#believeintomorrow
Sustainability at Steiermärkische Sparkasse: We believe in tomorrw.
#believeintomorrow
Sustainability at Steiermärkische Sparkasse
The fight against the climate crisis and its effects on people and the environment is a feat of strength for society as a whole. Banks have a special role in this issue through their investment and financing activities. As Steiermärkische Sparkasse, we have been aware of this responsibility for about 200 years. Our founding idea of 1825 already calls for a balance between business necessities and sustainable commitment. With modern financial products, clear goals and a comprehensive strategy, we are meeting those requirements today.
The Foundation: Our Sustainability Strategy
We believe in a tomorrow worth living for all people. In our sustainability strategy, we have outlined the contribution we can make together with our subsidiary banks in Southeastern Europe. All key sustainability topics are assigned to one of four fields of action (Society and Governance, Customers, Employees, Environment) and are provided with clear measures and targets.
In preparation for the comprehensive transparency and disclosure obligations associated with the EU legislative package "Green Finance" and the "Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive" (CSRD), we have published a voluntary interim assessment on sustainability in 2023. Divided into our four fields of action, it presents current key figures, achieved goals and lighthouse projects.
Sustainable Investment and Funding
Of course, the modern-day interpretation of our sustainable founding concept is also reflected in our core business. For more than two decades, we have been offering customers a broad portfolio of sustainable mutual funds together with Erste Asset Management (EAM). Investors can choose from more than 50 funds that comply with ESG guidelines as well as Articles 8 and 9 of the EU Disclosure Regulation and cover the full range of sustainable investing.
We also take our responsibility for people and the environment seriously. In our Principles for Responsible Finance, we have defined exclusion criteria for financing. In concrete terms, this means that we do not finance any climate-damaging or environmentally destructive large-scale projects such as nuclear power plants, coal mines or fracking for natural gas production. Our focus is on projects that pursue a sustainable business model.
With our sustainability know-how, we accompany commercial customers in the green transition of their company and are available as a sparring partner for sustainable business models and/or financing projects. In addition, our funding specialists provide support in the search, application, and submission of sustainability-related funding.
Partnerships and Initiatives
Only together can we succeed in mitigating the climate crisis and making a livable tomorrow possible. That's why we need strong partnerships – across territorial and intellectual boundaries.
As Steiermärkische Sparkasse, we are committed to the European Green Deal, the ideological superstructure of the green transition in Europe, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Through our membership of Erste Group AG, we support the UNEP FI Principles for Responsible Banking, the EU Commission's Green Consumption Pledge and the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. In doing so, we are committed to aligning our loan and investment portfolio with net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.