5.5bn
Bacs payments
processed in 2007
Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign 2005-2008
591g
A European Campaign to raise awareness and change the landscape of energy.
the carbon emission Sustainable Energy Europe is a European Commission initiative.
of a cheque
Official Partner
Official Partner
73g
the carbon emission
of a Direct Debit
Intesa Sanpaolo is the first bank in Europe to
35g
have been admitted to the Sustenergy -
the carbon emission
of a paperless Direct Debit
Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign (2005-
2008). We received this important award
thanks to our best practices and financial
solutions in the energy efficiency field.
The scope of the research project was vast and analysed how Direct return payments between banks and corporates and the complete
Debit payments are set up - either by filling out a paper instruction or automation of the indemnity claim process will help further reduce The Sustenergy campaign raises public
by giving secure authorisation over the telephone; related postage the use of paper across the Bacs scheme. That will also have a
and stationery for any associated correspondence; plus originator positive environmental impact and knock on effect with our suppliers,
awareness and promotes sustainable energy
and bank checks including any associated electricity usage. originators and member banks. production. It aims at private companies and
It also looked at the ongoing management of monthly Direct Debit While these projects ramp up, Bacs – like a growing number of
public authorities, professional and energy
transactions including the footprint of monthly payment collection and organisations – will continue to contribute to an environmental agencies, industry associations and NGOs
processing; again, written correspondence between companies and offsetting scheme we initiated two years ago. Working in conjunction
bill payers outlining payment dates; and finally the smooth running of with a company called C-Level, we balance our carbon output against
across Europe.
the Bacs system which typically operates at night – therefore putting reforestation projects in Africa.
less strain on the national grid.
I strongly believe that businesses, regardless of sector, need to
Within the Sustenergy campaign, our Bank
In parallel, cheques were assessed in terms of the actual paper look at every single element of their enterprise when it comes to signed an agreement with the Italian Ministry
footprint of a single cheque; related postage plus courier costs being environmentally conscious. For many years, we’ve heard
between companies and banks (at the time of the project seven people talk about the paperless office and the importance of
for Environment, Land and Sea to strengthen
million cheques were couriered daily); and energy levels required to implementing green IT policies. But there are many different ways
the cooperation in the field of renewable
check, reconcile and settle payments. and existing technologies available to help companies looking to
reduce waste and move their organisations towards becoming
energies and energy saving. By this initiative,
At the end of the project, Carbon Footprint Limited found that carbon more sustainable.
Intesa Sanpaolo wants to support not only the
emissions generated from the set up and regular processing of
a Direct Debit are eight times lower than for a cheque payment – From very basic steps like turning off office lights and computers
sustainable growth of our companies but also
making automated payments a considerably more environmentally at night to using more carbon efficient payment methods, weaving
the energy efficiency of our country.
friendly option for eco executives and consumers everywhere. small changes into a company’s environmental strategy can make
a tangible difference to an organisation’s overall carbon footprint.
Over the course of a year, the carbon emission of a cheque was
calculated to be 591.36g CO2 (grammes of carbon dioxide) compared Much as we would at home, senior management teams within the
to just 73.36 gCO2 for a Direct Debit. A comparison with Paperless banking industry and in the wider commercial arena should audit
Direct Debit was also included, which was calculated as only 35.51 their internal departments, set challenges for staff and make sure
gCO2 per year, giving even greater carbon emission savings. they are doing their bit for the environment.
While being of general interest to businesses looking to find alternatives Returning to some of the projects I have instilled at home, we have
to the cheque, as well as different ways of being sustainable, this also been able look at a number of additional initiatives within the
research has also been recognised by other areas of the payments office. For example, we’ve outlawed the use of all plastic cutlery
industry. Moving forward it is going to be considered as part of and cups, mandated that staff have to close down their individual
the National Payments Plan and is an initiative that could be used computers, and set all our printers to default for double sided printing
elsewhere in the sector. with automatically reduced font size so we use fewer sheets.
Looking more widely at other activities which will, by default, help These are small points I know, but I do believe that you don’t have
the environment, Bacs is planning two big technical projects that to kick start a grand environmental scheme to make a difference.
will automate some key paper-based processes still associated with One person, one household, one office and even one minor
our payment products. The automation of the flow of messages and change can start the ball rolling in the right direction. n
ecoexecutive | 64
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