Żabka, in partnership with the Santander Group, signed the first financial agreements based on ESG goals
Żabka, in partnership with the Santander Group, has entered into the first credit agreement and factoring agreement based on the achievement of ESG* targets, including those related to decarbonisation. These targets have been endorsed by the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative. The loan provided by Santander will be used to finance Żabka’s automated and low-carbon logistics centre, scheduled to open in the second half of 2022.
How will the agreements affect Żabka? The amount of the loan margin and, accordingly, the factoring margin were made dependent on the achievement of ESG goals that the company defined and committed to achieve in the Responsibility Strategy adopted in 2021. This type of financing not only gives credibility to the company’s commitments, but also shows that the declarations made by the organisation are backed up by concrete actions.
An increasing number of financial institutions make the availability of financing and its cost conditional on actions and goals pursued in the area of sustainable development, meaning that a company’s investments are assessed from an environmental, social and corporate governance perspective. Companies that take into account environmental commitments in their operations have easier access to financing instruments. Żabka’s initiative is therefore a very important signal for the market on how to integrate ESG factors into the business agenda for the sake of sustainable development.
Today the most valuable assets are responsibility and trust. A modern business must be credible and transparent in its communications. Our creation of a financial instrument based on certain ESG goals, including decarbonisation, is further proof that we take our commitments seriously. At Żabka, we are constantly improving our processes and looking for innovative solutions to meet the expectations of our stakeholders and maintain high market position. We have signed our first financial agreements with the margin dependent on the achievement of our ESG targets. This provides us with additional motivation to pursue our commitments. We are open to and want to continue looking for this type of financing for the development of our business.
The project of financing based on ESG goals was implemented by Żabka thanks to close cooperation with the Santander Group, which is active in the area of green transformation, supporting entrepreneurs in this transition.
Through our actions, including providing financing to clients based on ESG goals, we are consistently implementing our Responsible Banking strategy. We are delighted to have the opportunity to promote pioneering solutions on the Polish market, such as factoring combined with ESG targets or a long-term loan secured by an export credit agency (ECA) policy. The introduction of such solutions requires great motivation both on the part of the client and the bank. I'm glad that together with Żabka we could create a unique solution on a business scale, which will additionally have a positive impact on the environment.
Żabka supports sustainable living in harmony with the planet
Żabka’s Responsibility Strategy is based on four pillars, which are: sustainable lifestyle, positive impact on the environment, responsible organization and green planet. The company develops activities in the area of social and environmental responsibility in a strategic manner, integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into its business strategy. One of its ambitious goals is to achieve climate neutrality of its operations by 2025. Żabka is the first company in Poland and the first modern convenience chain in Central Europe whose decarbonisation goals have been scientifically verified and endorsed by the international initiative Science Based Targets (SBTi).
* Environmental, Social and Governance
