a proactive attitude to preventing pollution and iii) ongoing improvement in environmental performance.
Portugal
Caixa Geral de Depósitos - Design Bank
The annual Caixa Geral de Depósitos Design Contest falls within the scope of CGD’s social and environmental responsibility policies, its main objective being to contribute to the preservation of natural resources through the promotion and facilitation of alternative design and production. The main concept of the contest is “Making the Old New”. The contest requires the use of recycled and/or recyclable materials to produce objects that embody social, environmental, economic, educational and civic concerns.
Spain
Microbank Ecological Fund
The Microbank Ecological Fund is the first Spanish Fund to combine the search for profitability and respect for the environment.
Spain
Caixabank Carbon Offset
CaixaBank has invested in two energy projects in Colombia in order to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting the environmental impact of the CO2 emissions generated by the company’s head offices in 2013.
Spain
Bankia 2015-2019 Energy Efficiency Plan
Throughout 2013, Bankia made a great effort in the analysis and diagnosis of the energy situation of its office and building network. This analysis culminated, in 2014, in one of the bank’s most important projects, its 2015-2019 Energy Efficiency Plan.
Spain
MicroBank Green Account
MicroBank has issued an environment-friendly account
Spain
BMN Innovation in customer services: E-Invoice
In its commitment to innovation and the use of state-of-the-art technologies, BMN has implemented the E-invoice, a computer-generated digital document that is sent to the recipient by telematic means.
Spain
Cecabank E-BioFirma project
The Digitised Signature System saw the light in 2008, intended to eliminate the use of paper, replacing the handwritten signing of physical documents with electronic documents, thus achieving significant cost savings and facilitating processes.
Spain
Eco-Microcredits by MicroBank
Since 2012, Caixabank offers personal Eco-microcredits through its subsidiary, MicroBank. The aim is to promote sustainable investments that enhance the efficiency of natural resources or decrease their negative impact on the environment.
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