Company: HALKBANK
Nomination Submitted by: Business Awards Consulting
Company Description: Halkbank has become one of the steadily growing, well-established, pioneering and respected brands of emerging Turkey, which established in 1938 to support tradesmen, SMEs and to accelerate permanent economic development. Pioneering the development of the Turkish banking sector for 83 years, Halkbank continues its mission of supporting the real sector
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Health, Safety & Environment Program of the Year - in Europe
 Nomination Title: Halkbank Sustainability Strategy and Programs
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since 1 January 2022, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 192 words used.
Established in 1938 to support tradesmen, SMEs and entrepreneurs and to accelerate persistent economic development, Halkbank has become one of the steadily growing, well-established, pioneering and respected brands of rising Turkey. Embodying the vision of "The Bank of Productive Turkey", Halkbank operates accross the nation with 1,079 branches and 4,064 ATMs.
Halkbank embraces sustainability and environment policies as a corporate strategy. The bank implements operational measures to mitigate the risks associated with climate change, continuously enhances its emission reduction performance, promotes energy efficiency to curtail energy consumption, and minimizes waste generated by its activities. Since 2013, Halkbank has been calculating its corporate carbon footprint and developing strategies to reduce it.
Halkbank actively supports renewable energy and energy efficiency projects through various financial instruments, extending its efforts to combat climate change beyond its own operations.
To minimize environmental impact, reduce energy and natural resource consumption, and establish a standardized framework for environmental policies, Halkbank has integrated the Integrated Management System. This system encompasses the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and the ISO 50001 Energy Management System. Notably, Halkbank is the first Turkish bank to implement the ISO 50001 Energy Management System.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
Since 2016, Halkbank has actively worked to reduce environmental impacts through waste management, emphasizing waste separation and reduction principles. Inspired by the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization's zero waste strategy and new regulations, Halkbank launched "Zero Waste Project" to align its waste management practices. This initiative has led to significant advancements in waste management since 2021, culminating in Halkbank becoming the first Turkish bank to receive a Zero Waste Certificate from the ministry for all 1096 service units in 2023.
Establishing a unified energy management culture across Halkbank, which operates branches in all 81 provinces of Turkey, poses challenges. To address this, Halkbank implemented the Energy and Natural Resource Management System, a first among public banks in Turkey.
EDYS is a platform that allows real-time monitoring, control, and management of energy and natural resource consumption in all Halkbank service units from the headquarters, ensuring energy efficiency. As of project's start in 2023, 26 branches have been converted, and since early 2024, these branches have been remotely monitored and controlled, with savings data calculated.
The project aims to extend to all service units, targeting 250 branches annually, to be completed by 2028.
EDYS has three main phases: Hardware, Software, and Energy Modeling. Installed hardware (sensors/analyzers) enables simultaneous monitoring of energy consumption at each location. Energy modeling system sets ideal consumption levels based on climate conditions and physical factors for each location. The software allows centralized control to ensure energy consumption stays within modeled limits, taking necessary actions for efficiency.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 240 words used.
-Halkbank's commitment to sustainability is recognized by its inclusion in the BIST Sustainability Index, which showcases companies with high corporate sustainability performance.
-Halkbank actively supports the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Climate Change and Water Security Program, addressing climate change challenges. In 2023, Halkbank maintained its leadership level with an “A-” score in the program and achieved the highest “A” score in the CDP Water Security program for the second consecutive year, securing a place on the Global A List.
-Halkbank received Zero Waste Certificates, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, and ISO 50001 Energy Management System certifications for all its branches and service locations.
-Under its 2050 net-zero commitment, Halkbank advanced its sustainability efforts by submitting interim targets to the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
-Halkbank was honored with the "Zero Waste Social Responsibility Award" by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change in 2022.
-With its environmental sensitivity, Halkbank launched Turkey's first carbon-neutral credit card, Paraf Doğal.
-Halkbank established the Halkbank Memorial Forest to raise awareness of forest fires and contribute to the restoration of the damaged ecosystem.
-To promote sustainability awareness within Halkbank, it introduced the "Sustainable Life Dictionary," providing periodic updates on sustainability concepts to employees.
-Through the “Hep Sürsün” video series, Halkbank shared content to foster sustainability awareness in society.
-In 2023, Halkbank extended a total of TRY 6.4 billion in cash investment loans for renewable energy projects.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 161 words used.
Apx1: Halkbank Summarized Integrated Annual Report 2023 on Sustainability Vision and Initiatives
Apx2: Halkbank 2023-2024 Sustainability Projects Presentation
This presentation details EDYS Energy Management System, Compost Cat-Dog Food System and Paraf Doğal
Apx3: Video: “HepSürsün” (Let is Sustain!) Videos Series
https://youtu.be/h5HWJA68cqM
Apx4: Video: Zero Waste Project Video
https://youtu.be/I_2NAsx672I
Apx5: Video: Producing Women Meetings- Zero Waste Panels
Halkbank executed Productive Women Meetings in 7 regions of Turkey to raise awareness and encourage women entrepreneurs; In these meetings, Halkbank tried to spread the awareness of recycling and environmental awareness in the society with panels on "Zero Waste". You can access the video with short summaries of the Zero Waste panels.
https://youtu.be/kVtNpyw7EDs
Apx6: Video: Halkbank Environmental Awareness Films
Halkbank uses all important days such as World Environment Day and Water Day as an opportunity to raise social awareness about the environment. Examples of films prepared for this purpose have been compiled in a single video.
https://youtu.be/NZZp_fenmpU
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