Operational Ecology
Credit Suisse is committed to continuously improving its environmental performance. Its efforts are focused on reducing its environmental impact by lowering its consumption of energy and materials. The Group strives to achieve this by implementing its high environmental standards within the company, as well as applying them to its external partners.
Saving resources - safeguarding the environment
Energy consumption represents by far the largest direct impact that Credit Suisse Group has on the environment. Energy efficiency measures thus contribute considerably towards improving the company’s environmental performance. They are also important with regard to the issue of climate change. When constructing new premises or renovating and maintaining existing buildings, the company ensures that it meets the appropriate environmental criteria.
No outsourcing of responsibility
The involvement of key external partners contributes to the soundness of Credit Suisse Group's Environmental Management System. Individual agreements ensure that partner firms with environmental relevance respect Credit Suisse Group’s standards and work to improve their own environmental performance.
Since 1998, for example, MIBAG has been responsible for all aspects of the management of Credit Suisse's operational premises in Switzerland. As a Credit Suisse service provider, it bears much of the operational responsibility for buildings-related environmental management. Like Credit Suisse, MIBAG operates an environmental management system that is certified under ISO 14001. It is also actively involved in the implementation of the pilot project relating to the greenhouse gas neutrality of Credit Suisse.
Involvement of suppliers
As well as requesting evidence of a progressive approach to environmental issues, Credit Suisse requires its service providers to adhere to social and labor law guidelines when they tender for various products and services. Service providers and suppliers inform Credit Suisse about their ecological performance and their compliance with social standards using an informative but easily manageable electronic questionnaire.
The environmental and social/labor law guidelines draw on the principles set out in the environmental standard ISO 14001, the social standard SA 8000 and the UN Global Compact. Among other things, they call for compliance with environmental legislation, the safe handling of harmful substances and good practice with regard to child labor, as well as remuneration that is in line with industry standards and trade union freedom.
