HNB caps off sustainable year with carbon-neutral certification for 2022

HNB Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Dilshan Rodrigo (sixth from left) and Chairman/Sri Lanka Climate Fund Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Anil Jasinghe exchanging the Carbon Neutral certificate in the presence of (from left): SLCF  Verification Executive, Wageesha Alankara; SLCF  Verification Executive, Yashodha Lekamge; SLCF  Verification Manager, Harshani Abeyrathna; SLCF  Chief Executive Officer, Chamara Ariyathilaka; HNB DGM – Sustainability and Corporate Communications, L. Chiranthi Cooray and HNB Executive – Sustainable Business, Shanel Perera

HNB PLC concluded a year of successful initiatives by reaching a significant milestone in its sustainability journey, by becoming the first bank to achieve carbon neutrality across all its operations for the year 2022. The achievement encompasses all 255 branches and the bank’s Head Office.
HNB’s carbon neutral status was officially recognized by the Sri Lanka Climate Fund (SLCF), operating under the authority of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development & Environment. The SLCF quantified the bank’s carbon footprint according to the ISO 14064-1-2018 standard, considering a total of 10 emission sources that included both direct and indirect emissions. 
Climate Smart Initiatives (Pvt) Ltd conducted an independent third-party verification in line with the ISO 14064-3-2018 guidelines, leading to the prestigious ISO 14064 certification being awarded to the Bank. Speaking about this momentous, milestone, HNB MD/CEO Jonathan Alles stated, “The carbon neutral status is a testament to our unwavering commitment to a greener and more sustainable future. This accomplishment is not merely a box ticked or a goal reached; it is a reflection of our core values and a significant step forward in our mission to contribute positively to the well-being of our planet.”
To offset its emissions of 11,357 tCO2e, HNB sourced carbon credits from a UNFCCC-accredited sustainability project, the Gas Based Combined Cycle Power Project in Hazira, India. The bank’s GHG inventory assessment identified areas of inefficiency, which were addressed through operational optimization and sustainable innovations. These efforts not only contribute to global decarbonization but also resulted in significant cost savings to the bank.
According to HNB Deputy General Manager – Sustainability and Corporate Communications L. Chiranthi Cooray, achieving carbon neutrality is in line with the bank’s strategic objective to be the most stable sustainable and resilient Bank. HNB recognizes the increasing impact of climate change and has aligned itself with the UNSDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals).
Since the launch of its Green Pledge in 2009, HNB has been committed to resource efficiency, CSR activities, and reducing its environmental footprint. The bank’s environmental sustainability measures include projects in the renewable energy sector. HNB invested Rs. 82 million in solarizing branches, with 95 branches partially or fully powered by solar energy. An additional Rs. 29 million was allocated to other environmental CSR activities.
HNB has implemented a Green Procurement process among its network of over 300 suppliers. This includes mandatory assessments to ensure compliance with social and environmental criteria, as well as a green policy as part of the registration process. Larger contracts undergo independent financial evaluations. The bank monitors and reports its key performance indicators (KPIs) through the CEO’s sustainability dashboard and undergoes a sustainability assurance audit
by DNV-GL for the sixth consecutive year.