Santander Bank Polska takes stock of 2022 in its latest ESG Report
The bank has put together the tenth edition of the report to describe its management practices and showcase its social and environmental impact. For the first time, it has independently verified part of its carbon footprint.
This year’s ESG report uses the latest version of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) international standard. The publication refers to international guidelines and objectives relevant to the bank and the financial sector. It is in line with the European Commission’s requirements for the disclosure of non-financial information related to climate impacts, the UNEP FI Principles for Responsible Banking and selected Sustainable Development Goals identified as strategic for Santander Bank Polska. The report also takes into account the indicators defined in the „Guidelines for ESG Reporting – A Guide for WSE-listed Companies”, and additionally includes its own internal performance indicators.
This year, for the first time, the bank independently attested its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard. This means that the bank’s direct carbon footprint was validated, as well as indirect emissions related to the consumption of purchased electricity, heat and steam.
The bank integrates its sustainability disclosures with information on climate impacts. This is why the report includes, for the second time, a climate analysis developed using TCFD recommendations. It covers climate risks and opportunities in two scenarios and three time dimensions: short (to 2025), medium (to 2030) and long (to 2050).
Despite the many challenges facing the banking sector, we have consistently pursued our Responsible Banking Agenda. It is both an economic necessity and a responsibility with future generations in mind. As a socially engaged bank, we are thriving on sustainability through our growing portfolio of sustainable loans and our support for green transformation projects. In the coming years, we will be increasing our commitment to ESG projects.
In view of upcoming regulatory requirements, the bank decided to have the most relevant indicators of the 2022 ESG Report examined by Santander Bank Polska Group’s lead auditor. The audit was performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers Polska. This is a step towards the ultimate reporting of ESG topics integrated with financial statements.
The website of the ESG report is available in two language versions – Polish and English. It has been adapted for blind and visually impaired people. It complies with the international standard on accessibility for people with individual needs (WCAG 2.1 at level AA) and is certified by the Widzialni.org Foundation.
The report is available at https://esg.santander.pl/2022/
