Pillar I: Internal environmental management system

ProCredit Bank continuously monitors its own energy and resource consumption in terms of environmental impact and opportunities for improvement. We have designated an Environmental Co-ordinator to monitor our environmental performance and co-ordinate the efforts to improve it.

We believe that to achieve changes when it comes to environmental matters, we first need to change our mindset and the way we treat our planet. Therefore, the bank regularly develops internal environmental initiatives for its employees, aiming to increase their awareness of environmental issues and encourage them to take practical action – not only while they are at work, but in their daily life as well. An example which can be mentioned is our internal energy-efficiency campaign. The aim of the campaign was to inform bank employees about the current situation regarding environmental issues in the country, why energy efficiency has a life-improving impact and what actions need to be taken to achieve the desired results. Employees were e-mailed clear and straightforward examples showing how easy it is put into practice. In addition, posters and small stickers for electrical appliances and office equipment were distributed throughout the bank’s network to remind employees to turn off electronic devices when they leave the office or when the equipment is not in use. To put our Eco spirit into practice, we organised several green clean-up initiatives at various locations throughout Moldova.

Another important step in reducing the bank’s internal environmental impact is carefully monitoring the monthly consumption of energy, water and other materials in the bank. We make sure that our newly opened offices are fitted out with environmentally friendly materials and equipment, such as energy-efficient heating systems, water saving devices, insulated windows and low-energy light bulbs, reducing energy consumption further. These measures helped the bank to reduce its heating use per employee. The bank also takes pains to make sure existing outlets are as energy efficient as possible: all premises are equipped with energy regulating systems which automatically reduce the consumption of energy needed for lighting, heating and cooling, thus maximising the use of daylight and regulating the energy consumed when no employees are present. 

A great deal of effort was put into reducing paper consumption. The entire printing process was redesigned in order to optimise the use of paper resources. This included the replacement of separate printing equipment with multifunctional central printers (including scanning and photocopying options) accompanied by the introduction of printing limits for departments and processes. As a result, the quantity of paper used decreased. Additionally, during meetings, all information is presented electronically and not printed. The bank has also stopped using flipchart paper when conducting staff training courses and now uses whiteboards instead.
 
Another high-priority for the bank was minimising the use of plastic, which has a bad impact on our health and the environment. To this end, the bank has replaced the disposable plastic cups with paper cups in all offices, although the majority of employees use their own porcelain mugs. 
 
We consider that by implementing these simple and easy-to-follow initiatives we have taken a step in the right direction. Moreover, we have grabbed the attention of our employees, making them acknowledge that Eco is a way of living, part of a lifestyle which needs to be passed on to future generations.