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Our commitment to environmental sustainability

From the climate strategy to the innovative disposal of devices

Environmental and climate protection are closely interconnected: many measures that lead to lower CO2 emissions also reduce other environmental effects, such as resource consumption and air pollution. Vontobel thus attaches great importance to this issue across all its business activities.

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We support the Paris Agreement

As a globally active investment manager, we consider it our responsibility to make our contribution to the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement and to play an active role in the sustainable transformation of the economy and society for future generations. We are actively tackling the challenges that lie ahead of us in order to show investors the opportunities of the important transformation process. Equally, we observe the highest environmental and sustainability standards when conducting our own operations.

We place particular emphasis on careful use of materials, on energy efficiency at all sites, and on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from all operational processes.

  

  • Consistent climate strategy

    We see climate change as one of the greatest challenges facing our society. We therefore make our products and processes as climate friendly as possible. We also continuously reduce the harmful emissions generated by our banking operations and raise awareness of the topic among our employees and the general public.

  • Emission credits for offsetting

    Since 2009, Vontobel has been purchasing CO2-certificates for its operational Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions to support external projects that save the equivalent volume of emissions. We base our operational carbon emission calculations on the GHG Protocol. Scope 1 comprises emissions from heating (natural gas, biogas and heating oil), refrigerant leakage as well as business travel (vehicles owned by the company); Scope 2 emissions are counted according to the market-based approach, which takes account of electricity purchased individually by Vontobel (e.g. electricity from renewables) in locations in which information is available about the energy mix purchased; in our scope 3 operations emissions we include energy-related emissions not included in Scope 1 or 2, business travel with external vehicles, commuting, food, paper, printing, mailings, waste, and water. Other Scope 3 emissions are not included. The Vontobel Corporate Sustainability Committee once again selected a carbon neutrality project with a focus on forest conservation and the protection of biodiversity in 2022. The project runs under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).

    BodenCreek (Belize)

  • Signatory of CDP

    CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) provides companies with a ratings system for measurement and publication of their environmental impact. Each year, CDP generates the CDP Climate Score from the questionnaires completed by the participating companies. Vontobel has signed the CDP and its climate change, water and forest programs.

  • Kind to the environment

    Our buildings are optimally insulated, and we also use LED lighting and obtain electricity from renewable sources. Furthermore, we avoid unnecessary business trips and are committed to systematically separating and – where possible – recycling our operational waste.

    Vontobel uses only recycled paper for printing. It takes about 1.5 times less energy and 2.5 times less water to produce recycled paper than it does to produce paper from fresh fiber. Recycled paper also cuts greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20%. We offset the remaining emissions with various CO2 projects around the world.

    Environmental Protection at Vontobel (PDF)

  

Your contact

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Simone Schärer

Corporate Responsibility Manager