HSBC, the world’s first major bank to become carbon neutral, has committed a further $90 million over five years to reduce the bank’s impact on the environment through a series of initiatives, including the introduction of renewable energy technology, water and waste reduction programs and employee engagement.
The Global Environmental Efficiency Programme will enable HSBC offices worldwide to showcase environmental innovation and share best practice to help the bank achieve its environmental reduction targets. The program will be reviewed annually to consider the success of trials, emerging technology, innovation and business needs.
The environmental efficiency initiatives focus on key areas:
Benchmarking – developing flagship buildings to recognized environmental standards which are independently certified;
Footprint management and innovation – reducing energy and water consumption, business travel and carbon dioxide emissions, paper use and waste production.
Environmental Management Systems – systems and processes optimizing the efficiency of the bank’s operations.
Some of the projects that have been completed during the pilot phase of the Global Environmental Efficiency Programme:
Designing and building HSBC’s first ‘zero carbon’ branch in Greece, New York, which optimises energy efficiency using geothermal ground source heat pumps;
Installing solar photovoltaic panels at the First Direct offices in Leeds, UK;
Introducing a bio-diesel plant for back-up generators in the Global Technology Centre, Pune, India; and
Reducing waste by installing composting vessels in Hong Kong to recycle organic kitchen waste; and removing the majority of personal desk bins at the global HQ, London, in favour of a full recycling system.
Engaging HSBC’s global workforce of 315,000 employees will be a key factor in the success of the Global Environmental Efficiency Programme. The HSBC Climate Partnership, a separate US$100m, five-year program launched in May 2007 will facilitate employee engagement by:
Creating a 25,000-strong ‘green taskforce’ worldwide which will undertake field research and bring back valuable knowledge and experience to their workplace and communities; and Help HSBC employees use their business skills and knowledge of climate change to help the Group build a more sustainable business.
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