Climate neutrality in business operations

In its daily operations, Pekao Bank is guided by a desire to reduce its negative impact on the climate and by an environmentally friendly attitude. This is achieved by means of technical solutions that are gradually being implemented in the branch network and headquarters facilities.

In 2021, the implementation of ecological solutions was continued with a special focus on reducing electricity consumption and negative environmental impact, i.e.:

During comprehensive modernization of properties owned by the Bank, modern solutions were used, e.g. energy-saving LED lighting systems or sanitary faucets with aerators, which reduce water consumption.

Cars belonging to the Bank’s fleet are successively replaced with models that emit less exhaust gas into the atmosphere. At present, the Bank is replacing a significant part of its fleet (approx. 75%) with new cars with the Euro 6DG emission standard.

Bank Pekao was also involved in the sale of end-of-life cars. Since 2021, a total of 970 cars have been sold. The sales volume amounted to nearly PLN 20 million. As part of the pre-purchase, 310 cars were sold, which constitutes 32%, for the amount of PLN 5,772,880. As part of the internal auction (addressed to all employees of the Bank), 267 cars were sold, which constitutes 27.5%, for the amount of PLN 5,428,060. At the external auction 393 cars were sold which is 40.5% for the amount of PLN 8,697,300

The key regulation on reducing the consumption of raw materials and consumables is the Policy on optimizing energy consumption in Bank Polska Kasa Opieki Spółka Akcyjna. This document sets out the principles and rules regarding standards and guidelines for optimizing the Bank’s energy consumption in terms of environmental protection based on a commitment to properly monitor and prevent, as far as possible, any negative impact on the environment. The principles outlined in the Policy are guidelines for every employee to follow in order to raise awareness of environmental issues by optimizing energy consumption. They should be applied with reasonable flexibility, taking into account the specific situations of each job.

In the day-to-day operations of the Pekao Group and the Bank, measures are implemented to significantly reduce the consumption of paper. The solutions used in the Bank include multifunctional printing devices with a default option of two-sided printing and a central system allowing buffering of printouts and the possibility for the user to cancel outdated, unnecessary or erroneous printouts, which facilitates paper saving; scanning and sending documents in an electronic form, a system of optional printing of paper confirmations of ATM and cash register operations, processing applications and documents used in HR processes in an electronic form, limiting the number of printed documents for customers, a system of mail handling and correspondence circulation with an emphasis on keeping electronic registers of correspondence. In 2021, the Bank intensified its work to implement the Electronic Personal Files project. The implementation of Electronic Personal Files in the near future will allow for the elimination of paper at the level of 80% of the current consumption, and will eliminate the costs related to the archiving of HR and payroll documentation as well as the costs related to the flow of paper correspondence between the Bank and employees. At the same time, a project called Gutenberg was carried out at the Bank in 2021, concerning the modernization of the print area, which is intended to settle the printouts per click.

The aspect of saving office materials and paper is also important in the current operations of Pekao Group companies, according to their business profile. The majority of procedures for digitization are implemented, and the demand for stationery and office materials is verified on an ongoing basis in accordance with internal purchasing procedures.

For many years, Pekao Bank has been using new solutions and offering its clients communication via the Internet with the use of electronic documents. In addition to confirming some of the instructions at the branch in the PeoPay application or via SMS, the Bank has also implemented solutions thanks to which customers can receive, among others confirmation of the renewal of the policy or certificates of accounts, transactions, salaries in an electronic form. In 2021, the Bank continued its activities aimed at popularizing the paperless concept among customers, encouraging them to give up paper correspondence and jointly care for the environment. For this purpose, i.e. a special website www.pekao.com.pl/epapier was created with explanations on how to change paper correspondence to electronic correspondence. It is possible to make changes in a branch, on the Pekao24 website or in the PeoPay application. In remote channels, campaigns are carried out periodically, encouraging people to resign from receiving paper statements, regulations or notifications of repayment of liabilities. From year to year, customers are becoming more and more active parties to the processes aimed at reducing the use of paper by the Bank.

As part of waste management, the Bank systematically transfers paper documentation, IT media, furniture or household appliances and audio/video devices for specialist disposal. These products are recycled and prepared for reuse as a secondary raw material or as an input for alternative fuels. When ordering new audio/video devices, the service of collecting and disposing of old devices is included.