How we manage sustainability
HSBC has corporate sustainability teams working at Group, regional and country level to shape the bank’s approach to sustainable business opportunities and risks, our own operational environmental and social footprint, and community investment. Many other specially trained individuals in departments across the Group hold responsibility for implementing our approach to sustainability, for example in credit risk, purchasing, IT, and relationship management teams.
We have Heads of Corporate Sustainability in each of the Group’s five main regions, who have joint reporting lines to their local Chairman or Chief Executive, and to the Group Head of Corporate Sustainability. The Chairman of Personal and Commercial Banking and Insurance is responsible for Corporate Sustainability on behalf of the Group Chief Executive and the HSBC Holdings Board.
Sustainability governance
Sustainability at HSBC is overseen by the Corporate Sustainability Committee, a sub-committee of the HSBC Holdings Board. The Corporate Sustainability Committee is responsible for advising the HSBC Holdings Board, committees of the Board and executive management on sustainability policies, including environmental, social and ethical issues. You can find out about the Committee’s Terms of Reference in the Annual Report and Accounts here.
Policies and operational procedures are in place for countering reputational risks that might arise in any part of HSBC. They cover many aspects, ranging from money laundering deterrence and counter-terrorism financing to anti-corruption measures, information security, social and environmental impacts and employee relations. Reputational risk management forms an integral part of the internal controls system and is communicated through manuals and statements of policy, internal communications channels and a variety of training methods. Find out more about the Group Reputational Risk Committee in the Annual Report and Accounts.
