- GRI:
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Management of material topics (identified as material in the materiality matrix)3-3Management of material topics (identified as material in the materiality matrix)
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Main pro-environmental products and services offered to customers, including offerings that influence climate change solutionsCustom indicatorMain pro-environmental products and services offered to customers, including offerings that influence climate change solutions
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Information on key products, including new products launched during the reporting periodCustom indicatorInformation on key products, including new products launched during the reporting period
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Products and initiatives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)Custom indicatorProducts and initiatives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
At Santander Bank Polska Group, we offer sustainable financial products. Environmental and climate issues are taken into account in the development of such products and services and in credit analysis. The benchmark in this regard is the Santander Bank Polska Group’s Sustainable Finance Classification System, in force since 2022.
Sustainable Finance Classification System (SFCS).
It is an internal methodology for classifying sustainable financial products and services, in particular regarding how the Group defines green, social and sustainable finance. According to its guidelines, green and social financing and financing for sustainability-related purposes must meet certain technical criteria, environmental and social due diligence requirements and be verifiable. The system is based on internationally recognised industry guidelines and principles, such as the ICMA Social and the Green Bond Principles, the Climate Bond Standards and Loan Market Association’s principles for green or social or sustainability linked loans (LMA Green Loan Principles, LMA Social Loan Principles and LMA Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles), as well as the EU Taxonomy. The bank has targets for the value of green finance aligned with SFCS. In 2023, we provided green financing amounting to PLN 7,671 million (PLN 3,127.5 million in 2022), a 145% increase year-on-year.
Throughout the Group, we have implemented the Global Sustainable Bond Framework Policy and the Green Bond Framework Policy, in which we have committed to allocating green bond proceeds to renewable energy projects (solar and wind).
Green finance is governed, inter alia, by the following regulations:
- Responsible Banking Strategy (effective 2021-2023),
- Responsible Banking and Sustainability Policy,
- Social, Environmental and Climate Change Risk Management Policy,
- sector policies,
- Sustainable and Responsible Investment Policy and Policy of Engagement with Listed Companies and Application of Corporate Governance Measures” (of key importance at Santander TFI S.A.),
- Group Net Zero strategy,
- Global Sustainable Bond Framework Policy,
- Green Bond Framework Policy.
Our Group’s green finance offer is aimed at a diverse range of customers, including those from industries with the greatest impact on climate issues, such as energy, oil and gas and industrial operations.
- kredyty na inwestycje zrównoważone, w tym OZE
- kredyty powiązane z Celami Zrównoważonego Rozwoju
- kredyt gotówkowy z EKO promocją,
- ekopożyczka
- zielone obligacje (green bonds) i zrównoważone obligacje (sustainability bonds)
- obligacje związane ze zrównoważonym rozwojem (sustainability-linked bonds)
- doradztwo dotyczące możliwości uzyskania zrównoważonego finansowania
- doradztwo finansowe
- w obszarze ESG
- leasing instalacji fotowoltaicznych SolarLease
- leasing pojazdów elektrycznych, w tym z dotacja w ramach programu „Mój elektryk”
- leasing nieemisyjnych źródeł ciepła, magazynów energii, stacji ładowania pojazdów elektrycznych
- fundusze inwestycyjne klasyfikowane jako produkty z art. 8 rozporządzenia SFDR (tzw. jasnozielone) i art. 9 SFDR (tzw. ciemnozielone)
Pro-environmental activities of Santander Bank Polska Group companies in 2023:
Combating greenwashing
- GRI:
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Management of material topics (identified as material in the materiality matrix)3-3Management of material topics (identified as material in the materiality matrix)
In order to mitigate the risk of greenwashing, the bank has set up an inter-departmental panel of experts (ESG Panel). Its task is to support the Santander Bank Polska Group’s business segments in correctly identifying and classifying sustainable credit transactions and products, both in terms of compliance with the criteria of the internal Sustainable Finance Classification System (SFCS) and with the EU Taxonomy. The Panel is chaired by the Director of ESG Risks (Risk Management Division) and overseen by the Risk Control Committee at the level of the bank’s Management Board.
Regulations relating to the implementation of new products and services ensure that consultation with the Compliance Area and the Sustainability and ESG Team is required for all ESG-related products and services, including non-credit ones.
With regard to greenwashing risk, further policies, procedures and guidelines are gradually being defined to address this risk, which is diffused in the bank’s activities.
To date, the following actions have been taken:
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the approach to defining sustainable transactions and products has been made more consistent through the Sustainable Finance Classification System (SFCS), -
the Sustainability Communication and Publicity guidelines have been defined for employees preparing marketing and image messages,
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the risk of greenwashing has been identified in the Compliance Area Guidelines for Working with Partners.
