HSBC publishes 2003 CSR report - Environment

Managing our impacts on the environment

In order to fulfill our commitments to sustainable development, we have to understand the effects of our working practices. Since 2001, increasingly we have been gathering data on our environmental impacts from our operations around the world.

Achievements at a glance 2003

Expanded coverage
China, Panama and new Group Service Centres in Asia-Pacific are now included in the environmental reporting system.

Improved data quality
Such methods as the direct metering of sites have improved the quality of data we collect in Brazil, the United States and Asia-Pacific.

Reducing impacts
Initiatives include a pilot scheme for eco-branches in the UK, lighting upgrades and thermostat replacements in the United States and the UK, and switching to ‘green’ electricity in the UK.

Energy use

Overall, energy consumption has increased marginally.

2003 initiatives

• Outsourcing of energy management in Asia-Pacific, North America and the UK.
• Lighting upgrades and thermostat replacements in the United States and the UK will see an estimated annual saving of over 320 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• Use of energy surveys in Brazil and India to identify potential savings, combined with employee awareness programmes on energy reduction.

Business travel

Business travel has increased. This is partially due to increased data capture in Asia-Pacific but also reflects more travel in connection with the integration of new members of the Group, Household and HSBC Mexico.

2003 initiatives

• Extended use of video-conferencing and tele-conferencing systems, and tighter control of costs has decreased travel by staff in Brazil.
• The introduction of an environmental travel policy in Hong Kong aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 1 per cent.

Greenhouse gas emissions

While energy consumption has risen only marginally, our greenhouse gas emissions have risen substantially, despite our efforts to reduce them. This is due to the inclusion of additional sites in Asia-Pacific, which have higher carbon dioxide conversion rates than in other regions.

2003 initiatives

• We expect our emissions to reduce further as a result of our switch to using ‘green’ electricity in the majority of our UK operations, with an estimated annual reduction of 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• Our Australian operations are seeking to obtain 10 per cent of their energy from renewable sources.

Water consumption

We attribute the decrease in our water consumption to improvements in our reporting systems in the UK and more accurate estimates of consumption in Brazil, the United States and France, offset by the increased scope of reporting in Asia-Pacific.

2003 initiatives

• Installing a new water distribution system in the HSBC operations centre in Malta.
• Replacing water cooling towers with dry cooling systems in some of our operations in France.
• Installing water meters at all company-owned premises in India.

Waste

Significant improvements in the waste reporting systems in some regions make it impossible to make realistic comparisons between 2002 and 2003 data.

2003 initiatives

• We are moving to online and double-sided printers at our Brazilian, Chinese, Australian and UK operations.
• In Brazil, confidential waste is being recycled.
• In the UK, an initiative with Future Forests Limited to recycle mobile phones has resulted in 500 saplings being planted in the HSBC forest in Balblair, Scotland.

Read about HSBC’s approach to responsible financing here.