Piraeus Bank has been the first Greek bank to gain EMAS and ISO 14001:2004 environmental certification for all its Branches (359) and all management buildings (24) covering a total area of 187,831 m2. EMAS stands for Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, namely a European Union scheme, the Register of which lists all the registered organizations that are committed to and constantly improve their environmental performance.
Employee active involvement, increased requirements for transparency and environmental information disclosures to the public are the key factors differentiating and distinguishing EMAS from other standards. The certification confirms in essence that the Bank's Environmental Management System (EMS) is properly implemented. In other words, it rewards the organisation's systematic preparation which was initiated with the adoption of the Environmental Management Policy by the Board of Directors in 2003 and matured throughout the three-year European Program "GREENbanking4 LIFE".
Piraeus Bank's Environment Unit, which operates within the Corporate Social Responsibility Department, coordinates the monitoring, management and finally decrease in the environmental impact caused by the Bank activities. A specially trained employee has been appointed Environmental Management Coordinator in every Branch and Management building in order to ensure complete data collection, effective application of procedures and environmental projects, as well as achievement of environmental targets. Data analyses performed by the Environment Unit based on international standards, are confirmed by external auditors. As stated by Mr. Vrassidas Zavras, General Manager of the Bank, "decrease in our ecological footprint and proper environmental behaviour result in reducing our operating costs. Environmental management actions save us over €1.0 million in operating costs every year"
Finally, Ms. Sophia Staikou, Responsible for Piraeus Bank's Corporate Social Responsibility and Chairperson of the Cultural Foundation, underscored that "the Bank voluntarily tool the initiative to be certified and this indicates its commitment to improving its environmental performance, contributing to the effort made for a green and sustainable economy for a better future".