Our Commitment

HSBC invests in both large and small scale renewable energy projects. This not only reduces our overall CO₂ production, but also encourages new forms of energy production. While the use of these energy sources has been researched and proven to be viable, the practical application of many of these energy forms is in its infancy. HSBC has been conducting trials to determine which forms are feasible to apply to HSBC branches, offices, and other buildings around the world.

Micro-renewables include energy sources such as small scale wind turbines and solar photovoltaic panels (otherwise know as PV or solar panels) and make up a significant portion of HSBC's investment in renewables. These types of renewables can be added to buildings either during construction or onto an existing structure. Small wind turbines, about 2 metres (6.5 feet) high with a 2.5 metre (8 foot) blade diameter can be mounted on building roofs. Solar panels can also be installed on the roof but they work just as well mounted on the ground and integrated into a building's facade. They absorb energy from the sun and convert it directly to electricity.

After successful trials, HSBC has now fitted solar panels and/or small scale wind turbines to two of its buildings in the UK, one building in France, and one in the United States. Six micro wind turbines have been installed on offices in Birmingham, UK and 155 solar panels and two types of micro wind turbines have been installed at a training facility near London. These installations should last for 25 years, generating approximately 30,000 kWh per year, and saving over 500 tonnes of CO₂ over their life.

We are taking our first steps in what we see as a long journey to full use of environmentally-friendly energy in the near future. We are also researching the areas where wind and/or solar energy will be most viable. Both wind and solar micro-renewables have been successful in these trials in the UK and will be even more efficient in areas such as California for wind and India for solar.

HSBC operations are global and span 82 countries and territories across the world. To manage our business, there is an ongoing need for our staff to travel; however, HSBC is aiming to cut the total amount of travel as well as making sure that modes of travel are as environmentally-friendly as possible. Managers are encouraged to use our investments in technology, such as video conferencing, to help them reduce the need for face to face meetings.

Reducing and Monitoring Business Travel

There are many alternative ways to communicate with clients, customers, and colleagues around the world without travelling and, where possible, HSBC provides video and telephone conferencing facilities, 3D-messaging (like texting but with 3D graphics, icons, and characters), and BlackBerry and laptop services, all to avoid unnecessary travel. We are also aiming to reduce business travel simply by making staff consider whether their journeys are completely necessary. We launched a green travel perception survey in June 2006, aimed at our frequent business travellers. This survey seeks to identify what consideration is given to the frequency of travel, need to travel, and environmental implications of business travel by the travellers themselves.

Enhancements in booking and tracking business travel are planned, to further understand and interrogate the reason for, and frequency of, business travel. HSBC in Hong Kong already informs business travellers of the environmental impacts of their travel bookings by calculating the amount of carbon dioxide emissions as part of the booking service.

Staff Commitment

As a major user of business travel providers, HSBC relies heavily on the green policies of its suppliers. As a result, using the cleanest and greenest modes of transport, provided by the cleanest and greenest suppliers of business travel and other services, is essential. We choose suppliers who clearly demonstrate consideration for the environment and greener practices for all our requirements, including hiring vehicles or booking transport. It also applies when contracting couriers, postal services, and other supply transport businesses.

HSBC in Hong Kong has purchased its first environmentally-friendly Toyota Prius car, which uses the latest hybrid technology to provide excellent fuel economy and produces less than 110 grams of CO₂ per kilometre. The performance of the Toyota Prius is now being evaluated.

Find out more about how HSBC chooses its suppliers

Suppliers

In addition to asking employees to consider their business travel needs and impacts, they will also be asked to look at their personal travel needs to and from and outside work. For example, some areas of the bank provide car parking spaces for car-share travellers while others provide space to park bicycles.

After evaluation, several waste management systems have been implemented to monitor and reduce waste production

In 2005, each staff member of HSBC produced an average of 214 kilograms (470 pounds) of waste. With 284,000 employees around the globe, that made a total of almost 61 million kilograms (135 million pounds) of waste. This is equivalent to the weight of 9,000 full-grown, male African elephants. Even though 45% of this waste was recycled, that still leaves nearly 5,000 elephants' worth of waste being burned or buried in landfills or dumped in the ocean. HSBC is trying to reduce this figure by reducing the amount of waste produced while increasing the amount of waste that is recycled.

Hong Kong

HSBC's Hong Kong operations have a higher-than-average recycling rate at 65% (HSBC's global rate is 45%), however, they are aiming to reduce waste still further. This is currently being done by implementing a kitchen waste recycling programme. An organic kitchen waste recycling machine was installed in February 2006, resulting in an 18% reduction in wet waste compared to 2005. The organic waste can be broken down into 90% water, which can be recycled in the building or used for landscaping purposes. This system saves US$1,200 each year and creates a 30 tonne annual reduction in landfill waste. Following the success of this system, further machines will be installed at other Hong Kong sites.

UK

In Canary Wharf, London, all staff members are being encouraged to take responsibility for recycling their own waste products and thereby decrease the amount of waste produced. All desk bins were removed and central recycling bins installed. The Group committed to reduce the amount of waste it sends to the landfill by 8% by end of 2007. It is estimated that this measure will result in a 60% reduction in landfill waste production by the building.

South Africa

HSBC South Africa has joined with Mzansi Office Recycling and Consumables to set up recycling initiatives at its offices. All individual desk bins were removed, in a scheme similar to the one introduced in HSBC's headquarters at Canary Wharf, UK.

Currently, HSBC in South Africa is recycling 72% of its white paper, resulting in savings versus using new paper of:

• 2,200 litres (580 gallons) litres of water;
• 2,600 kWh of electricity;
• 1.9 cubic metres (67 cubic feet) of landfill space;
• 53 pulpwood trees.

Organisations such as Mzansi collect recyclable items from companies, recycle them and sell on the resulting materials. HSBC will pass on any monies gained from this process to WWF. To promote understanding and enthusiasm among staff members, all 120 employees visited a local recycling plant to learn about the process and the benefits of recycling.

As part of its recycling programme, HSBC hosted a breakfast for other companies to explain the many benefits of initialising a recycling programme in their own organisation.