App Santander
Natural resources and waste management
We are 48,000 people engaged in the challenge of making our operations increasingly sustainable and efficient.
What we do
We have goals to reduce the consumption of water, energy and waste. Consumption is centrally monitored in administrative buildings and in the branch network. In the buildings, the control is done through a panel of indicators that enables consumption management in real time.
Our initiatives for natural resources and waste management are guided by the Socio-Environmental Responsibility Policy, which follows the guidelines of the Brazilian Central Bank and the Environmental Management Instruction Manual. Our main administrative buildings – Santander Headquarters and Santander Radar, both in the municipality of São Paulo – and the Datacenter, situated in Campinas (SP), have Environmental Management Systems certified by the ISO 14001 standards.
Through the Fit to Grow (FTG) program, we engage our employees in the effort to make our operations more efficient in the use of financial and environmental resources, simultaneously. The FTG decentralizes management of resources and encourages collaboration between teams, unlocking the flow of ideas for agile and economic decision-making.
Our actions in this area are addressed to the key pillar "Promotion of the efficient and strategic use of natural resources" of our 2018-2021 Sustainability Strategy. They are strengthened by the performance of the Executive Group of the Environmental Management System, composed of the bank's senior management, which promotes the integration of environmental management and the bank's strategic objectives.
Our initiatives for natural resources and waste management are guided by the Socio-Environmental Responsibility Policy, which follows the guidelines of the Brazilian Central Bank and the Environmental Management Instruction Manual. Our main administrative buildings – Santander Headquarters and Santander Radar, both in the municipality of São Paulo – and the Datacenter, situated in Campinas (SP), have Environmental Management Systems certified by the ISO 14001 standards.
Through the Fit to Grow (FTG) program, we engage our employees in the effort to make our operations more efficient in the use of financial and environmental resources, simultaneously. The FTG decentralizes management of resources and encourages collaboration between teams, unlocking the flow of ideas for agile and economic decision-making.
Our actions in this area are addressed to the key pillar "Promotion of the efficient and strategic use of natural resources" of our 2018-2021 Sustainability Strategy. They are strengthened by the performance of the Executive Group of the Environmental Management System, composed of the bank's senior management, which promotes the integration of environmental management and the bank's strategic objectives.
Main initiatives
1. Assertiveness in Management: We have improved control mechanisms, including the centralized monitoring of water consumption in our administrative buildings, which enables acting quickly whenever a fault (a leak, for example) is detected. In 2018, we implemented remote water metering at 500 branches. The system generates alarms if there are leakage points. As a result of the management accuracy, we recorded a 6.33% drop in water consumption in the year.
2. Adoption of Saving Systems: Our buildings have toilet vacuum discharge systems, automatic faucets and aerators for water flow control.
3. Rainwater Utilization: Our Headquarters and the Center of Data Processing (CDP), in Campinas (SP), rely on rainwater utilization systems. The CDP also uses an acclimatization system that dispenses the water use for cooling.
4. Hydric Stress Test: We have participated in a project which assessed the environmental risks of corporate credit portfolios of nine banks in Brazil, China, Mexico and the United States. The initiative, coordinated by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), made it possible to develop a methodology for measuring the reflection of drought in the company’s results, with consequent impacts on banks.
2. Adoption of Saving Systems: Our buildings have toilet vacuum discharge systems, automatic faucets and aerators for water flow control.
3. Rainwater Utilization: Our Headquarters and the Center of Data Processing (CDP), in Campinas (SP), rely on rainwater utilization systems. The CDP also uses an acclimatization system that dispenses the water use for cooling.
4. Hydric Stress Test: We have participated in a project which assessed the environmental risks of corporate credit portfolios of nine banks in Brazil, China, Mexico and the United States. The initiative, coordinated by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), made it possible to develop a methodology for measuring the reflection of drought in the company’s results, with consequent impacts on banks.
1. Assertiveness and Accuracy in Data Collection: We have a dashboard of indicators that allows real-time consumption management, in a centralized manner (Follow Energy system), and by location. The data is externally audited. Some of our branches count on remote power monitoring system, centrally controlled.
2. Infrastructure: In the last three years (2016-2018), we have reduced our electricity consumption by 7,3% through initiatives such as the replacement of fluorescent bulbs for LEDs in all branches. In 2018 alone, 36,000 bulbs were replaced at Santander Headquarters for a more economical LED model. We also expanded the number of branches with air conditioning that switches off automatically, the installation of meters and the automation of air conditioning systems. We also increased the replacement of desktops for notebooks, reducing the need to use nobreaks.
3. Purchase of Renewable Energy Sources: Approximately 16% of our total electricity consumption comes from projects of distributed generation based on renewable sources (wind, solar and SHP – Small Hydro Power Plants), and Free Energy Market contracts that use incentivized sources (hydroelectric power plants and landfill gas treatment plants). In Minas Gerais, all our energy consumption comes from renewable sources. The goal is to reach, by 2021, a share of 53% of renewable energy sources.
2. Infrastructure: In the last three years (2016-2018), we have reduced our electricity consumption by 7,3% through initiatives such as the replacement of fluorescent bulbs for LEDs in all branches. In 2018 alone, 36,000 bulbs were replaced at Santander Headquarters for a more economical LED model. We also expanded the number of branches with air conditioning that switches off automatically, the installation of meters and the automation of air conditioning systems. We also increased the replacement of desktops for notebooks, reducing the need to use nobreaks.
3. Purchase of Renewable Energy Sources: Approximately 16% of our total electricity consumption comes from projects of distributed generation based on renewable sources (wind, solar and SHP – Small Hydro Power Plants), and Free Energy Market contracts that use incentivized sources (hydroelectric power plants and landfill gas treatment plants). In Minas Gerais, all our energy consumption comes from renewable sources. The goal is to reach, by 2021, a share of 53% of renewable energy sources.
1. Digital Services: We emphasize the development of solutions and the adoption of digital services by customers, such as electronic invoices and statements.
2. Certified Paper: We use certified paper (made of pulp from sustainable planted forests). In statements and envelopes, we have adopted reduced weight and dimensions.
3. Print Optimization: We use standard double-sided printing with badge authentication.
4. Gathered Notices for Customers: We gather information for the same customer, reducing paper usage and greenhouse gas emissions related to the mail transport.
2. Certified Paper: We use certified paper (made of pulp from sustainable planted forests). In statements and envelopes, we have adopted reduced weight and dimensions.
3. Print Optimization: We use standard double-sided printing with badge authentication.
4. Gathered Notices for Customers: We gather information for the same customer, reducing paper usage and greenhouse gas emissions related to the mail transport.
Reduction of fossil fuels through greater control of land and air travel, increased use of videoconferencing and provision of bicycle stands for employees working at Santander Headquarters in São Paulo, and at the Data Processing Center in Campinas (SP).
We contractually require the production chain certification of the suppliers’ office furniture, ensuring the legal and sustainable sourcing of wood.
1. Management and Proper Disposal of Waste: In the administrative buildings, the recyclable materials are separated and sorted, totaling 350 tons of paper, plastic, metal and glass recycled in 2018.
2. Organic Recycling: Our Headquarters has a central place that dehydrates organic waste from restaurants and common areas. The substrate generated is used as compost for gardens in the administrative buildings. In 2018, we stopped sending 296 tons of these materials to landfills.
3. Electronic Recycling: Since 2017, we have been recycling 100% of our electronic waste, such as computers, self-service machines and telephones. The equipment is sent to a specialized company, which separates and processes the recyclable materials. Plastic and metal are reused for industries that use these raw materials, returning them to the production cycle.
2. Organic Recycling: Our Headquarters has a central place that dehydrates organic waste from restaurants and common areas. The substrate generated is used as compost for gardens in the administrative buildings. In 2018, we stopped sending 296 tons of these materials to landfills.
3. Electronic Recycling: Since 2017, we have been recycling 100% of our electronic waste, such as computers, self-service machines and telephones. The equipment is sent to a specialized company, which separates and processes the recyclable materials. Plastic and metal are reused for industries that use these raw materials, returning them to the production cycle.