Sparkasse Imst accepts responsibility true: Sustainability at Sparkasse Imst
The Sparkasse Imst has made the word “sustainability” its flag – and has been for 140 years! The Oberland financial institute is now sending an even clearer signal when it comes to environmental awareness and the use of energy and resources.
IMST. A large number of concrete approaches are consistently pursued and implemented: From the photovoltaic system on the roof of the main facility in Imst to the conversion of the vehicle fleet to electric cars and the job bike, an initiative intended to make it easier to switch to cycling. There are products especially for customers that do justice to the “green” trend of the time and the concept of “sustainability”.
Major topic “Sustainability”
The two board members of Sparkasse Imst, Mario Kometer and Markus ScheiringIn a press conference last week, explains the sustainability efforts in the districts of Imst and Landeck and presents the projects and initiatives.
It’s clear: Sparkasse accepts responsibility for environmental issues at various levels:
“We all benefit from these measures. The implementation of sustainable initiatives is primarily for the benefit of the environment and thus our future.
For Board Kometer environmental concerns and the word sustainability apply even more privately than before:
“The driving force here is not so much environmental concerns, but more the recent enormous price increases that are accelerating and intensifying the process again.”
Since the war in the Ukraine, the impending lack of gas and the price increases that are spreading through all areas, everyone is looking for themselves where they can save.
Already for 140 years “Sustainability” is lived at Sparkasse Imst, it is set out and explained in the founding mandate CEO Markus Scheiring:
“But it was more about social sustainability, about frugality for more independence and about prosperity for everyone in the region.”
100% green electricity for all branches in the districts of Imst and Landeck
Only since 2006 has the environmental idea given more weight in the Sparkasse Imst deed of foundation. A photovoltaic system has been emblazoned since 2018 on the roof of the Imster Sparkasse building. Through our own electricity production, the CO2-Footprint actively reduced. A smaller part goes into the grid, 93 percent are used to cover their own electricity needs. And that’s where LED lights come in.
The topics of waste reduction, recycling, energy recovery (e.g. ventilation), control of water and electricity consumption, etc. are also taken very seriously.
All Sparkasse branches in the district are powered by green electricity or heated by district heating, only in Mieming are people still dependent on gas. The energy consumption is documented annually in reports in order to initiate further control steps and optimizations in order to save even more or to promote regionality, as the two board members explain:
“We see sustainability as a social responsibility. This includes an intact environment as well as cooperation in the region.”
Sustainable projects in the region (e.g. beekeeping in Kappl, way to school = footpath, fresh air4school of VS Imst) are also preferred with the promotional award supported by the private foundation. Such green projects are supported with around 100,000 to 150,000 euros per year.
Job bike and e-mobility
The Sparkasse has implemented other ideas internallyFor example, an employee campaign to motivate them to switch to e-mobility: About the project “job bike” employees can buy e-bikes at low cost, which can be purchased from partner dealers in the region with a Sparkasse financing model. Some employees now prefer to leave their cars at home, says Kometer, who is a keen cyclist himself and has questioned his own mobility: “There are days when I carpool with my wife, so at least one car stays at home.”
Here, too, it was not so much the environmental concern, but the rising cost of the reason to save in one’s own area, explains Kometer. That’s how the grin used it Christian NoblBranch manager in the Imster Oberstadt, the campaign in-house and became an enthusiastic e-biker, many other employees of the Sparkasse followed this example.
For the sake of the environment, the Sparkasse is now gradually setting up its small fleet of vehicles e-mobility uh – velvet e-charging station in the underground car park. A van has already been replaced by a Mercedes E-Vito.
Speaking of bikes: Buses with trailers ensure that locals and guests reach their favorite destination by bike. And the savings bank is on board here, as can not be overlooked from the inscriptions – according to the motto: “Never go bikeless with the Sparkasse Imst”.
Guidelines for more sustainability
Above all, the Sparkasse also assumes responsibility towards its customers: In some areas, such as housing finance or investments, sustainability guidelines are defined at national or European level.
The European banking landscape deals with the topic of sustainable financing or is this specified by the national supervisory bodies (valid since August 1st, 2022). In the financial sector one speaks of the ESG strategy (Environmental Social Governance). Environmental, social and corporate governance risks form the basis for those guidelines that regulate efforts on sustainability issues at European level. These points are of great importance for competitiveness, resilience and growth opportunities.
“Let your money go green”
“Sustainability” also applies to lending, for example for housing projects. The energy certificate, for example, serves as the basis for recording the ESG data. Andreas Hütterhead of wohn2Center of the Sparkasse Imstemphasizes the importance of the technical background in consultations, the analysis of the energy and CO2 budget for the project.
Even with investments, so-called “Green Products” increasingly in demand and also offered. Rene VenierHead of Private Banking, explains:
“Sustainable investments are possible both in the ETF area and at fund level. Our customers can buy any product they want from us.”
Benjamin Hörtnagl explained on the subject “green washing” – the whitewashing of climate goals – that it is necessary to take a close look here to see whether products are actually “Green Investments” are:
“We work together with specialized fund companies and check the composition of the products according to individual customer preferences.”
The private banking specialist at Sparkasse imst recently wrote his master’s thesis on this topic.