Swiss Climate awards "CERTIFIED CO2 NEUTRAL" quality mark to Cler
Bank Cler has received the Swiss Climate CO2 Label. The label confirms that Bank Cler draws up its greenhouse gas inventory in accordance with the ISO standard and follows the guidelines of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. In addition, the bank undertakes to reduce its emissions by means of concrete measures.
At the Soirée Climatique in Berne at the end of October 2018, Bank Cler was awarded the "CO2 NEUTRAL" award. Bank Cler has positioned itself as a sustainable bank for years. A fair approach to the environment and society is very important to it and is therefore anchored in its strategic orientation. Bank Cler also has a Sustainability Advisory Board, which accompanies Bank Cler's sustainability commitment in an advisory capacity.
What impact does Bank Cler's business activity have on the environment and climate?
This question permanently accompanies all of Bank Cler's activities. The bank has had an environmental management system in place for almost two decades. This involves recording data in various environmentally relevant areas, which forms the basis for fields of action. This has led, among other things, to the Bank purchasing electricity exclusively from renewable energy sources for its banking operations since 2011. One of these is the Weissenburg small hydroelectric power plant. And in the same year, Bank Cler put a photovoltaic system into operation, which is located on the roof of the headquarters in Basel.
The bank thus produces solar power on its building, which it buys back in full from IWB and uses for its Basel headquarters. Energy-saving measures are also a priority in the renovations - both at the head office in 2016 and in the currently ongoing branch renovations. In the last five years, Bank Cler has been able to reduce its energy consumption by 31 percent.
Excellent commitment
All the above-mentioned measures and more have already led to Bank Cler receiving awards for its sustainable commitment in the past. For example, in June 2012 it received the Swiss Climate CO2-label in silver. In 2016, it was awarded "Prime" status by oekom research, one of the world's leading rating agencies in the sustainable investment segment.
In 2017, as in previous years, the Bank achieved a top position in the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) climate protection rating. With a score of B, Bank Cler is among the best of the financial institutions assessed. The bank is also a long-standing member of öbu and participates in the energy model of the Energy Agency for Industry (EnAW). In this context, Bank Cler has committed itself with a target agreement for the period 2013-2020 to increasing energy efficiency and reducing its CO2-emissions.
Certified and awarded
With this year's award "CERTIFIED CO2 NEUTRAL by Swiss Climate", Bank Cler demonstrates that it takes this commitment seriously. Because the certificate confirms that it complies with its operational environmental management in accordance with ISO standard 14064-1 for the year 2016/2017 and follows the guidelines of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This is another success for Bank Cler in the implementation of its sustainability strategy.
Compliance with the certification guidelines of the label was audited by the independent auditing company SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA. The validity of the label is 5 years and a control audit takes place annually.
Further information on Bank Cler's ethical, social and environmental commitments can be found on our website at www.cler.ch available or can be assigned to the Sustainability Report 2017 can be taken.
