Energy and environmental management
Objectives in the area of "energy and environmental management" in banking operations
Commerzbank's "" includes electricity and heat use, water consumption, material consumption, waste management, transport logistics, commuter traffic and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is to systematically record, control and reduce the associated environmental impacts.
Sustainability and ESG are widely used terms. Sustainability describes a forward-looking perspective in which environmental, social and economic aspects are considered over the long term in order to preserve the foundations of life and business for future generations. In the corporate and financial sectors in particular, these aspects are commonly summarized under the term ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). Sustainability is defined differently across regulatory, scientific, and economic contexts. Regulatory requirements, such as the EU Taxonomy or the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, provide a framework for individual sustainability aspects while leaving room for company-specific specification.
The specific meaning of sustainability for Commerzbank AG’s products, services, and business activities is set out in the ESG Framework. It defines the relevant criteria and distinguishes, in particular, between the Bank’s own business and external client investment and insurance business, including asset management and securities business (“third-party business”).
Sustainable banking operations
The integrated "energy and environmental management system" in accordance with ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 forms the basis for the management of environmental aspects in Commerzbank AG's banking operations. It supports the definition of goals, the implementation of concrete measures and the regular review of results. The central objectives in banking operations are detailled in the implementation plan.
ISO certifications
Our environmental management system has been certified to ISO 14001 since 2009, and in 2015 we added our energy management system to ISO 50001. The certification attests to the fact that we are continuously improving our environmental performance and energy efficiency.
The requirements of the ISO standard help us to systematise, manage and control the various activities for improving our environmental performance.
Targets in energy and environmental management of banking operations
We are committed to reducing CO₂e emissions in our own banking operations to net zero by 2040. This commitment covers Scope 1 and 2 emissions at all Commerzbank AG locations worldwide. Accordingly, a reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (market-related) of 42% by 2030 and 90% by 2040 compared to the base year 2021 of ~35,000 tCO₂e is planned. This is in line with the emission reduction pathways defined by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Leading by example, Selected measures in the energy and environmental management of the bank's operations
Electricity purchased from renewable energy sources
Since 2013, Commerzbank AG's buildings in Germany have been supplied with electricity from renewable energy sources. Since 2024, electricity for Commerzbank AG's banking operations has been purchased worldwide on the basis of renewable energy sources.
Step-by-step conversion to LED technology
Since 2010, outdoor lighting, advertising systems and shop window lighting in stores have been converted to LED technology. The interior lighting will also be successively converted. The proportion of locations with LED lighting is regularly recorded.
Recycling of paper towels at selected locations
At selected locations, especially larger back-office locations, paper towels are collected separately and fed into a recycling process. Through separate collection, part of the paper waste can be returned to the recycling cycle.
Software-supported control of technical building systems
Technical systems are intelligently networked and controlled by a software solution. This results in electricity and heat savings of up to 30 % at five sites to date. Further sites have been commissioned and will follow.
Business network exchange
We participate in the regular exchange in the "Business Energy Efficiency Network Rhine-Main". The replacement serves to identify optimisation potential, such as replacing old fans with new fans that can be controlled individually.
Further development of the heat supply
At a first rented location, the heat supply is converted from gas to heat pump by the landlord. Commerzbank is supporting the measure and is using its experience in the evaluation of further location-specific measures.