ProCredit Bank: Zero excuses for zero emissions

For more than a decade, ProCredit Bank has been on an ESG path. The first steps were made in 2012. That is when they defined the first procedures that concerned the protection of the living environment in their field, and they defined the ethical codex of conduct back in 2006.

Since those first procedures, they have been continuously working on implementing what we now call an ESG strategy.

Their impact is quantified and monitored at every moment at the internal level (they analyze the activities, the consumption of resources, the suppliers they work with), but also at the external level – through standards which pertain to the crediting of clients. Those standards are highly sensitive, they have been developed for years and they follow the needs of all the markets in which all the Banks from ProCredit Group operate.

At the level of ProCredit Bank Serbia, the share of the green portfolio in the total credit portfolio is 16%, whereas, at the level of ProCredit Group, the share of the green portfolio amounted to as much as 20.2% in 2022.

Zero excuses for zero emissions

For them, the year 2023 was a key year, for which they had set ambitious goals – to become carbon-neutral at the level of the Group. Following the commissioning of the new ProEnergy solar power plant, which will save 3,000 tons of CO2, their goal has been realized: ProCredit is now a carbon-neutral Bank!

In 2023, the international initiative SBTi, for science-based sustainable goals, officially confirmed the short-term goals of ProCredit Holding, which concern the reduction of emissions, as science-based and in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. They thereby set the goal of being not just carbon-neutral, but also set the targets until 2030 with the end goal of being fully net-neutral by 2050.

How ProCredit Bank Serbia preserves the planet

• Since 2016, ProCredit Bank Serbia is certified with the world-renowned ISO 14001 certificate (we are the only bank in the market that has the standard of environmental protection management).
• On the roof of the Bank, as well as on the façade, there is a solar power plant with a total capacity of 40 kW, whereas, in front of the entrance, there is a solar charger for electric vehicles with a capacity of 5 kW. Those two power plants produce a total of 46,800 kWh, which achieves great savings when it comes to CO2 emissions and covers a third of the spent electrical energy. During 2024, they will install another power plant on the roof of the branch office in Nis, by which they also prove their dedication to the energy transition.
• Since 2018, the Bank has been buying 100% electrical energy with a guarantee of origin, from renewable energy sources.
• Their rolling stock consists of 100% electric or hybrid low-emission vehicles, of which there are 44 in total.
• In Serbia, they have installed a network of over 40 electric vehicle chargers, which the citizens can use entirely free of charge.
• In 2022, they recycled 1,128 kg of electronic and electrical waste in the Bank in Serbia. They also incite the employees to carry this practice over to their households.
• In the same year, 720 kg of paper resources was recycled as well. Since 2018, they have had certified electronic signatures for the employees, so they have achieved considerable savings on the consumption of paper, which they now only use within the scope of the legal obligations.
• Since 2019, the Bank does not use single-use plastic, but only multi-use materials, which is also reflected on the crediting strategy – clients which produce single-use plastic are not credited.
• Internal activities for the purpose of raising awareness among the employees – the Monthly Newsletter which is sent to all employees, special activities directed at reducing the consumption of resources, but also various items (garage sale), ProCredit Talks with special topics directed at raising the employees’ awareness of many sustainable topics etc.

ProCredit Bank a.d. Beograd

ProCredit Bank

ESG strategy

ProEnergy solar power plant

Zero excuses for zero emissions