Be nature, think future! Sustainable Development at Komerční banka
Komerční banka's first priority as part of its Sustainable Development strategy was to tackle the most pressing problem of paper and electricity consumption. The Czech bank encourages employees and managers alike to identify the potential savings to be made by limiting this consumption.
All KB staff can actively contribute to the protection of the environment by taking part in various different projects (planting of trees in the Šumava region after the devastation left by hurricane Cyril across Central Europe in 2007). Moreover, although the management of the bank's waste is outsourced to an external service provider, employees are asked to sort the things they throw away (paper, plastic, cardboard, glass). In 2009, KB would like half of its employees to sort their waste themselves. Having joined the Green Electricity program of ÈEZ Group (power company) in April 2008, the bank pays a further CZK 0.10 for every additional kWh of electricity consumed. These "green donations" are paid into a fund that is used exclusively to support green energy projects. Projects are primarily linked to research and education and to increasing awareness of renewable energies amongst the general public. Support is also provided to the schools, local authorities and NGOs that promote and consume renewable energies. Alongside its internal initiatives, KB seeks to heighten the awareness of its clients as well, providing a new product offer which includes online banking services which are rapid, permanently accessible, less expensive and more ecological (less paper is required).