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Environmental dimension

Bankinter is acutely aware of the environmental crisis caused by climate change, and has long been firmly committed to contributing to improving and protecting the environment by carrying out various actions and initiatives.

The Bank has an Environmental Policy in which it assumes the responsibility of operating with the greatest respect for the environment, and which is geared towards maximising the positive aspects and minimising any negative effects that the Bank's business activity might have.

The principles of its environmental policy go beyond strict compliance with legal requirements, and require action on unlegislated aspects.

Through the ‘Carbon Footprint’ project, included in the Sustainability Plan, the Bank has identified, measured and controlled both the direct environmental effects of its activity and the indirect ones generated in financing and investment transactions, so that they can be minimised and neutralised.

The Sustainability area is responsible for overseeing compliance with the principles guiding this policy and for ensuring the Bank's commitment to protection of the environment. It also coordinates actions aimed at improving environmental performance. The area is supported by the Sustainability Committee, which was set up in 2009 and is chaired by the Chairman of Bankinter, this being the body responsible for guiding the Group's sustainability policy and programmes. This committee has members representing all the areas involved in developing a model that is sustainable in the Bank's economic, social and environmental dimensions.

The Bank's responsible management also extendsto the chain of suppliers and subcontractors, including environmental principles for approving them.

Environmental criteria are also included in the Bank's Financing and Investment Policies. Since 2011, Bankinter has been a member of the Spanish Network of the United Nations Global Compact, giving expression to its commitment to compliance with the ten principles of Human Rights, three of which are environmental principles.

The Bank also collaborates with organisations of reference that evaluate and validate its environmental performance, such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), to which Bankinter has been a signatory since its launch. Bankinter forms part of the CDP's study of Spain, together with the biggest companies by market capitalisation, and in 2014 obtained a higher score than the previous year.

Bankinter is also a signatory to the CDP Water Disclosure Project, being mindful of the importance of water, the opportunities that exist for improving water management and the risks posed by water scarcity for economic, social and environmental development.

Calculation, verification and management of the carbon footprint

The purpose of the ‘Carbon footprint’ project is to minimise the environmental impact produced by Bankinter.

Environmental Management

In 2009 Bankinter implemented an environmental management system (EMS), which is certified under ISO 14001, to ensure compliance with the principles of the Environmental Policy and the continuous improvement of its environmental performance. In 2014 the EMS was extended to cover the Bank's third major building in Madrid, located in Alcobendas, which joined the head office in Paseo de la Castellana and the Tres Cantos building in being ISO 14001 certified.

The EMS also covers the Sustainable Office, located in Calle Santa Engracia, Madrid, and will gradually be extended to the rest of Bankinter's organisations. The proportion of the Bank's
workforce covered by this environmental certification is 34.6%.

The Bank's Internal Audit area takes part in the annual verification process required for EMS certification.

For the certified buildings and offices, Bankinter's Annual Environmental Management Programme sets out a number of objectives and goals for reducing consumption and waste and cutting air emissions, as well as scheduling communication, awareness and training campaigns for employees on good environmental practices.

Carbon Footprint

Bankinter has been calculating its carbon footprint since 2009. The Bank's commitment to the environment finds expression in the 'Carbon footprint' project, which forms part of the Sustainability Plan. The project's objective is to minimise and neutralise the environmental impacts produced by Bankinter, both direct ones deriving from its activity and the indirect
ones generated in financing and investment transactions, by identifying, measuring and controlling them.

The Bank has also calculated the carbon footprint associated with the use of communication channels, with a view to encouraging its customers to use the most eco-efficient channels. Since 2012 it has also calculated the carbon footprint of the sustainable office, which is certified as part of the Environmental Management System, and which acts as a “laboratory” branch for improving the environmental performance of the rest of the network.

As part of its commitment to continuously improving its environmental performance, Bankinter has for the second consecutive year submitted for verification its calculation of its organisational carbon footprint based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the most-used international tool for calculating emissions, which is also in line with the requirements of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

This verification was obtained through SGS, an independent firm and a world leader in inspection, verification, analysis and certification. This is a form of acknowledging the validity of the methodology applied by the Bank to calculate direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by its activity, as well as the veracity of the data included en its 2013 Report on Organisational Carbon Footprint.

In 2014 Bankinter emitted a total of 9,962.76 TCO2e, representing an increase of 4% compared with 2013, with a fall in indirect and indirect emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) and an increase in induced emissions (Scope 3).

Scope 1 emissions, deriving from the use of natural gas and fuel oil, totalled 293.78 TCO2e, which was 3.68% less than the previous year.

As for Scope 2, indirect emissions deriving from electricity consumption, there was a decline of 0.81% compared with the previous year, to a total of 6,066 TCO2e.

The sum of Scopes 1 and 2, the Bank's main sources of emissions, representing 64% of its total footprint, fell by 1% thanks to the various energy efficiency measures put in place during 2014, such as changing to LED lighting, the improvements in office automation and air conditioning and the renewal of computers with
more eco-efficient models.

Scope 3, induced emissions, increased by 14.72%, mainly due to the increase in business travel in line with increased sales activity, as shown by the financial information presented by
the Bank in 2014, the purchase of a large number of computers and the increase in electricity consumption by customers using the Internet channel.

Eco-efficiency and sustainable use of resources

The Bank has identified the main indicators of eco-efficiency deriving from its activity for measurement and control in order to take the necessary measures to achieve maximum ecoefficiency its environmental performance. This translates into minimisation of its carbon footprint, thus contributing to the mitigation of climate change.

Indirect consumption of energy refers to electricity consumption. The breakdown of electricity consumption by energy source is based on the structure of energy sources existing
in Spain and calculated in accordance with the production mix in the Spanish grid as estimated by the IDAE (Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving) in 2011.

Bankinter acquires paper in accordance with demanding environmental criteria; it is 100% recycled, bearing the 'Blue Angel' and 'Nordic Swan' ecological labels.

Among the measures being implemented by the Bank in order, among other objectives, to bring down paper consumption, one that stands out is the biometric signature solution which was installed in fixed office workstations in 2013 and which was extended in 2014 to the procedures relating to investment funds. Tablets have been distributed to branch employees so that customers can subscribe, redeem or transfer investment funds with a digital signature. In this way, all the legal documentation relating to the processes (printing, physical signature,
copy to customer, etc.) is signed digitally, the documentation is filed online and a copy is sent to the customer by e-mail, with the consequent saving of paper.

We are currently working on implementing the biometric signature in other areas of operation.

As for waste, we should point out that, due to a certain changes of location of some areas and transfers of departments between buildings, paper and cardboard waste actually increased.

In order to minimise the effects associated with meetings and training courses, Bankinter makes alternative communication platforms available to its employees, such as audio conferences for holding meetings and data conferences for delivering training courses.

The video-call is also a platform made available to customers so that they can seek information and advice from their account executive without having to visit the branch.

Offsetting of emissions

Bankinter offset its direct emissions for 2013 by taking part in the Ecology and Development Foundation's Zero CO2 initiative and a project to improve organic agricultural practices indigenous communities in Guatemala.

Influence on stakeholder groups

Bankinter joined in the “Earth Hour" campaign, switching its lights off and involving employees and customers.

For a responsible conduct. With a view to raising awareness among its workforce of the need to combat climate change, and to instil responsible environmental behaviour, the Bank offers all its employees a training plan which includes a guide to good environmental practices and is accessible via the intranet, and a course on the ISO 14001 environmental management system.

For this purpose the Bank also uses a number of different internal and external communication channels, through which to disseminate the various initiatives in this field, thus encouraging all stakeholder groups to participate; examples are the Environment Portal and the in-house blog “Se hace saber” ("Please be informed"), which is open to opinions, reflections and debate among all employees; both are to be found on the corporate intranet.

Awareness-raising actions aimed at employees notably included the following:

  • Communication Campaign, urging employees to make responsible use of waste and to reduce emissions.
  • Corporate Website, which includes a specific section on Sustainability.
  • Environment Portal, offering employees news on activities of environmental interest, both within the Bank and outside it. There is also a suggestion box available for employees to propose initiatives or pose queries of an environmental nature.
  • The Bankinter Blog, which in 2013 added an independent section on Sustainability, and which is also disseminated through the Bank's social networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+).
  • Tenth Edition of the EnvironmentalPhotography Award, this year with the theme “Dialogue with nature”, which attracted 268 entries. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the competition, an itinerant exhibition of the winning photographs from the ten years of its existence was held in various centres of the Bank.
  • Support for the "Earth Hour” campaign, a worldwide initiative of the WWF to reducer CO2 emissions by switching off the lights and other electrical equipment of all the Bank's buildings and encouraging employees and customers to join in the campaign.

 

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Social dimension
Suppliers

Environmental dimension

Bankinter is acutely aware of the environmental crisis caused by climate change, and has long been firmly committed to contributing to improving and protecting the environment by carrying out various actions and initiatives.

The Bank has an Environmental Policy in which it assumes the responsibility of operating with the greatest respect for the environment, and which is geared towards maximising the positive aspects and minimising any negative effects that the Bank's business activity might have.

The principles of its environmental policy go beyond strict compliance with legal requirements, and require action on unlegislated aspects.

Through the ‘Carbon Footprint’ project, included in the Sustainability Plan, the Bank has identified, measured and controlled both the direct environmental effects of its activity and the indirect ones generated in financing and investment transactions, so that they can be minimised and neutralised.

The Sustainability area is responsible for overseeing compliance with the principles guiding this policy and for ensuring the Bank's commitment to protection of the environment. It also coordinates actions aimed at improving environmental performance. The area is supported by the Sustainability Committee, which was set up in 2009 and is chaired by the Chairman of Bankinter, this being the body responsible for guiding the Group's sustainability policy and programmes. This committee has members representing all the areas involved in developing a model that is sustainable in the Bank's economic, social and environmental dimensions.

The Bank's responsible management also extendsto the chain of suppliers and subcontractors, including environmental principles for approving them.

Environmental criteria are also included in the Bank's Financing and Investment Policies. Since 2011, Bankinter has been a member of the Spanish Network of the United Nations Global Compact, giving expression to its commitment to compliance with the ten principles of Human Rights, three of which are environmental principles.

The Bank also collaborates with organisations of reference that evaluate and validate its environmental performance, such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), to which Bankinter has been a signatory since its launch. Bankinter forms part of the CDP's study of Spain, together with the biggest companies by market capitalisation, and in 2014 obtained a higher score than the previous year.

Bankinter is also a signatory to the CDP Water Disclosure Project, being mindful of the importance of water, the opportunities that exist for improving water management and the risks posed by water scarcity for economic, social and environmental development.

Calculation, verification and management of the carbon footprint

The purpose of the ‘Carbon footprint’ project is to minimise the environmental impact produced by Bankinter.

Environmental Management

In 2009 Bankinter implemented an environmental management system (EMS), which is certified under ISO 14001, to ensure compliance with the principles of the Environmental Policy and the continuous improvement of its environmental performance. In 2014 the EMS was extended to cover the Bank's third major building in Madrid, located in Alcobendas, which joined the head office in Paseo de la Castellana and the Tres Cantos building in being ISO 14001 certified.

The EMS also covers the Sustainable Office, located in Calle Santa Engracia, Madrid, and will gradually be extended to the rest of Bankinter's organisations. The proportion of the Bank's
workforce covered by this environmental certification is 34.6%.

The Bank's Internal Audit area takes part in the annual verification process required for EMS certification.

For the certified buildings and offices, Bankinter's Annual Environmental Management Programme sets out a number of objectives and goals for reducing consumption and waste and cutting air emissions, as well as scheduling communication, awareness and training campaigns for employees on good environmental practices.

Carbon Footprint

Bankinter has been calculating its carbon footprint since 2009. The Bank's commitment to the environment finds expression in the 'Carbon footprint' project, which forms part of the Sustainability Plan. The project's objective is to minimise and neutralise the environmental impacts produced by Bankinter, both direct ones deriving from its activity and the indirect
ones generated in financing and investment transactions, by identifying, measuring and controlling them.

The Bank has also calculated the carbon footprint associated with the use of communication channels, with a view to encouraging its customers to use the most eco-efficient channels. Since 2012 it has also calculated the carbon footprint of the sustainable office, which is certified as part of the Environmental Management System, and which acts as a “laboratory” branch for improving the environmental performance of the rest of the network.

As part of its commitment to continuously improving its environmental performance, Bankinter has for the second consecutive year submitted for verification its calculation of its organisational carbon footprint based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the most-used international tool for calculating emissions, which is also in line with the requirements of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

This verification was obtained through SGS, an independent firm and a world leader in inspection, verification, analysis and certification. This is a form of acknowledging the validity of the methodology applied by the Bank to calculate direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by its activity, as well as the veracity of the data included en its 2013 Report on Organisational Carbon Footprint.

In 2014 Bankinter emitted a total of 9,962.76 TCO2e, representing an increase of 4% compared with 2013, with a fall in indirect and indirect emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) and an increase in induced emissions (Scope 3).

Scope 1 emissions, deriving from the use of natural gas and fuel oil, totalled 293.78 TCO2e, which was 3.68% less than the previous year.

As for Scope 2, indirect emissions deriving from electricity consumption, there was a decline of 0.81% compared with the previous year, to a total of 6,066 TCO2e.

The sum of Scopes 1 and 2, the Bank's main sources of emissions, representing 64% of its total footprint, fell by 1% thanks to the various energy efficiency measures put in place during 2014, such as changing to LED lighting, the improvements in office automation and air conditioning and the renewal of computers with
more eco-efficient models.

Scope 3, induced emissions, increased by 14.72%, mainly due to the increase in business travel in line with increased sales activity, as shown by the financial information presented by
the Bank in 2014, the purchase of a large number of computers and the increase in electricity consumption by customers using the Internet channel.

Eco-efficiency and sustainable use of resources

The Bank has identified the main indicators of eco-efficiency deriving from its activity for measurement and control in order to take the necessary measures to achieve maximum ecoefficiency its environmental performance. This translates into minimisation of its carbon footprint, thus contributing to the mitigation of climate change.

Indirect consumption of energy refers to electricity consumption. The breakdown of electricity consumption by energy source is based on the structure of energy sources existing
in Spain and calculated in accordance with the production mix in the Spanish grid as estimated by the IDAE (Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving) in 2011.

Bankinter acquires paper in accordance with demanding environmental criteria; it is 100% recycled, bearing the 'Blue Angel' and 'Nordic Swan' ecological labels.

Among the measures being implemented by the Bank in order, among other objectives, to bring down paper consumption, one that stands out is the biometric signature solution which was installed in fixed office workstations in 2013 and which was extended in 2014 to the procedures relating to investment funds. Tablets have been distributed to branch employees so that customers can subscribe, redeem or transfer investment funds with a digital signature. In this way, all the legal documentation relating to the processes (printing, physical signature,
copy to customer, etc.) is signed digitally, the documentation is filed online and a copy is sent to the customer by e-mail, with the consequent saving of paper.

We are currently working on implementing the biometric signature in other areas of operation.

As for waste, we should point out that, due to a certain changes of location of some areas and transfers of departments between buildings, paper and cardboard waste actually increased.

In order to minimise the effects associated with meetings and training courses, Bankinter makes alternative communication platforms available to its employees, such as audio conferences for holding meetings and data conferences for delivering training courses.

The video-call is also a platform made available to customers so that they can seek information and advice from their account executive without having to visit the branch.

Offsetting of emissions

Bankinter offset its direct emissions for 2013 by taking part in the Ecology and Development Foundation's Zero CO2 initiative and a project to improve organic agricultural practices indigenous communities in Guatemala.

Influence on stakeholder groups

Bankinter joined in the “Earth Hour" campaign, switching its lights off and involving employees and customers.

For a responsible conduct. With a view to raising awareness among its workforce of the need to combat climate change, and to instil responsible environmental behaviour, the Bank offers all its employees a training plan which includes a guide to good environmental practices and is accessible via the intranet, and a course on the ISO 14001 environmental management system.

For this purpose the Bank also uses a number of different internal and external communication channels, through which to disseminate the various initiatives in this field, thus encouraging all stakeholder groups to participate; examples are the Environment Portal and the in-house blog “Se hace saber” ("Please be informed"), which is open to opinions, reflections and debate among all employees; both are to be found on the corporate intranet.

Awareness-raising actions aimed at employees notably included the following:

  • Communication Campaign, urging employees to make responsible use of waste and to reduce emissions.
  • Corporate Website, which includes a specific section on Sustainability.
  • Environment Portal, offering employees news on activities of environmental interest, both within the Bank and outside it. There is also a suggestion box available for employees to propose initiatives or pose queries of an environmental nature.
  • The Bankinter Blog, which in 2013 added an independent section on Sustainability, and which is also disseminated through the Bank's social networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+).
  • Tenth Edition of the EnvironmentalPhotography Award, this year with the theme “Dialogue with nature”, which attracted 268 entries. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the competition, an itinerant exhibition of the winning photographs from the ten years of its existence was held in various centres of the Bank.
  • Support for the "Earth Hour” campaign, a worldwide initiative of the WWF to reducer CO2 emissions by switching off the lights and other electrical equipment of all the Bank's buildings and encouraging employees and customers to join in the campaign.