Total 624 words used.
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.
Since 2016, Halkbank has actively worked towards reducing environmental impacts through waste management, emphasizing waste separation and reduction principles. The Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization's strategic focus on zero waste, coupled with the introduction of new regulations, prompted Halkbank to launch the "Zero Waste Project”, aligning its waste management practices accordingly. This initiative has yielded significant advancements in waste management since 2021, resulting in Halkbank becoming the first Turkish bank to receive a Zero Waste Certificate from the ministry for all 1055 of its service units.
Under the Zero Waste Project, waste at Halkbank's locations throughout Turkey is sorted at the source. All types of waste, like paper, glass, plastic, metal, batteries, organic, electronic, hazardous, and medical waste are properly classified. The collected waste is temporarily stored in designated areas before being sent to licensed disposal or recycling facilities through authorized firms. Recycling packaging waste is sent to recycling facilities for recovery or reuse.
Implementing zero waste practices in companies with a single or few locations is relatively easier. Establishing a common waste management culture in a large infrastructure like Halkbank, which operates with branches in all 81 provinces of Turkey poses challenges. To overcome this, Halkbank has established a unified infrastructure named IKLIM(meaning climate in Turkish) for all its service centers, enabling real-time monitoring of their environmental impact. Each unit has the capability to monitor its own environmental footprint and identify development areas.
Halkbank's Environmental and Energy Management Systems, along with “Zero Waste Project” have yielded remarkable environmental achievements:
-Halkbank has successfully reduced operational carbon emissions by 16%, demonstrating its commitment to combatting climate change.
-Halkbank has contributed to circular economy by segregating and recycling 4,500 tons of household waste and 2,000 tons of recyclable materials such as paper, glass, plastic, and metal.
-Zero Waste Project has resulted in reduction of 227,794 kg of greenhouse gas emissions, saving 8.4 million kWh of energy, conserving 13,000 barrels of oil, and preserving 15,314 trees since its inception until end of 2022.
-Halkbank has achieved substantial progress in waste reduction. Amount of household waste, which was 1,265 tons in 2020, has been impressively reduced by 39% in 2021 and an additional 20.5% in 2022, leading to an overall improvement of 56% since start of the project.
-Halkbank is dedicated to enhancing employee awareness and knowledge through internal training programs on Environmental and Energy Management Systems and Zero Waste practices. In 2021, approximately 20,000 employees received training, and in 2022, 670 person-hours of refresher training were provided.
-Halkbank's commitment to sustainability is recognized by its inclusion in the BIST Sustainability Index, which showcases companies with high corporate sustainability performance. Furthermore, Halkbank actively supports the Carbon Disclosure Project(CDP) Climate Change and Water Security Program, addressing challenges related to climate change.
-Halkbank is honored with "Zero Waste Social Responsibility Award" by Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change in 2022.
Nomination Title: Halkbank Zero Waste Project
