Swedbank and the environment

What we as individuals and members of society can do about the devastating scenario that confronts us is a topic of fierce public debate. To a large extent, we must act immediately, although our commitment must also be maintained over time. Sustainable development demands a long-term approach. The current fashionableness of environmental issues is positive, since it means something is happening. However, fashions are short-lived, while environmental issues adhere to no such trends. Consequently, to succeed, it is crucial that regard for the environment become a natural part of our lives in everything from switching off the lights at home to major corporations including environmental considerations in all parts of their operations.

For Swedbank, this is a key issue. Combined, finance, the environment and society form the domain within which all companies operate. Naturally, a profit-making organization, such as Swedbank, must demonstrate the profitability of integrating environmental considerations into its operations. However, without long-term environmental and social development, there can be no long-term economic growth – or as David Brower, the founder of Friends of the Earth, put it “There is no business to be done on a dead planet.”

Nonetheless, our business does have an impact on the environment. For Swedbank, taking responsibility for this impact and alleviating it in a systematic manner is a high priority. To achieve this, efforts are underway to establish a group-wide environmental policy. Swedbank Group aims to adopt the environmental policy during 2008.

Since 2001, the group has applied an environmental policy in its Swedish operations and in 2003, Swedbank became (and remains) the first and only listed bank in the Nordic region to be environmentally certified in accordance with ISO 14001.

Through active internal environmental efforts and through our customers and suppliers, Swedbank seeks to help decrease negative environmental impact. We would also like to help you make a conscious choice that will benefit both your finances and the environment.