In 2006, the Group’s environmental efforts focused on managing the direct environmental impact of the Group’s Danish activities. Direct environmental impact is defined as impact associated with the Group’s operations, for example resource consumption and waste from the Group’s own offices as well as purchases from suppliers.
In 2007, the main focus of the Group’s environmental efforts was the direct environmental impact of Sweden, Norway, Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Group has also worked on a number of specific targets for reducing the environmental impact of the Danish activities. One of the main achievements in 2007 was the launch of a group-wide climate change strategy, which sets a target of carbon neutrality by December 2009.
In 2007, the Group also focused on the indirect environmental impact of our financial business, including credit granting, investment and leasing activities. In credit granting, the Group environmental policy requires corporate customers to comply with existing environmental legislation as well as rules and regulations. Environmental issues are also integrated in our financial risk assessments. In 2007, we revised our business procedures supporting this policy to put more emphasis on enforcing the policy.
Environmental management system
| To implement and operate an environmental management system (EMS) consistent with ISO14001 in all Group operations. |
In 2006 the EMS was implemented in DK. In 2007 it was extended to cover operations in NO, SE, IRL and N-IRL. |
Ensure that the environmental management system is running in DK, NO, SE, IRL and N-IRL.
Extend the EMS to cover FIN and BAL by 2009. |
In Q1 we completed an internal audit of the EMS in NO, SE, IRL and N-IRL.
The audit identified some challenges in implementing the business procedures. We will follow up on this. |
Supplier requirements
| Set environmental standards for suppliers and products. |
Business procedures for environmental screening of suppliers and products have been established in SE, NO, IRL and N-IRL. |
Formalise business procedures for environmental screening of suppliers and products in FIN and BAL by 2009. |
Not in progress yet. |
Ensure that, over time, the Group’s suppliers meet the following requirements:
1) The individual supplier must have a written environmental policy as well as an environmental management system.
2) The individual supplier must take responsibility for checking that sub-contractors meet the Group’s environmental standards. |
Began phasing out PVC in office supplies and merchandise in activities outside Denmark as in activities in Denmark.
More than 80% of the Danish units' purchases of selected product groups came from suppliers with an environmental policy and an EMS. |
Increase environmental requirements for specific products such as detergent and paint.
A total of 90% of the Group’s purchases of selected product groups must be made from suppliers that have an environmental policy and an environmental management system. The Group expects to achieve this goal within five years. |
Make the screening process more efficient to ensure easier follow-up with suppliers. |
Resource consumption
| Reduce the Group’s resource consumption and emissions. |
Business procedures and objectives for SE, NO, IRL and N-IRL have been established.
SE, NO, IRL and N-IRL reported on resource consumption for the first time in 2007. Some indicators will not be compiled until 2008.
A climate change strategy has been approved for the Group, with a target of carbon neutrality by December 2009. |
Establish procedures to minimise resource consumption in FIN and BAL by 2009.
Swedish operations will implement new company car policy to exclude all petrol-fuelled cars.
Improvement of data quality in environmental reporting.
Extend reporting to cover FIN and BAL by 2009.
Implement climate change strategy. Achieve carbon neutrality by December 2009. |
Not in progress yet.
SE has implemented a new company car policy that excludes all petrol-fuelled cars.
Since January 1, 2008, SE, NO, IRL and N-IRL have compiled a number of the missing indicators for resource consumption.
The reporting process is not in progress yet.
Implementation is proceeding as planned. |
Reduce Group paper consumption.
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One way to achieve this reduction is to introduce duplex printers and develop supporting applications. Accordingly, as of 2007, all new office printers purchased by the Group have duplex printing features.
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Reduce internal paper consumption per employee in Denmark by 30% from 2006 levels. The Group expects to achieve this goal within five years.
Conversion of hard copy account statements to electronic solutions for all online banking customers in DK, SE and FI.
Norwegian activities will implement at least one initiative to reduce paper consumption in the credit process. |
No reduction has been achieved yet, and the Group is therefore aiming to introduce duplex printing earlier than planned.
Conversion took place according to the plan for Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
Fokus Bank has implemented changes to its credit system that have reduced paper consumption.
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| Increase the percentage of recycled paper in total paper consumption. |
The possibilities of increasing the use of recycled paper are being investigated. |
No specific targets or goals set for this objective. |
We have decided to abandon this goal. Instead, the Group will focus on reducing paper consumption through increased digitalisation. |
| Reduce the Group’s energy consumption. |
Labelling initiatives were launched in March 2007, and the first half has been completed as planned. The rest of the ventilation systems will be labelled in 2008. |
Finalise energy-labelling initiatives for all ventilation systems in head office in Denmark in 2008.
Review energy consumption at Norwegian head office in 2008 in order to identify potential major improvements. |
Labelling continues and will be completed in the autumn.
On June 1, 2008, an energy consultant began work at the Group to prepare an energy-reduction plan.
The Group has started a process to introduce an energy-efficiency system. |
Waste management
| Reduce the environmental impact of Group waste. |
Business procedures for waste handling in SE, NO, IRL and N-IRL have been established.
Unfortunately, it has proven very difficult to quantify the volumes of waste generated by SE, IRL and N-IRL as waste is typically collected by local authorities rather than being paid for by weight. Therefore waste data for SE, IRL and N-IRL are not yet available. |
Improve waste recycling in SE, NO, IRL and N-IRL in 2008. |
Waste paper recycling has been established for all units in NO in co-operation with an external partner. A recycling process is in progress in SE, with completion expected in the autumn of 2008. A waste-handling review is planned for IR and N-IRL for the autumn of 2008. |
Employee training
| Increase the environmental awareness of Group employees. |
A CR site launched on the intranet gave all employees easy access to information about CR and environmental issues.
Initial training was completed. Additional training will be given at joint meetings for purchasing officers as required. |
Ensure that all employees at units outside Denmark are familiar with Group's environmental policy.
Run internal campaigns on energy savings. |
Internal energy campaigns were completed in DK, NO, SE, IRL and N-IRL. |
Last updated/revised on August 7, 2008