CARING FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT
The care of the environment is a priority in the Mexican banking sector, constituting as it does a fundamental aspect of its sustainability
P$224 million invested in environmental projects
13.59 million sheets of paper saved
1.57 million m³ of water saved
30,000 tons of garbage collected
124 million kilos of recycled or reused material
In tune with the nature of their activities, banking institutions have implemented projects to reduce the consumption of energy, water, and other resources. These actions have been undertaken both in the main corporate offices and in branches all over Mexico. Thus, in addition to substantially reducing the use of raw materials, environmental awareness is fostered among employees, customers, and suppliers.
The following are some of the projects and initiatives undertaken in 2012:
Savings of Paper and Other Materials
The advantages of foresight and its economic impact
·Digitalization of documents
·Use of cups made from recycled materials
·Use of recycled paper
·Printing and photocopying of internal documents on recycled sheets
·Use of electronic media to reduce paper consumption
·Reduction in the number of printers
·Account statements delivered by email
·Modification of paper-consuming processes
·Recycling of toner in printers
·Green office project
·Two-sided printing in multifunctional equipment
·Modification of printing formats in branch and administrative center reports
·Installation of paper recycling baskets
·Use of FSC-certified and other recycled papers
·Sustainable purchasing
·Recycling and paper shredding campaigns
·Recyclable business cards
·100%-recyclable folders
·Pencils made of recyclable material
Energy Savings
Savings with benefits for all
·Change to energy-saving light bulbs
·Installation of Powerlink system
·Light sensors for meeting rooms
·Use of solar lighting in offices
·Changes in electrical wiring, feeders, and main circuit breakers
·Movement sensors to turn on lights
·Turning off computers
·Use of multifunctional electricity savers
·Continuation of the Integral Energy Control System
·Change of air conditioning to more efficient equipment
·Change of fluorescent bulbs to LED lamps
·Implementation of thermal insulation
·Installation of monitoring and control equipment
·Turning off lights in two timetables
·Lutron control platform for the lighting system
·LEED construction
·Energy-saving machinery
·Energy-saving system in the internet portal
·Installation of blinds to reduce temperatures in offices and branches
Water Savings
Awareness in the present, an investment in the future
·Water-saving campaign
·Installation of water-saving urinals
·Low-consumption fixtures in restrooms
·Sensor system in restrooms for automatic flushing
·Reduction of water flow in sinks
·Placement of PET bottles in the water deposit of branch and office restrooms
·Use of treated water for sprinkling and cooling towers
·Review of pumps and piping
·"Saving Tips" environmental awareness campaign
·Capture of rainwater
·Use of flow gauges at strategic points to detect and repair leaks
Residues
·Separation of trash, cardboard, PET, and cans
·Recycling of trash
·Comprehensive program to manage residues at the initial measuring and monitoring stage
·Collection of alkaline and cell phone batteries
·Small bags for cash collections, reducing consumption of plastic
·Recycling of corrugated cardboard
·Delivery of screens, toner cartridges, batteries, and tapes to the division of the Semarnat (Secretariat
of the Environment) responsible for the handling of dangerous residues
·Delivery of sanitary waste to municipal dumps
The banking sector has also been a pioneer and active participant in various biodiversity conservation, endangered species, and reforestation programs in Mexico.
Some banking institutions have made significant efforts toward monitoring and reducing their carbon footprints, as well as initiatives to use renewable energy sources.
