Environmental management

Our commitment

At CaixaBank, we protect the environment when we are performing our activities. We implement the best environmental and energy practices in accordance with our Sustainability Principles .

Our 2022-2024 Sustainable Banking Plan includes the 2022-2024 Environmental Management Plan, with eight action plans aimed at reducing the direct impact of our activity as a Group:

Governance in Environmental Management
Climate Change: operational carbon footprint, renewable energy consumption and offset of emissions
Environmentally-friendly purchasing and contracting
Environmentally-friendly catalogue of non-financial products
Commitment to circular economy
Sustainable Mobility Plan
Promotion of efficiency
Renewal of voluntary certifications and extension of the perimeter

With this aim in mind, we have defined the following objectives with indicators for each year of the Plan with the perimeter of Scope 1 and 2 for the CaixaBank Group and the Scope 3 concepts detailed in the section on calculating the Carbon Footprint for CaixaBank, S.A:

OBJECTIVE	INDICATORS	2022 Objective	2022 Real	2023 Objective	2024 Objective
Carbon footprint minimization and offsetting	Scope 1 (vs 2021¹)	-7%	-10%	-10%	-15%
	Scope 2 (vs 2021)	-100%	-100%	-100%	-100%
	Scope 3 operational (vs 2021²)	-12%	-38%	-15%	-18%
	Reduction in CO₂ emissions (vs 2021)	-12.9%	-31.74%	-16%	-19%
	Carbon Neutral ³. Scope 1, 2 and 3 operational CO₂ emissions reduced (vs 2021)	100%	100%	100%	100%
100% renewable energy consumption	Consumption of renewable energy	100%	100%	100%	100%
Reduction of paper consumption/waste	Reduction of A4 paper consumption (vs 2021)	-8%	-34.6%	-12%	-15%
Implementation of energy efficiency measures	Saving in energy consumed (vs 2021)	-6%	-14.1%	-8%	-10%
Renewal of certifications and extension of the perimeter	Environmental certifications in main buildings (vs 11 certifications 2021⁴)	2	2	3	4

1. For the calculation of the scope 1 target, CaixaBank's refrigerant gas emissions data will take the average for the period 2019-2021 as the baseline year.

2. CaixaBank's corporate travel emissions data takes 2019 (before COVID-19 restrictions) as the baseline year for the calculation of the scope 3 objective. The target falls within the same perimeter reported in 2021, as explained in this chapter.

3. The carbon neutrality perimeter ("Carbon Neutral") is defined taking into account Scopes 1, 2 and 3.6 (corporate travel) at a CaixaBank Group-wide level. To achieve this, we implement measures to reduce emissions, calculate emissions that could not be avoided and offset them by purchasing credits on the voluntary emissions offset market.

4. In 2022, CaixaBank sold the certified building located at Paseo de la Castellana 51, moving most of its employees to the building at Castellana 189, which is also ISO 14001 certified. The base figure against which we assess the targets has changed to 10 certifications, to which we have added 2 new buildings belonging to BPI this year.

More information in our Climate Report

Management of climate change

Financial entities have a key role to play in achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In February 2019, CaixaBank approved its Climate Change Declaration, which aims to contribute to the transition to a low carbon and socially fair economy, while promoting sustainable economic growth and development.

One of the areas of action in the Climate Change Declaration is to reduce the CO2 emissions from our activities and offset those that cannot be avoided, in accordance with our Carbon Neutral Plan.

Estrategia Carbon Neutral

La Estrategia de la Entidad para alcanzar la neutralidad de emisiones está basada en su medición, la reducción de las mismas y la compensación de las que no podemos evitar

01. Calculation of our operational carbon footprint

02. Reduction of CO₂emissions

03. Offsetting of unavoidable emissions

01. Calculation of our operational carbon footprint

CaixaBank S.A. prepares an annual inventory of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from its activities. This is used to calculate its carbon footprint and establish actions to gradually reduce it.

As of 2021, after the merger with Bankia, the calculation is extended to the entire CaixaBank Group incorporating 12 subsidiary companies in Scopes 1 and 2.

Operational carbon footprint (TCO₂EQ)

Caixabank Group operational carbon footprint (TCO₂EQ)

Item			Source	CaixaBank S.A.	Grupo CaixaBank
Scope 1	Combustion in fixed sources	Boilers or emergency equipment	Gas oil C	326.46	415.48
	Combustion in fixed sources	Boilers or emergency equipment	Natural Gas	791.13	892.75
	Combustion in mobile sources	Rental vehicles		960.40	4,161.52
	Cooling gas leaks	Cooling gases		3,548.13	4,106.54
Scope 2		Market-based method		0	0
Scope 2		Electricity self-consumption		0	0
Scope 3	3.1 Purchase of goods and services	Mains water		153.31	153.31
		A4 paper		2,054.94	2,054.94
		Other paper		3,489.20	3,489.20
		Other goods (toner, vinyl and cards)		647.63	647.63
	3.2 Capital goods	Computers, monitors, keyboards		1,440.47	1,440.47
	3.3 Fuel and activities related to energy	Value chain and transmission of non-renewable electricity		0	0
	3.4 Waste generation	IT support and toner		1,783.20	1,783.20
	3.6 Corporate trave	Aeroplane, train, cars		5,689.98	5,689.98
Total		Scope1		5,626.12	9,576.29
		Scope 2 (Market-based)		0	0
		Scope 3		15,205.96	15,258.72
		Total (Market-based)		20,884.84	24,835.01
		Total per employee (Market-based)		0.49	0.56

* The Operational Carbon Footprint data presented in the EINF 2021 included the sum of the historical calculation perimeters of CaixaBank and Bankia, which were not the same. This data has been recalculated with respect to the publication of the EINF 2021 in order to unify this perimeter and to be able to compare emissions in 2021 and 2022, as well as the achievement of the targets set.

Caixabank Group operational carbon footprint (TCO₂EQ)

Item			Source	CaixaBank S.A.	Grupo CaixaBank
Scope 1	Combustion in fixed sources	Boilers or emergency equipment	Gas oil C	682.61	817.43
	Combustion in fixed sources	Boilers or emergency equipment	Natural Gas	970.07	1,017.72
	Combustion in mobile sources	Rental vehicles		1,291.95	4,096.07
	Cooling gas leaks	Cooling gases		2,818.00	3,326.17
Scope 2		Market-based method		374.17	1,153.55
Scope 2		Electricity self-consumption		0	0
Scope 3	3.1 Purchase of goods and services	Mains water		195.14	195.14
		A4 paper		3,105.14	3,105.14
		Other paper		4,126.67	4,126.67
		Other goods (toner, vinyl and cards)		824.34	824.34
	3.2 Capital goods	Computers, monitors, keyboards		3,946.41	3,946.41
	3.3 Fuel and activities related to energy	Value chain and transmission of non-renewable electricity		122.64	122.64
	3.4 Waste generation	IT support and toner		1,359.62	1,359.62
	3.6 Corporate trave	Aeroplane, train, cars		4,094.94	4,094.94
Total		Scope1		5,762.63	9,257.38
		Scope 2 (Market-based)		374.17	1,153.55
		Scope 3		17,774.91	17,774.91
		Total (Market-based)		23,911.70	28,185.84
		Total per employee (Market-based)		0.65	0.57

One of the milestones reached in 2022 is the certification through Guarantees of Renewable Origin of all the energy consumed by the Group, so that the ZERO EMISSIONS target in Scope 2 has been reached.

Certifying Entity Letter

CaixaBank has reduced its carbon footprint by 12% since 2021.

We calculate our carbon footprint according to the "The Greenhouse Gas Protocol" and "Corporate Value Chain (scope 3) accounting and reporting standard". The data are verified annually by an independent certifying body in the context of the Statement of Non-financial Information.

Executive Report CaixaBank Carbon Footprint 2022

Redimensioned operational carbon footprint

A study of the different Scope 3 categories has been carried out in 2022, where were identified the following categories 3.1 (purchase of goods and services), 3.2 (purchase of capital goods), 3.3 (fuel and energy-related activities) and 3.6 (corporate travel) have been defined as materials, defining a new perimeter for calculating the operational carbon footprint that includes the totality of these emissions for the entire Group and taking a step forward in the representativeness of the information reported.

These categories have been calculated extensively, which is particularly important in the categories for the purchases of goods and services and capital goods, where 80% of the amount of the global statement of all the Group's operating expenses and investments.

Item			2022		2021
Scope 3			CaixaBank S.A.	Grupo CaixaBank	CaixaBank S.A.	Grupo CaixaBank
	3.1 Purchase of goods and services	OPEX	51,980.66	128,005.67	59,185.22	146,723.85
	3.2 Capital goods	CAPEX	50,164.90	60,810.78	36,448.54	45,841.97
	3.3 Fuel and activities related to energy	Value chain of cold and mobile fuels	451.16	1,264.00	616.92	1,323.86
	3.3 Fuel and activities related to energy	Electricity value chain and transmission	4,133.51	5,451.65	5,741.35	7,505.61
	3.6 Corporate travel	Aeroplane, train, cars and hotels	5,809.91	6,794.80	4,473.40	5,038.83
TOTAL SCOPE 3 OPERATIONAL ACCORDING TO MATERIALITY STUDY			112,540.14	202,326.90	106,465.44	206,434.11

02. Reductions

Through the introduction of technological improvements and good environmental practices, we reduce our emissions.

We prioritise actions that minimise the production of waste by reducing the consumption of resources.

Activities that we carry out:

Selective waste collection allows us to recover and recycle waste
At the corporate buildings, waste is recorded and managed by authorised waste management companies. In addition, the coffee shops at the Corporate Services building do not sell or use single-use plastic
Across the branch network, we use the municipal separate collection bins for non-hazardous waste (paper, plastic, organic and other) and the hazardous waste is managed by authorised waste management companies through the maintenance companies (light bulbs, refrigerant gases, electronic waste, toner, etc.)

EXAMPLES OVERALL VOLUME OF WASTE GENERATED	2022	2021
Toner cartridges (units)	38,040	42,337
IT support (t)	984	1,262

We launch regular employee awareness campaigns to reduce waste generation
We market cards manufactured from recycled PVC and biodegradable material
We collect obsolete cards at the branch network for their subsequent recycling

Programa reUtilízame. Banca socialmente responsable

We have put in place the ReUtilízame programme, which encourages companies to donate surplus materials in good condition to non-profit social organisations. As a result, these materials are given a second life and do not become waste. The main goals of this initiative are to promote a circular economy and to sensitise the business community and encourage it to join a social business network. The programme is open to clients, and 46,184 items were donated by 25 participating companies -in addition to CaixaBank- in 2022, benefiting 359 organisations

03. Offsetting

We offset the unavoidable emissions from our corporate buildings and branch network (scopes 1, 2 and 3)

We are a carbon neutral entity.

In 2018, we became the first bank in Spain, and one of the first in Europe, to offset all of the CO₂ emissions from our activities. This means our offsetting objective includes the emissions associated with both our corporate centres and our entire branch network, which is the largest in the financial sector in Spain. We currently define the carbon neutrality perimeter ("Carbon Neutral") taking into account Scope 1, 2 and 3.6 (corporate travels) at the CaixaBank Group scale.

We offset the emissions we generate.

We offset our emissions by purchasing carbon credits (recognised by the Verified Carbon Standard) for projects with positive social and environmental impact, and through the reforestation of two areas in Montserrat, Barcelona and Ejulve, Teruel, the direct benefits of which for the areas will be accounted for over the coming years.

Membership and registrations.

We register our carbon footprint with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge's Register of carbon footprints, offsetting and carbon dioxide absorption projects and we have signed up to the Voluntary Agreements Programme for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions run by the Catalan Office for Climate Change (OCCC).

Sello 2021 registro huella de carbono

Voluntary Agreements Programme of Generalitat de Catalunya

Environmental and energy management system

At CaixaBank, we have implemented an environmental and energy management system that allows us to reduce the environmental impact of our activities, ensuring a process of continuous improvement.

Our corporate centre in Barcelona has an environmental and energy management system, under the European EMAS regulations and the ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 standards. The scope of our ISO 14001 certification also includes our 5 most important corporate centres in Valencia and Madrid.