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Input: EXCLUSIVE FIRST PERSON
Green bankinG:
concern for the
planet or mere
opportunism?
Leading Italian banking group Intesa Sanpaolo believes that Principles for our bank. In particular, we looked at the ways and tools to
investment in sustainability is one of the very highest priority. In assess the social and environmental risks of financial operations.
an exclusive Question and Answer session for Eco Executive,
Alessandra Perrazzelli, the bank’s Head of International This experience will be the base to set up an awareness programme
Affairs, discusses its approach, and how other groups might aimed to the top management and to all our colleagues, so that our
learn from its implementation programme. commitment to the environment will become an increasingly shared
practice.
A
s a leading banking group in Italy, Intesa Sanpaolo has a
significant impact on the society and the environment in What does ‘sustainable banking’ mean to you?
which it operates. It is our bank’s goal to create value for our
customers. In our opinion, sustainable banking means using all our resources with
responsibility and care, avoiding waste and giving priority to choices that
At our bank we believe that choices which are socially and environmentally take sustainability into account.
sound contribute to economic success and profitability. Creating long-
term sustainable value is possible only if the company is run along three This aim is pursued by improving relations with all stakeholders and by
concrete lines - economic and financial, social and environmental - and if actively incorporating their needs in the definition of the organisational
its activities are supported by transparent corporate governance. and operational strategies of the company.
The commitment of Intesa Sanpaolo to integrate corporate social
Our concern for sustainability goes beyond philanthropy and actually responsibility principles in its strategies and governance dates back to
integrates environmental factors in our decision criteria. We are aware that 1997, when the first ethical funds and ethical indices were launched.
different costs may result from pollution or compliance with environmental Afterwards, our Bank decided to adopt CSR guidelines and to adhere to
laws and that environmental liabilities are one reason for which lenders the Equator Principles.
are exposed to credit risk. Thus, we consider addressing environmental
issues as a way to improve our risk management, which, in turn, will lead How easy is it to get your company’s green message ‘out
to higher returns for the Group. there’ in today’s climate?
HSBC spent $8 million on a range of projects to educate its For our bank it is a top priority to communicate our commitment to protect
own staff on climate change. Do you believe that this sort of the environment. This is crucial to establish even stronger relationship
internal investment is useful? with all the people dealing with Intesa Sanpaolo.
We know that in order to be effective we need to invest on the To this end, through sponsorships and the participation of speakers
environmental education and on the awareness of our sustainability policy. from the bank, we are actively involved in several events at national and
This is the reason why we try to keep our employees constantly informed international levels, such as the last World Energy Congress held in Rome
on environmental and sustainability issues by using a wide range of tools, and the European Union Sustainable Energy Week held in Brussels in
including local meetings, interviews to management transmitted by our February 2008.
WEB-TV, intranet portal, climate surveys and our in-house magazine.
Our partnership in Sustenergy, a European Commission campaign
For example, in order to raise internal awareness on energy efficiency aimed at raising public awareness on energy efficiency matters and
matters, we have recently distributed to all our employees a handbook promoting sustainable energy production, is another important vehicle
for energy savings and for the reduction of the environmental impact of to inform on our best practices and financial solutions in the energy
our activities. efficiency field. Moreover, thanks to an agreement signed last year
with the Italian Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea, the Intesa
Another important initiative was the organisation of an in-house training Sanpaolo Group is often involved in initiatives for the promotion of eco-
course, started in December 2007, on the application of the Equator sustainability in Italy.
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