Green Purchases

Paper for a company such as Intesa Sanpaolo is a resource to which particular attention is devoted, also expressed through a specific chapter dedicated in the Rules for Green Banking Procurement. Awareness of this topic means knowing one’s own ecological footprint and being willing to adopt solutions aimed at reducing direct and indirect impacts as much as possible, both in terms of paper acquisition and usage. The Group supports responsible forest management, the protection of biodiversity, the integrity of ecosystems and the safeguarding of long-term benefits for forest communities.
To promote these practices in relation to paper, the Intesa Sanpaolo Group undertakes to use paper and paper-based products with the highest content of recycled fibers, mostly post-consumer. Compared with 2022, paper usage has fallen by 5.4% with an increase in purchases of recycled paper by the international subsidiaries, proof of the Group’s increasing focus on its environmental impact. The figures per worker (41.5 kg in 2023 vs 42.8 kg in 2022) also underline the greater awareness of Group employees regarding the use of paper. Thanks to the various dematerialisation measures completed in the last five years, in 2023 around 3,317 tonnes of paper was saved, corresponding to 4,701 tonnes of CO2 avoided and a theoretical cost saving of around 5 million euro.

Stationery can have a significant environmental impact. In order to pursue environmental sustainability objectives and support "circular" production models, the Intesa Sanpaolo Group is committed to procuring, where possible and available, stationery products that, in addition to comply with national regulations, are sustainable, considering environmental protection and conservation a priority when procuring office supplies.
The products for which the Intesa Sanpaolo Group is committed to responsible policies and choices are:

• Paper supplies (notepads, note pads, folders and binders)
• Economical material with wood presence
• Ballpoint pens and highlighters
• Stamps 
  

Around 29.6 tonnes of sustainable stationery was purchased in 2023, a larger percentage compared with 2022, including 24.1 tonnes of materials containing paper (notepads, post-its, files, etc.), 4.1 tonnes of ballpoint pens and the rest consisting of highlighters and stamps in recycled material and office supplies made of sustainable wood.

Intesa Sanpaolo Group is committed to procuring "remanufactured" cartridges that, in addition to comply with national regulations, are both sustainable and with a print quality and yield equivalent to the original cartridges and toner inks, with powders free from hazardous substances, where it is possible and available. In 2023, the increase in consumption of toner (+20.8%) can be attributed to accounting activities, particularly among the international subsidiaries. Toner purchases continued to fall in Italy (-7.3%), particularly as regards traditional toner (-13.4%).

The Intesa Sanpaolo Group: 

• it has started many years ago a process aimed at reducing its direct emissions thanks to the gradual purchase of electricity from renewable sources in all countries where there is a free market and for all those properties where there are the conditions for independent users 
• it has started many years ago the implementation of energy efficiency actions aimed at containing energy consumption in line with the provisions of the Environmental and Energy Policy Rules
  • by increasing the insulation levels of their buildings
  • verifying the efficiency of the air conditioning systems and, if necessary, intervening to improve it 
  • using efficient lighting systems.

In the banking sector, a significant part of energy consumption may be attributed to "equipment": PCs, monitors, printers, photocopiers, servers, IT systems and service support devices. One measure aimed at this type of consumption involves the gradual replacement of office equipment with other, more energy-efficient models and the adoption of a specific criteria in the Rules for Green Banking Procurement.

Contractual specifications for environmental sustainability have been defined for new purchases of office machines and certifications of both the products and the suppliers are required for their acceptance. For the technical assessment, an algorithm for assessing environmental and energy performance has been set up, whereas from the standpoint of economic evaluation, energy-related operating costs are considered over the machine's average lifetime, and are added to the price of the initial investment.