Scope 1 Emissions
2022 Communication on Progress
Sterling Bank Plc.
Published date
May 31, 2022
No. of questions
62
Supplemental files
CEO Statement
Governance
Policies and Responsibilities
1. Does the Board / highest governance body or most senior executive of the company:
Optional commentAnnually, the Bank issues a sustainability report that communicates its non-financial performance, detailing the impact of its business activities and operations on employees, customers, third-parties and host communities.2. Does the company have a publicly stated commitment regarding the following sustainability topics?
3. Does the company have in place a code of conduct regarding each of the following sustainability topics?
4. Has the company appointed an individual or group responsible for each of the following sustainability topics?
5. Does the company have a formal structure(s) (such as a cross-functional committee) to address each of the following sustainability topics?
Prevention
6. Does the company have a process or processes to assess risk?
6.1. During the assessment of risk, which business relationships are reviewed?
7. Does the company have a due diligence process through which it identifies, prevents, mitigates, and accounts for actual and potential negative impacts on sustainability topics?
7.1. During the due diligence process, which business relationships are reviewed?
Concerns and grievance mechanisms
8. Are there any processes through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct related to human rights, labour rights, environment, or anti-corruption?
8.1. Please provide additional detail regarding the process(es) the company has through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct.
9. Does the company provide or enable access to effective remedy to right holders / stakeholders where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact?
Lessons
10. How does the company capture lessons regarding each of the following sustainability topics?
Executive Pay
11. Is executive pay linked to performance on one or more of the following sustainability topics?
Board Composition
12. Percentage of individuals within the company’s Board / highest governance body by:
13. Do you produce sustainability reporting according to:
Data Assurance
14. Is the information disclosed in this questionnaire assured by a third-party?
Human Rights
Materiality / Saliency
1. Which of the following has the company identified as material human rights issues connected with its operations and/or value chain, whether based on their salience (i.e., the most severe potential negative impacts on people) or another basis?
Commitment
2. Does the company have a policy commitment in relation to the following human rights issues?
2.1. For each human rights policy, is it:
Prevention
3. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following human rights issues?
4. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with this human rights issue?
5. Who receives training for the following human rights issues?
6. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following human rights issues?
Response
7. During the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy where it has caused or contributed to adverse impact associated with the following human rights issue(s)?
8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the human rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.
Continuous communication of the Bank's policies along with channels for reporting challengesLabour
Commitment
1. Does the company have a policy commitment in relation to the following labour rights principles?
1.1. For each labour rights policy, is it:
Prevention
2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following labour rights issues?
3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with this labour rights issue?
4. Who receives training for the following labour rights issues?
5. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following labour rights issues?
Performance
6. What is the percentage of employees covered under collective bargaining agreements?
7. What is the percentage of employees in a trade union or other workers' organization?
8. In the course of the reporting period, what was the percentage of women in:
9. What was the average ratio of the basic salary and remuneration of women to men (comparing jobs of equal value) during the reporting period?
10. In the course of the reporting period, how frequently were workers injured (injuries per hour worked)?
11. In the course of the reporting period, what was the company’s incident rate?
Response and Reporting
12. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact associated with the following labour rights issues?
13. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the labour rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.
Continuous communication of the Bank's policies along with channels for reporting challengesEnvironment
Commitment
1. Does the company have a formal policy on the following environmental topics?
Optional commentThe bank has a board-approved Environmental & Social risk policy which includes a carbon footprint policy manual and a statement that addresses the conservation of water, usage of renewable energy, management of solid wastes and air pollution from our business operations.1.1. For each environmental policy, is it:
Prevention
2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following environmental issues?
3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with these environmental topics?
4. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following environmental topics?
5. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy for any actual impacts associated with the following environmental issue(s)?
Climate Action
6. What were the company’s gross global greenhouse gas emissions for the reporting period?
Scope 2 Emissions
Scope 3 Emissions
7. What percentage of the company's revenue was invested in R&D of low-carbon products/services during this reporting period?
8. Has the organization acted to support climate change adaptation and resilience?
Energy / Resource Use
9. Please report the company's renewable energy consumption as a percentage of total energy consumption in the reporting period.
Technology
10. What percent of the company's revenue came from environmentally friendly products / services during this reporting period?
Sector-specific Questions
11. Which sector(s) does the company operate in? If diversified, choose top 3 by revenue.
Overall Environment
21. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the environment principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.
The company is committed to managing its carbon footprint by reducing its diesel, paper, solid waste, etc. It has adopted renewable energy & energy-efficient technologies by using solar PV systems in over 40% of its business locations. The headquarters (Sterling Towers) is currently being solarized, and a commitment to net-zero emissions is underway. Sustainability and ESG awareness is embedded in the Bank’s Learning & Development strategy and activities; FLEX LMS, onboarding programme and experienced hires training. The Bank has a Sustainability Working Group (SWG) responsible for setting, implementing, and tracking sustainability-inclined targets for the Bank, which well aligns with the Bank's strategy. The integration of E&S risk assessment into the Bank’s credit origination, appraisal and monitoring processes and the inclusion of ESAPs into loan covenants in credit agreements to ensure compliance with E&S regulatory requirements and best practice. Monitoring is carried out on the high and medium risk customers with visits to customer’s operational/project locations. Launched a Paperless Drive Campaign which has contributed to a 7.8% reduction in paper usage bank wide. Implementation of the Flexi-plan" and "Flexi-place" work model/remote work pattern for employees.Anti-corruption
Commitment
1. Does the company have an anti-corruption compliance programme?
Optional commentThe bank has in place policies and procedures to guide against bribery and corruption2. Does your company have policies and recommendations for employees on how to act in case of doubt and/or in situations that may represent a conflict of interest, e.g. with regard to gifts and hospitality, donations, sponsorship, or interactions with public officials?
Optional commentThe bank has a stand-alone policy for gifts and a stand-alone conflict of interest policy.Prevention
3. Who receives training on anti-corruption and integrity?
Optional commentThe bank communicates to all staff the policy on anti-corruption, in addition to integrity tests, in form of spot checks conducted. The bank's AML/CFT/KYC/PF trainings also serve to guard against unethical practices including bribery and corruption. The bank's code of conduct policy is also communicated to and attested to by all staff - this policy also frowns against corrupt practices in the organisation3.1. How often is such training provided?
Optional commentThe bank provides anti-corruption and AML/CFT/KYC/PF trainings to all staff at least once in a year.4. Does the company monitor its anti-corruption compliance programme?
Optional commentIssues that arise are dealt with in line with the bank's sanction grid in the anti-corruption policy and other related policies. Transaction monitoring tools also aid monitoring of suspicious activities.Response and Reporting
5. Please report the company's total number and nature of incidents of corruption during the reporting year.
Optional commentA staff was involved in receipt of financial gratification for granting loan to a customer - the case was investigated and staff was dismissed6. Within the reporting period, what measures has the company taken to address suspected incidents of corruption independently or in response to a dispute or investigation by a government regulator?
7. Does your company engage in Collective Action against corruption?
8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the anti-corruption principle, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.
Training of all staff on the anti-corruption, AML/CFT policy of the bank. Staff attestation on their understanding of the bank's anti-corruption and code of conduct policy. Continued monitoring and investigation of any suspected cases reported.