2013 Annual Report
CLIMATE GOVERNANCE & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
In 2013, the Bank expanded its activities and
began to prioritize the promotion of the development
of a market for environmental assets operated in
Brazil, which Santander see as a key tool in the
transition to a low-carbon economy. These activities
were concentrated on three fronts.
Cerâmica Irmãos Fredi: good social and environmental practices
"IT IS CRUCIAL THAT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT
OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THEIR DECISIONS IN RELATION
TO INVESTMENT, CREDIT AND INSURANCE PROCESSES."
TASSO AZEVEDO
Institutional Offsetting: In order to stimulate the
market, the Bank began offsetting its environmental
impact by purchasing carbon credits from projects
with a positive social and environmental performance
(including small and medium enterprises). Up to that
time, offsetting carbon emissions had been conducted
via the Floresta Santander program, geared to
voluntary reforestation.
Engagement of clients and non-clients:
In June, the Bank launched its Reduza e Compense
CO2 (Reduce and Offset CO2) program, whose
platform enables anyone to calculate their greenhouse
gas emissions and to offset the corresponding impacts
by purchasing carbon credits. The site enables the
user to purchase credits directly from the projects
selected by the Bank. Santander activated the
program by combining this initiative with its vehicle
financing operation, a sector with a major
environmental impact, pledging to offset the first
thousand kilometers driven by each vehicle financed
through the purchase of carbon credits.
→ Employee engagement: In an attempt to
encourage employee engagement, the Bank funded
up to one ton of CO2 for all employees offsetting
their carbon footprint via the Reduza e Compense
CO₂ platform.
This set of practices enabled the Bank to include small
and medium enterprises and individuals in this environment
in an unprecedented manner. In total, Santander purchased
or acted as middle person in 104,229 tons of carbon
credit in 2013, in addition to using 53,308 tons of CO₂
in institutional offsetting and 63,828 tons of CO2 as part
of Reduza e Compense CO2.
Direct impact
Santander Brazil bases the environmental management
of its activities on two complementary models.
The requirements of ISO 14001 have been applied
to the administrative buildings since 2006. With regard
to the branch network, the monitoring and assessment
of environmental issues is included in all operational
measurements by means of the Operational
Quality Assessment System (AQO), which monitors
47 performance indicators, including environmental
indicators such as water and power consumption.
In order to ensure a positive environmental performance
at all its facilities, Santander Brazil bases its activities on
acknowledged eco-efficiency practices and guidelines.
The business network units adhere to the Engineering
Standards Manual developed by the Bank. This document,
which sets forth the best practices of Santander Brazil,
was created based on the experiences acquired during the
construction of the Granja Viana branch, opened in 2007
and the first branch in the country to receive the LEED
sustainable construction certification.
Branches built or renovated since 2007 have been
adapted to the standards of this manual, which addresses
the efficient and rational use of water, energy and
resources by means of elements such as the catchment
of rainwater (capable of reducing consumption by up
to 50%); aerators and self-closing taps (to reduce the
consumption of water) and white-painted tiles (to reduce
heat inside the branch). Three hundred branches have
been built in accordance with these standards.
Many of these practices have been extended to the
administrative buildings. For example, Torre Santander
(the Bank's administrative headquarters) is LEED Gold
certified, awarded by the US Green Building Council
(USGBC), a highly renowned sustainability certification
entity in the field of civil construction.
Consumption
Power G4-EN6
Santander Brazil has set the target of a 20% reduction
in power consumption from 2011 to the end of 2015,
commensurate with the organic growth of the Bank. The
result for 2013 registered a 3% reduction in the administrative
buildings and 1% in the business network. Consumption
including the Data Center rose by 28% due to the testing
and commissioning of the unit.
Gains in eco-efficiency in relation to the operations at the
head offices and branches are the main tool to achieve this
result. One of the highlights in this area in 2013 was the
approval of an internal guideline determining the replacement
of old light bulbs with ecoefficient (LED) bulbs in all renovation
work involving the Bank's branches. These light bulbs
ensure a 50% reduction in power consumption compared
to fluorescent bulbs. Furthermore, the Bank continued to
upgrade its air conditioning equipment (retrofit) and to install
automation systems.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION (GJ / EMPLOYEE)
Branch network
Buildings
2011
2012
2013
21.6
20.5
20.0
16.4
15.7
14.0
112 Annual Report 2013
113View entire presentation