New standard for pool cars cuts carbon emissions (2 December 2013)
By standardising its 500 or so pool cars, Commerzbank will reduce its future average carbon emissions to less than 100 g/km (from 122 g/km in 2012). This is equivalent to an annual saving of 227 tonnes of CO2 (18 per cent down on the previous fleet) and contributes towards the bank's climate target.
Charter for combining work with care (18 November 2013)
Commerzbank and five other companies have signed the Hessen charter for combining work and care. Commerzbank employees with dependants needing care receive a range of support, such as free referral and advisory services or schemes for flexible working hours and locations.
Commerzbank signs German Sustainability Code (15 November 2013)
Commerzbank has committed to comply with the German Sustainability Code (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitskodex DNK). The twenty criteria and additional performance indicators in the DNK describe the essential requirements for corporate sustainability and enable the sustainability performances of participating companies to be compared.
Climate Disclosure Leadership Index 2013 (13 November 2013)
Commerzbank is among the top ten per cent of companies in this year's CDP climate disclosure ranking (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and as a result has been included in the leadership index. As well as the transparency of our reporting (disclosure score of 90 points), we also improved our performance in terms of criteria relevant to climate change (performance score of A-).
2013 Sustainability Report now available (28 October 2013)
The 2013 Corporate Responsibility Report represents the fifth time Commerzbank has taken stock of its commitment to a diverse range of causes. Under the title 'Responsibility. Trust. Confidence.', the bank sets out how environmental, social and ethical criteria are being applied and promoted in the various units of the bank.
Welthungerhilfe CSR event (21 October 2013)
An event run by German famine relief charity Welthungerhilfe entitled 'CSR – success factor for SMEs' took place on 17 October in the Commerzbank Tower. Various talks intended to stimulate debate and a panel discussion highlighted the options SMEs have for strategic CSR and provided helpful practical hints.
Apply now for a Commerzbank environmental internship in 2014 (15 October 2013)
In 2014, Commerzbank will once more be enabling a total of 50 students from all disciplines to work as interns for several months at 25 participating national parks, nature reserves and biosphere reserves throughout Germany. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2014.
Commerzbank staff support social projects (30 September 2013)
Around 500 Commerzbank employees got involved in a total of 46 projects in 18 locations around Germany in association with Malteser Social Day on 27 September 2013, making the bank the biggest participant once again. Social engagement is a key element of Commerzbank's corporate culture.
Aid for flood disaster victims (5 July 2013)
Clients and employees of Commerzbank donated around €240,000 to victims of the flood disaster. The bank's Board of Managing Directors topped this up to a make a total of €300,000. Since mid-June, Commerzbank has been offering special loans for people affected by the floods. There are no capital or interest payments in the first six months and the loans can be repaid without penalty at any time.
Open-air semesters in 2013 (26 April 2013)
Commerzbank and Europarc Deutschland, the umbrella organization for Germany's nature conservation areas, are once again enabling more than 50 students from Germany and abroad to work as 'interns for the environment' in one of 25 German national parks, nature reserves and biosphere reserves.
Commerzbank among the top 20 green banks (3 April 2013)
Every year, Bloomberg names the world's 40 greenest banks. In 2013, Commerzbank climbed into the top 20 for the first time. One of the main factors in our high ranking was our commitment to the renewable energies sector. Commerzbank is one of the largest financers of renewable energies in the world, and has its own CoC RE in Hamburg where all its activities in this area are centralised.
Symbolic act for climate protection (23 March 2013)
Commerzbank again took part in the global Earth Hour campaign by switching off the lights at selected locations in Frankfurt, Berlin and London for one hour at 8.30pm on 23 March.
Commerzbank has the best ideas management system (20 March 2013)
Wikidee was named best ideas management system in the banking and insurance sector in 2013. The accolade was awarded by the Ideas Management Centre umbrella organisation, part of the German Institute for Ideas and Innovations Management. The expert judges were particularly impressed by the opportunity to discuss and vote on ideas on an online platform.
Certified corporate health management (28 February 2013)
From workplace inspections to stress-management seminars - Commerzbank makes great efforts to maintain and promote the health of its employees. The bank was the first company in Germany to be certified in accordance with the TÜV Süd corporate health standard for its exemplary CHM.
All German offices switch fully to green electricity (28 February 2013)
Since January 2013, 100 per cent of the electricity used by Commerzbank AG in Germany has been from renewable energy sources. All of the bank's 1,300 or so buildings in Germany run on green electricity only. Reducing its own emissions is a key part of Commerzbank's climate strategy.
€100,000 for SOS Children's Villages in Africa (18 January 2013)
In 2012 and 2013, Commerzbank AG donated a total of €100,000 to SOS Children's Villages in Africa. This amount will benefit educational and sustainability projects in Ghana and Liberia, and includes buying IT equipment for schools and installing photovoltaic systems for Children's Villages.
Commerzbank joins UPJ (14 January 2013)
Commerzbank set the seal on its membership of UPJ by signing the Berlin appeal for networking and dissemination of corporate citizenship, social responsibility and social partnerships. UPJ is a network of engaged businesses and non-profit intermediary organisations in Germany.
New climate target for further cut in CO2 emissions (2 January 2013)
Commerzbank's first climate target was to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent between 2007 and 2011. By the end of 2012, the bank had actually managed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by half. Its Group Environmental Committee has now set a new climate target for CO2 emissions to be cut by a further 20 per cent by 2020.
