The world's local bank
Sustainability
Contributing to the global community
As a world leader in financial services, we make a point of managing our shareholders’ investment and customers’ money responsibly, set precedents for other banks to follow, and continue to adhere to our business principles.
Here are just a few of the ways in which we treat our people, our customers and our planet with respect:
Responsible lending
Every decision we make with a customer is one that we make carefully. Our lending policies are fair, with a clear assessment of risk and, for larger projects environmental and social impact. We have stringent criteria for investing our funds, while satisfying our shareholders by making excellent returns. We are prepared to decline business that fails to meet these standards.
Sustainability
As part of our sustainability outreach, we have a particular commitment to local communities, focusing on educational and environmental projects that will enhance the quality of life and protect natural resources across the globe.
If you join HSBC, we’ll encourage you to contribute some of your work time to local communities through one of our many environmental and educational projects.
Environmental focus
In October 2005, HSBC became the world’s first carbon neutral bank. We’re reducing our energy consumption and contributing to conservation projects to mitigate the impact of human activities on the planet.
The linchpin of our worldwide support for the environment is our 'Investing in Nature' programme a partnership with WWF, Earthwatch and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). Through our work with BGCI, we aim to protect 20,000 plant species from extinction; we are working with WWF to breath new life into three of the world's major rivers, the Yangtze, Amazon and Rio Grande; and through Earthwatch, our employees have become involved in a wide variety of field-based conservation projects across the globe.
Educational focus
Recent educational projects to which HSBC employees have given their time and expertise include:
- HSBC Volunteer Action programme in Brazil which, since it was set up in 2000, has seen more than 1,500 staff help over 10,000 children. Activities range from computer classes to collecting clothing and gifts for the children.
- Members of staff raised £100,000 for WaterAid to provide piped water, sanitation and hygiene programmes to communities in Malawi, Ghana and Mozambique.
- Helping to combat illiteracy in Malta by running story-telling sessions for local children.
- Mentoring underprivileged children in Australia through HSBCkids, an innovative partnership with children's charity Barnardo’s.
- Launched in Mumbai in 2001, the Helping Hands Staff Volunteer Programme, and has since been extended to four other cities in India. HSBC employees assist NGOs and other charities to offer, such services as training in book-keeping, teaching English, and educating children who have not had the chance to go to school.
- The HSBC Financial Literacy Programme partners with Students In Free Enterprise to promote financial literacy with an emphasis on young people and female entrepreneurs. It is currently active in 28 countries.
We’ve listed just a sample of the projects and initiatives in which we’re involved. For HSBC, good sustainability is good business, so we take these programmes seriously. To find out more about participating when you work with HSBC, click here.
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