Every year more than 100 million tonnes of plastics are dumped into natural environments, especially the oceans. At Santander, we have pledged to eliminate single-use plastics from our buildings around the world by 2021 so as to promote environmental sustainability.
 

2021

Eliminate all single-use plastics from our buildings

2021

Eliminate all single-use plastics from our buildings

100 %

of the electricity we consume is from green sources by 2025

100 %

of the electricity we consume is from green sources by 2025

The scientific data are alarming: if we continue to act as we have until now, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050. This global problem can be averted by focusing on initiatives to reduce the negative environmental impact of people and companies. We have therefore set a goal of reducing plastic consumption by 2021, starting with the elimination of single-use plastics such as cups, cutlery and bottles.

This commitment first arose at the Group's Brazilian subsidiary with 13 young participants in the Young Leaders programme, an initiative that identifies talent in order to promote development and leadership skills within the company. These young people proposed a measure that is now part of the bank's global identity. 

Responsible and sustainable offices

6,000

employees received a glass bottle

6,000

employees received a glass bottle

The desire to rid our offices of plastic is already having an essential impact on our sustainability policies. At Santander Group City, a campaign was launched under the name “#IDo reduce, reuse, recycle”, which aims to raise awareness and call employees to action in order for them to be more responsible with respect to sustainability. Over a one-year period, we succeeded in reducing the use of plastic containers by 38% and the use of paper by 61%.

Portugal does not want to be left out. Santander's more than 6,000 employees there were given a glass bottle with their names to replace disposable plastic bottles. This step was also taken at Santander Group City. All plastic coffee cups have also been removed and in meeting rooms all plastic bottles have been replaced with glass bottles. The objective is to eliminate all non-reusable plastics from cafeterias and vending machines.

Getting rid of plastic is just the first step in a common project that promotes optimising energy efficiency, using recycled materials and limiting water consumption and waste at our offices. As a company, we are responsible for reducing our environmental footprint and facilitating the ecological transition.

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