Climate action and responsible resources use
Protecting and restoring natural capital and responsible management of resources
According to the Code of Ethics, the Rules for the environmental and energy policy and the Green Banking Procurement rules, the Group’s responsibilities include the careful assessment of the consequences of its activities on ecosystems and the reduction of its environmental footprint. For this reason, protecting biodiversity and the responsible management of resources are priority issues.
UN SDGs SUPPORTED
Rules on Biodiversity and Nature
In 2024, the Group developed the document Rules on Biodiversity and Nature, adopted from January 2025. These Rules describe the approach of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group on biodiversity and nature issues with reference to financing activities and define the exclusion, enhanced assessment and risk monitoring criteria applicable to the financing of new projects and counterparties. Furthermore, the Group’s offices are not located in protected areas or areas with high biodiversity.
Protection of natural capital
With the 2022-2025 Business Plan Intesa Sanpaolo has committed to a major intervention to safeguard and enhance forestry natural capital to support its own path and that of its client companies of reducing CO2 emissions and managing residual emissions through the planting and preservation of trees globally.
The Think Forestry Project was therefore launched in 2023, which provides innovative tools for measuring, reducing and managing residual emissions, strengthened by new partnerships that offer specialized consultancy, and promotes reforestation initiatives in Italy in collaboration with Rete Clima, involving companies and consumers through the ForFunding crowdfunding platform. 9 planting initiatives carried out in Italy in 2024.
Furthermore, the ESG score, used by the Group to evaluate the ESG profile of client companies and integrated into the credit framework, also considers components relating to biodiversity and natural resources.
Responsible management of resources
In 2024, Intesa Sanpaolo applied Green Banking Procurement criteria for responsible office equipment purchases, with high environmental compliance rates (e.g., notebooks 97.6%, mini-desktops and ATM/ MTA 100%).
The Group continues to monitor natural resource usage, including water consumption, ensuring efficient operations and minimal environmental impact; water usage is primarily linked to sanitation and air conditioning and, in 2024, average per capita water usage was 21.5 cubic meters per employee, slightly higher than in 2023 but consistent with historical trends.
Particular attention is paid to reducing the consumption and purchase of paper, with dematerialisation activities
-9.7% purchased paper vs 2023
4,283 tons of CO2 emissions avoided thanks to lower paper consumption
Purchased paper/operator
Waste
Waste management, including collection, transport, recovery and disposal at sites external to the organization, is carried out by third parties in compliance with the provisions of the reference standards and current legislation.
-11.4% waste reduction vs 2023
94% of waste was reused, recovered or recycled
Certified environmental and energy management system
In line with its past activities, in 2024 Intesa Sanpaolo renewed the certification of its “Health, Safety & Environment” (HSE) Management System applied to all owner-occupied properties in Italy pursuant to the ISO 45001, 14001 and 50001 standards. The certification and surveillance process is performed by an independent third party.
A year of sustainability
Last updated 21 July 2025
Insights, events and projects for sustainability
