The world's local bank
Managing our direct impacts
"We all have an obligation to help reduce our impact on the environment, including the impact resulting from the use and operation of our buildings. All Group offices will be accountable to achieve and, where possible, exceed our environmental targets, which will reduce costs and minimise our environmental footprint."
Stephen Green, Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc
As part of a worldwide commitment to help tackle climate change, HSBC integrates environmental management as standard business practice across all Bank and employee activities to reduce our direct impacts.
To reduce the environmental footprint of office buildings and business operations, we launched a US$90 million five-year Global Environmental Efficiency Programme in 2007. We show leadership in environmental innovation and efficiency initiatives. A variety of eco-education and green volunteering activities are also organised to raise employees' awareness and encourage their involvement in carbon reduction.
- Water-cooled chillers for air-conditioning
- Rainwater for landscape irrigation
- Use of renewable energy such as solar panels, solar thermal system and micro wind turbines
- Use of vermiculture technology to convert organic food waste from kitchens into organic fertiliser
- Variable speed drive technology for all motors, pumps and fans
- Eco-friendly Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified papers for corporate and marketing materials
- Video collaboration equipment to reduce business travel
- Managed Print Service, the largest scale print service in Asia-Pacific, which uses multi-function all-in-one devices to replace old printers, copiers, scanners and fax machines. This energy-and waste-saving print management initiative helps reduce the amount of equipment, consumption of electricity, toner cartridges and paper, and maintenance cost.
- Bio-degradable plastic for containers, garbage bags and lunch boxes
- Online booking, filing and purchasing facilities for our operations
HSBC was the first major bank in the world - and the first FTSE 100 company - to become carbon neutral in 2005. Our carbon management plan comprises four elements:
- Measuring our carbon footprint
- Reducing our energy consumption and business travel
- Buying 'green' electricity where available
- Offsetting any remaining carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
We buy CO2 offsets from credible renewable energy projects which have been assessed and verified independently.
The rooftop sky garden at the HSBC Building Mongkok uses recycled materials and generates power through solar panels.
4.65 meter tall vertical wind turbine is installed at the rooftop of HSBC Centre to pilot renewable energy.
Micro wind turbines installed at HSBC office and residential buildings to generate renewable energy.
HSBC TelePresence suites enable more face-to-face meeting for fewer air miles and smaller carbon footprint.
Green volunteering and eco-education activities are organised for employees and their families.
FSC-certified paper is used in corporate publications and marketing materials.
Vermiculture technology, which uses earthworms to convert organic food waste from kitchens to organic fertilizer, is used as part of the Bank's efforts to reduce waste going to Hong Kong's landfills.
Managed Print Service was launched to reduce the amount of equipment, consumption of electricity, toner cartridges and paper, and maintenance cost.
