Environmental management

We are convinced that every company can and should make its own individual contribution towards protecting the environment through the economic use of raw materials and by reducing CO2 emissions. When it comes to direct environmental and climate impact, it could be said that the carbon footprint left by banks is relatively small compared with manufacturing companies. However, for BayernLB, sustainably designing its own operations forms the basis for its overall sustainable commitment.

Sustainable facility management

Today, more than two thirds of all Group employees work at locations that have a certified environmental management system. At BayernLB Bank, the proportion is even higher, at over 90 percent. The main areas for action in environmental management are waste, energy consumption, business travel, paper consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption.

The environmental management system at BayernLB

BayernLB established an operational environment management system in the 1990s, which, since 1999, has been validated in accordance with the stringent European EMAS regulation. Since 2011, the environmental management system has also been certified in accordance with the international standard ISO 14001.

BayernLB provides an annual report of the progress made on environmental management in our environmental statement (integrated in our Sustainability Report according to GRI).

Sustainable workplace and climate-friendly mobility

We know: The commitment and motivation of BayernLB’s employees is crucial to how environmentally friendly BayernLB ultimately will be. We therefore promote environmental awareness among our employees and involve them actively in the environmental measures.

Rail travel is prioritised

Since business travel makes the largest contribution to BayernLB's environmental footprint, reducing travel-related emissions is particularly important. Before they travel, employees are obliged to check the carbon emissions generated by their journey and to consider possible alternatives. This especially applies to travel that is not client-related. In principle, they should take the train for any destination that can be reached by train in less than 3.5 hours.

Video and telephone conferences instead of travel

The positive experience with flexible working models is having a decisive influence on the sustainable workplace. By implementing desk-sharing, we are boosting the rate of working from home and reducing the time and energy required for the commute. BayernLB also offers modern infrastructure for video and telephone conferences.

Sustainable travel to the office

To enable employees to make an eco-friendly journey to work, BayernLB offers its staff discounted job tickets for travel on public transport. A bike station has also been established at the Munich site, with parking spaces for 220 bicycles. The underground car park at BayernLB has charging stations for electric cars, which are available free of charge.

1995

BayernLB as signatory of the UNEP Finance Initiative (environmental protection and banks)

1997

Membership in the Association for Environmental Management in Banks, Savings Banks, and Insurance Companies (“VfU”)

1998

Participation in Environmental Pact of Bavaria

1999

EMAS validation and first environmental declaration

2000

First sustainability rating: BayernLB becomes a sector leader

2004

Commitment to comply with World Bank standards

2007

BayernLB publishes first sustainability report

2008

As one of the first banks to do so, BayernLB works climate-neutralised at its head office in Munich by purchasing carbon offset certificates

2011

BayernInvest as signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)

2012

“Financing tomorrow’s energy” Group initiative

2015

BayernLB works climate-neutralised at all its sites in Germany due to purchasing carbon offset certificates

2016

DKB green bond – first German private commercial bank to issue a green bond

2017

LABO social bond – first social bond by a development bank

2018

Partnership with Climate Bonds Initiative: promoting the development of the green bond market

DKB's #geldverbesserer initiative (“Your money can do more”)

2020

BayernLB has a clear strategic focus on sustainability

2021

Joining the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials

Signature of UN Global Compact and Principles for Responsible Banking

Publication of new Sustainability Strategy and Guiding Principles for Transformation

2022

BayernLB one of the first banks in Germany to publish Sustainable Lending Framework