Standard Chartered Bank’s bid to reduce its carbon footprint has seen it deploy a number of energy efficiency technologies in its offices across Europe and the Far East, including photovoltaic lighting, solar and wind integration, light sensors and water-saving appliances. Some buildings even include an automatic drip-feed irrigation system using rainwater and recycled water for landscape management.
This year, it introduced a range of online tools to encourage staff to play their part in this strategy. “We have a series of sustainability targets within the bank and targets for reductions in the use of water, energy, paper and travel, and so we need to educate employees on how to help us to do this and engage them in the process of environmental protection,” explains Yulanda Chung, senior manager for sustainable business with the bank. “With 75,000 employees worldwide, the most practical way to do this is online.”
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One of these online tools is a carbon calculator, which helps staff to calculate their carbon impact and compare it to national averages, customised for use in 50 different countries. “When you do something like this, it’s important to be relevant to emerging markets, so this can be used in Africa and Asia as well as the Middle East,” says Chung. “The response has actually been so positive that we’ve made the site publicly available.”
The bank has also built an online collaborative workspace called ‘greenstorm’, where employees are encouraged to exchange green ideas and build green communities within the bank. The platform also includes a share-a-ride portal, where employees can arrange to share taxis and car journeys to and from work, and My Environment, an employee portal where staff can access advice on being greener at home and at work. “Employees can engage with these interactive tools, which take them through a normal day at the office or at home, providing information on how those activities impact the environment, but also suggesting practical ways to reduce their footprint,” says Chung.
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