Published 09-23-08
Submitted by Piraeus Bank
-September 23, 2008 - In an era marked by climate change and other environmental problems, safeguarding the planet and combating global warming is presenting a raft of practical challenges to businesses, governments and the general public alike.
In keeping with a long-standing commitment to social responsibility, Piraeus Bank, one of Greece's leading financial institutions, launched in October 2006 an ambitious 3-year initiative in an effort to meet those challenges - the "GREENbanking4Life" project. The Ecological Recycling Society, a Greek NGO, is a partner to this project.
Supported by the European Commission's LIFE ENVIRONMENT financial instrument, GREENbanking4Life aims at reducing the Bank's ecological footprint by improving energy efficiency, recycling, and bringing innovative green banking opportunities to its corporate and individual clients.
"The initiative also marks a 'first' for the EU, in that it is the first time that the LIFE ENVIRONMENT financial instrument has supported a bank in implementing its environmental policy," says Mr. Vrassidas Zavras, Head of Piraeus Bank's Environmental Department.
After two years, the project boasts some significant achievements:
Piraeus Bank Group is one of the most dynamic and active financial organisations in Greece today. Founded in 1916, Piraeus Bank went through a period of state-ownership and management (1975-1991) before it was privatised in December 1991. Today, Piraeus Bank leads a group of companies covering all financial and banking activities in the Greek market (universal bank). Piraeus Bank possesses particular know-how in the areas of retail banking, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), capital markets and investment banking, leasing and financing of the shipping sector. Piraeus Bank Group has a growing international presence, focused in Southeastern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean, but also in the financial centres of London and New York. Main strategic targets of Piraeus Bank Group are: further enhancing market shares in Greece and abroad wherever it operates, improving service quality and customer satisfaction, creating innovative products, further enhancing the Group's position in retail banking and small and medium-sized enterprises financing, strengthening the Group in the areas of asset management and bancassurance and, finally, strengthening profitability with a view of constantly increasing shareholder value.
More from Piraeus Bank