ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Corporate Responsibility Report 2008
54
ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
FOR BBVA, THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE THAT
INVOLVES BOTH RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES. AS PART OF ITS
COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL
THAT WILL HELP COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE, THE GROUP HAS SET
ITSELF A SERIES OF AMBITIOUS TARGETS FOR THE PERIOD 2008-2012.
-4%
Reduction of paper
consumption per
employee in 2008
Sustainable development is a priority for the
BBVA Group. Like any financial institution, it has
a considerable influence on environmental impact,
directly — through consumption of natural
resources, management of properties, use of paper,
travel, etc. — but more especially, indirectly —
9,080
Employees working in ISO
14001 certified buildings
(8 % total employees)
New headquarters in Paraguay bids for LEED certification. This certification is a cutting-edge
system for designing, building, operating and certifying the world’s greenest buildings
In November 2008 BBVA Paraguay began building the country’s first eco-efficient building for which it hopes to gain LEED silver
certification for new buildings, one of the lines of action of the Global Eco-efficiency Plan (2008-2012). This is the first building
in Paraguay to apply for this certification and it will set an example of sustainable construction.
The LEED certification is a cutting-edge system for designing, building, operating and certifying the world’s
greenest buildings. It takes a holistic approach to stimulate and guide the construction process through
integrated collaboration and design, ensuring the best economic and environmental factors.
There are four categories depending on the level: Certificate, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
LEED began among professional construction groups in the US who together founded the
USGBC (United States Green Building Council¸ www.usgbc.org), the body responsible for
these certifications.
LEED certification offers a market differentiation through a recognisable brand. It
increases occupation rates, reduces operating costs, raises the value of the building
as an asset, increases user satisfaction, raises productivity and reduces absenteeism.
Most significant of all is the dramatic reduction in environmental impact: LEED
certification means a 30% energy saving, reductions of 35% in GHG emissions, 30-
50% in water consumption and 50-90% in the costs of waste management.
794
Rooms fitted for
videoconferencing
in 2008
through the environmental consequences of the
products and services it offers, especially those
related to financing, asset management and the
way it manages its chain of suppliers.
Since 2003 the Group has operated an
environmental policy that affects all its entities and
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