The Environment

We are not afraid of challenges. This is also why we have committed to reduce our carbon footprint so that we are able to declare KB to be carbon neutral by 2026. When we measured our emissions in 2019, we found out that our carbon emissions were 23,0 kgCO2e per client. We also found out that the largest proportion of emissions is from the use of electricity in the office buildings, subsidiaries and education centres. We are going to monitor our emissions on regular basis and we are continuously taking measures to meet our commitments described in the documents below. 

Corporate Climate Change Policy (Czech Version only, 906 kB, PDF)
Carbon Footprint Management Plan (1,3 MB, PDF)

Since plastics and their consumption are a hot issue for us, we have joined the Enough of Plastics initiative declared by the Ministry of the Environment. As early as 2018, we discontinued the purchase of water in PET bottles, plastic cups or disposable dishes in our internal procurement system. Thus, we spare our planet more than 70,000 PET bottles and 100,000 plastic cups every year. We have also equipped our kitchenettes with soda bars and additional cutlery and crockery.

We have the first card of a recycled material!

We are serious about plastic waste reduction and have therefore made new payment cards of recycled plastics. 

We have developed what to date is the most environmentally-friendly payment card; more than 85% of it is made of recycled materials. Each such card spares the planet 7g of CO2 and no useless disposable plastics are produced because of this card. We are thus helping to lessen the carbon footprint and contributing to waste reductions.

As part of the Economic Olympiad we asked Czech students about the particular area on which they think the current global society should focus most, and improve it. The answer was unequivocal. More than 55% of those young people cited the environment as the most important area. It is therefore not by chance that as early as January 2021, we will provide the new ‘green’ card of recycled plastic to students together with their G2 student account.

The card attracts attention by its composition, atypical ‘portrait’ design, and personalisation on the rear side. The cards will see the light of day as early as the end of 2020.

BREEM and LEED energy certificates
Our two office buildings in Praha 5 – Stodůlky have obtained these certificates, which confirm their low energy consumption from a comprehensive perspective: their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, their impact on pollution, their waste disposal, their land management, etc.

KB’s LEED Gold and BREEM certified office buildings in Stodůlky

LED lighting
In some of our branches we have installed LED lighting thanks to which we save approximately CZK 800,000 every year.

Driving on electricity
We have enlarged our vehicle fleet by seven electric vehicles, thereby contributing to CO2 emission reductions. We have currently recorded a year-on-year saving of 2%.

We drive Nissan Leaf electric vehicles, respecting the future

We sort waste, and recycle toners and old mobile phones. Each of our branches has its own waste sorting system that suits it best. We are also mindful of occupational health and safety.

Clean Up Czechia
In our role of the Main Partner we have been supporting the Clean Up the World, Clean Up Czechia volunteering event for several years. We also make it possible for our employees to join the cleaning drive in certain localities. For example, 250 of our employees collected waste at more than 20 places across the country last year.

Our supplier relationships are based on lawful, effective, fair, and honest conduct. We also expect our trade partners to follow all statutory and ethical rules, including environmental protection and fight against corruption, in addition to honouring their contractual obligations. We only establish commercial relationships with suppliers who have a good reputation, who apply solely lawful practices in their business, and whose funds come from legitimate sources.