HBOS PLC
From Lauraibm
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HBOS and the Environment
We are committed to having a positive influence on the environment. Our primary concern is to reduce emissions and our use of resources. We are committed to achieving carbon neutrality in the UK by the end of 2007.
HBOS impacts on the environment in two ways:
- 1. Directly through the energy and resources we use in our buildings and when we travel.
- 2. Indirectly through the products and services we provide to our personal and commercial customers
With over 2,200 buildings in our UK property estate, over 65,000 employees and a relationship with approximately two out of every five households in the UK, we must manage this impact effectively.
HBOS has reduced its UK carbon emissions by almost two thirds (65%) from 163,000 tonnes in 2004 to 57,000 tonnes in 2006. This is primarily due to purchasing 100% renewable energy. We are currently the only UK bank to do this.
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The Green Miles Initiative
Launched at the beginning of April 2007, Green Miles is designed to reduce the rate of HBOS business travel growth in the UK. The Million £ Challenge could benefit by up to £500,000 from the savings made.
Business travel is the biggest cause of carbon emissions in HBOS. The aim of Green Miles in 2007 is to halve the rate of travel growth – a saving of 5.5 million miles or 225 times around the world. Doing so will reduce the Group's potential carbon emissions. This will be achieved by better use of teleconference facilities across our business.
Green Miles has been piloted within Group Services. The results of this pilot exceeded all expectations. As a result, the Million £ Challenge gained £50,000, matched by the Foundation to a total of £100,000.
Green Miles currently concentrates on journeys made by train and plane. It is planned to include cars from 2008. The miles saved when colleagues choose not to take a business journey all count towards the Green Miles target.
A Carbon Calculator has been created to help colleagues estimate their typical carbon emissions from business travel. Instead of asking colleagues to travel longer by train or driving, Green Miles encourages colleagues to question whether they need to travel at all.
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HBOS Environmental Management
HBOS has a comprehensive Environmental Management System (EMS) with targets for energy use, water use and recycling. Here are some of our current initiatives to help meet these targets:
Paper reduction and recycling:
- We have rolled out improved recycling facilities to call centres and offices with over 200 colleagues.
- We will implement new recycling facilities for all waste paper across our entire branch network by the end of 2007.
- We are working with Greenworks , a not-for-profit partner to improve our recycling of office furniture.
- We will introduce recycled plastic bags for customers in the branch network.
- Around 1 million of our customers have moved to paper-free, electronic statements in a bid to reduce paper use.
- HBOS will continue to work in partnership with suppliers to identify environmental efficiency initiatives in new buildings from the tender process onwards.
Other initiatives:
- HBOS will launch a "Green Mortgage" next year to help its customers reduce their impact on the environment.
- In 2002, HBOS was the first bank to recognise the risks posed by flooding and to offer all its mortgage customers cover against flood risk until 2008.
- HBOS has installed long life, low energy light bulbs across over 80% of our estate. The remaining light fittings are currently unsuitable for low energy bulbs and will be upgraded over the next 5 years as part of our building refurbishment programme.
- HBOS is a key sponsor of the WWF's One Million Sustainable Homes Initiative .
- HBOS has adopted the Equator Principles for project finance. The Principles require a commitment to fund only projects which can be developed in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
- Insight Investment , our asset management division, manages the Evergreen Fund that has a 20% weighting towards investment in companies that develop environmentally beneficial products.
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