Banking in developing countries
CSR awards for Rabobank
Award for Responsibility and
Sustainability Report
64 Rabobank Group Annual Report 2005
Corporate social responsibility
FSC paper
An important milestone in 2005 was the signing of an agreement with
FSC Nederland on the use of FSC certified paper. The FSC label represents
sustainable forest management. This paper has been phased in from
October 2005 for large-volume applications such as branded and
copying paper, account statements and envelopes. As a result, around
80% of total paper use is now FSC label compliant. The Annual Reports
are printed on this paper as well.
Energy
The effect of the framework contract for the supply of green power to
Rabobank Group's 1,300 offices in the Netherlands, which was signed in
2004, became visible in 2005, raising the share of green power to about
99% in 2005. In addition, a major step forward was taken in the integra
tion of the various aspects of energy management. The procurement of
gas and green power, metering, benchmarking of energy consumption
per square metre, as well as the entire handling of the energy invoices,
have all been included in an integrated energy programme that was
made available to all Rabobank Group entities in 2005.
Sustainability in building
A programme of requirements has been drawn up for the newly to be
built Rabobank Nederland offices in Utrecht, containing a high ambition
for sustainability in building. The use of FSC certified wood is only one
of the demands. For local Rabobanks, environmental standards have
been incorporated in the briefs, including as a matter of course the use
of FSC certified building materials.
Mobility
The Rabobank aims to continue to be among the world's most sustaina
ble banks. To emphasise this ambition, the car lease arrangement was
adjusted in 2005. Employees of Rabobank Nederland are allowed to lease
only relatively fuel-efficient cars, and this also applies to all management
levels. By 2008, this should result in a 5% net annual decrease in the
number of leased cars and a 10% annual reduction of the total CO2
emission of the leased car fleet. The Rabobank also tries to reduce the
use of cars in favour of public transport. For example, as from 2006,
public transport costs only are refunded for certain identified routes.
Sustainable procurement
The Rabobank also wishes to embed CSR structurally in its day-to-day
procurement practice. In a number of areas, e.g. energy and paper,
Rabobank Nederland is already experienced in the integration of CSR
aspects in the procurement chain. Further, aspects such as child safety
and child labour are already taken into account right from the procure
ment of premiums. Responsible procurement will be further implemen
ted in day-to-day operations in the years to come.
The Rabobank Development Program focuses primarily on enterprising
people in rural areas of developing countries and gives them access to
affordable financial services. This stimulates entrepreneurship, sustainable
economic growth and prosperity. Here, Rabobank benefits from its wide
expertise in the international food agri sector and its many years of
experience in cooperative retail banking. With its knowledge, manage
ment and capital, Rabobank contributes to well-organised local financial
In the sustainability assessment by the Swiss Sustainable Asset
Management Group (SAM), as published in 2005, Rabobank
remained Europe's most sustainable bank. Compared to 2003, the
sustainability score improved from 74% to 80%. Globally, Rabobank
comes after the Australian Westpac Banking Corporation.
In the rating by the Sustainable Investment Research International
(SiRi) of early 2006, Rabobank received the highest rating in the
Diversified Financials industry sector. SiRi rates corporate entities in
eight non-financial areas: compliance with codes and standards,
corporate governance, customer service, staff policy, the environ
ment, procurement, contribution to society and the allocation of
the purpose of financing.
In the year under review, Rabobank Group received
the Accountancy Award 2005 (ACC Award) for the
best Annual Responsibility and Sustainability
Report. The report entitled 'Our corporate social
responsibility' is a summary of the main themes of
the full Annual Responsibility and Sustainability
Report, which is available on the Internet, and
deals with specific dilemmas. According to the jury,
strengths of the Report included the description
of CSR integration in the organisation and of the
activities in developing countries.
