A Green Bank

• Caring For the Environment
• Green Knowledge and Learning
• Green Community Programmes
• Biodiversity
• Environmental Performance

Caring For the Environment

Hang Seng's operations in Hong Kong have been carbon neutral since 2007.

In 2009, we reduced our greenhouse gas emissions per full-time equivalent employee by 4.6 per cent compared with 2008.

In 2005, we became the first local financial institution in Hong Kong to achieve ISO14001 certification for its headquarters. We further extended this accreditation for Hang Seng Tower, MegaBox offices and all 25 branches on Hong Kong Island in 2006, 2008 and 2009 respectively.

By replacing the air-cooled chillers of the air-conditioning system at our headquarters building with water-cooled chillers, we cut our annual electricity consumption by about 1.9 million kWh, or 20 per cent, saving HK$2.4 million in annual electricity expenses and reducing our carbon dioxide emissions by over 1,700 tons. Modifications to the lighting systems in our ATMs reduced their electricity consumption by around 330,000 kWh per year - an energy saving of 33 per cent.

We recycled more than 7,300 pieces of obsolete computer equipment, weighing over 85 tons, and about 14,000 toner and printer ink cartridges.

Green Knowledge and Learning

Through our internal communications channels - including our intranet, morning broadcasts and staff newsletter - a series of green messages are communicated to staff on a regular basis. We also arrange for local environmental experts to share their expertise through specially arranged talks for staff, with recent topics including tree conservation and low-carbon living.

About 15 conservation-focused activities were organised for staff and their families in 2009. We held a Green Camp for staff and their family members with the objective of raising their environmental awareness. In partnership with The Conservancy Association, we helped maintain trees planted under the Corporate Afforestation Scheme. In support of the International Coastal Cleanup campaign, more than 200 staff members and their families helped remove 330 kg of trash from Lung Kwu Chau beach. We also organised field trip visits to Sha Lo Tung with the aim of training staff volunteers to act as tour guides to help underprivileged children learn about nature conservation.

We advocate continual learning through dialogue with stakeholders and industry peers. We exchange information and ideas on sustainability issues through participation in a variety of professional groups and meetings. We are part of the Carbon Disclosure Project, which provides a forum for the world's largest institutional investors to collectively consider the business implications of climate change, and support the Copenhagen Communique on Climate Change. We are also a gold member of the Climate Change Business Forum, established by the Business Environment Council, and have signed the Clean Air Charter initiated by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Business Coalition on the Environment.

We also participate in various environmental initiatives and campaigns organised by green groups including Friends of the Earth (HK), and WWF Hong Kong and Green Power.

Green Community Programmes

We continue to encourage the business community to enhance its environmental performance through the Hang Seng Bank Pearl River Delta Environmental Awards. Run in partnership with the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Awards encourage and reward sound environmental practices by manufacturing companies in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. More than 120 companies engaged in over 400 environmental projects took part in the 2008/09 Awards, representing significant reductions in air emissions, waste generation, water use and electricity consumption.

Working with The Conservancy Association, we facilitated the construction of another 300 biogas toilets to provide renewable energy in Yunnan province with sponsorship and the active participation of Bank volunteers who travelled to rural areas to assist with the project. We have supported the construction of 500 biogas toilets that save 1,250 tons of firewood and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6,250 tons per year.

We employ technology to help save resources by promoting the use of electronic transaction and communication channels. About 334,000 e-Banking account holders now use our e-Statement service under which they receive their account statements in PDF rather than paper format. Over 62,000 account holders have made a similar switch for investment advice under our e-InvestAdvice service. These electronic initiatives are saving over 18 million sheets of paper a year.

Biodiversity

We work to help conserve biodiversity by complying with the sustainability guidelines set out in WWF Hong Kong's Seafood Guide. In 2003, we stopped serving shark's fin at Hang Seng functions and have since extended this policy to include endangered reef fish species and black moss.

Environmental Performance

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