Here you will find all information on NRW.BANK’s sustainability ratings.
The Sustainability Guidelines consist of four individual, closely linked components which describe the handling of sustainability as a central guiding principle at NRW.BANK and support its ongoing further development.
The sustainability principles describe the implementation of sustainability at NRW.BANK. The former Principles of Corporate Responsibility at NRW.BANK as amended on December 7, 2012 have been absorbed into the Sustainability Guidelines.
Specifications put the sustainability principles into more concrete terms which are so detailed that they govern the Bank’s business activities taking economic, environmental, social and ethical aspects into account.
Based on an annual update of the sustainability principles, NRW.BANK defines objectives and related sustainability measures which are to push ahead the further development of sustainability at NRW.BANK and have a positive influence on the future of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The annual Sustainability Report and the Sustainability Portal are important communication tools we use to provide our stakeholders with transparent information on the results of NRW.BANK’s sustainable action. Basic information on the Bank’s corporate responsibility is provided – also within the framework of existing legal requirements – in the annual financial report as well as the non-financial report. Sustainability communications transparently document the progress and effects of NRW.BANK’s sustainability efforts.
Development of a climate strategy
Expansion of support for sustainable investments by companies - in particular for CO2 reduction projects
Introduction of special risk quotas in favor of transformation projects
Expansion of sustainable portfolio management to take into account transformation opportunities/risks and to support the Paris climate goals using MSCI Implied Temperature Rise (ITR)
Expansion of personnel development offerings on future competencies
To underline the importance of corporate responsibility for NRW.BANK and to promote its further development internally, the Bank joined the “Diversity Charter” and the “United Nations Environment Programme - Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)” in 2009 and signed the ten principles of the UN Global Compact. Since 2015, the Bank has also been a member of the Green Bond Principles and of the Verein für Umweltmanagement und Nachhaltigkeit in Finanzinstituten e.V. (VfU). To reaffirm its sustainable investment policy, NRW.BANK signed the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2020.
The “Diversity Charter” is an initiative which aims to promote diversity in organisations. By signing the Diversity Charter, NRW.BANK committed itself to creating a working environment that is free of prejudice and exclusion, thus fostering acceptance and mutual trust.
Go to “Diversity Charter” website.
NRW.BANK has been an official member of the ICMA Green Bond Principles (GBPs) since 2015. NRW.BANK’s Green Bond concept complies with the standards formulated in the GBPs. It was therefore a logical step for the Bank to join the GBPs. ICMA complied with this request within only two days.
Go to “Green Bond Principles” website.
PRI is a global investor initiative joined by more than 3,500 signatories with over USD 100 trillion in assets. The financial institutions commit themselves to complying with six core principles for responsible investment. The aim is, on the one hand, to create a better understanding among the signatories of the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. On the other hand, the initiative supports its members in incorporating sustainability aspects into their investment decisions. As a signatory, NRW.BANK undertakes to comply with the six core principles for responsible investment and underlines its sustainable strategy in the capital market.
Go to “Principles for Responsible Investment” website [German].
UNEP FI is a global partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme and the financial sector. By signing this declaration on sustainable development, NRW.BANK committed itself to aligning its business activities accordingly and to practising forward-looking environmental management.
Go to “UNEP FI” website.
The UN Global Compact is a voluntary initiative of the United Nations, whose central instrument are the “Ten Principles” on the key issues of human rights, labour standards, anti-corruption and environmental protection. NRW.BANK endorses these principles and also supports their implementation in practice.
Go to “UN Global Compact” website.
The “Verein für Umweltmanagement und Nachhaltigkeit in Finanzinstituten e.V.” (VfU – Association for Environmental Management and Sustainability in Financial Institutions) is a network of leading financial service providers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. NRW.BANK uses the VfU indicator system for the preparation of its eco-balance. It enables financial institutions to determine comparable environmental indicators based on international reporting requirements.
Go to VfU website [German]..
1) The use by NRW.BANK of any MSCI ESG RESEARCH LLC or its affiliates (“MSCI”) data, and the use of MSCI logos, trademarks, service marks or index names herein, do not constitute a sponsorship, endorsement, recommendation, or promotion of NRW.BANK by MSCI. MSCI services and data are the property of MSCI or its information providers, and are provided ‘as-is’ and without warranty. MSCI names and logos are trademarks or service marks of MSCI.
2) Copyright ©2022 Sustainalytics. All rights reserved. This annual report contains information developed by Sustainalytics (www.sustainalytics.com). Such information and data are proprietary of Sustainalytics and/or its third party suppliers (Third Party Data) and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement of any product or project, nor an investment advice and are not warranted to be complete, timely, accurate or suitable for a particular purpose. Their use is subject to conditions available at https://www.sustainalytics.com/legal-disclaimers.
Click on the link below for the details page of the NRW.BANK.Green Bond.
Go to Green Bonds
Click below for the details page of the NRW.BANK.Social Bond.
Go to Social Bonds
For many years, NRW.BANK has also been pursuing the integration of sustainability in capital investments and is making steady progress in this field.
In 2022, our new commitment volume was 13,6 billion euros. Digitalisation and sustainability remained in focus - as in the case of the "Stiftsquelle": The new glass returnable plant of the mineral water producer monitors itself thanks to networking and consumes 30 percent less energy than its predecessor model.
It drives the digital revolution and promotes broadband expansion in NRW.
NRW.BANK is helping to bring about the digital turnaround in NRW.
It promotes environmental protection to further increase the quality of life in NRW.
NRW.BANK supports the climate targets.
It brings start-ups to the market and supports growth and innovation in SMEs.
NRW.BANK stands for growth in NRW.
It provides more affordable housing and lively, attractive neighbourhoods.
NRW.BANK promotes the creation of liveable housing.
It brings EU funds to NRW and supports companies in their expansion abroad.
We support companies in developing foreign markets.
It advises municipalities in NRW and supports them in all their projects.
NRW.BANK supports municipalities.
We are aware of our social responsibility as a promotional bank. This is why, every year, we support projects that are important for social life in North Rhine-Westphalia. This also includes promoting young artists.
Click below to visit NRW.BANK’s Corporate Citizenship page.
Go to Corporate Citizenship [German]
