Millennium Bank SA

Carbon footprint Millennium

Millennium SA has been consciously undertaking environmental activities for years. Since 2011, the Bank Millennium Group has been reporting information on its environmental impact, including data on greenhouse gas emissions. For the bank, investigating and mitigating the emissions of its branches is of key importance. That is why it regularly introduces environmentally friendly solutions in its regional headquarters.

In 2021 year, a model ecological branch of the Bank Millennium SA was also opened. Climate Strategies Poland cooperated with the bank and focused on calculating the effect of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions after relocation and pro-environmental renovation of a branch.

The purpose

Bank Millennium engaged our Foundation mainly:

• to precisely calculate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions following a relocation of one of the facilities, which has been refurbished using a variety of environmentally friendly solutions.

Organizational boundaries of the project

Calculating emission reduction included a single medium-sized branch of Bank Millennium SA in a new location.

What actions have been taken so far?

To reduce the consumption of utilities, the following solutions were introduced:

• Lighting with motion detectors and light intensity sensors, to regulate the power depending on the amount of sunlight,
• A+++ energy efficiency class air conditioning,
• Energy-saving equipment for computer workstations,
• Ventilation with heat recovery,
• Dual flush toilets and gray water flush toilets,
• Aerators in taps that can reduce water consumption (e.g., for washing hands) by up to 50%.

Ecological solutions used to furnish and decorate the new facility

Carbon footprint Millennium – project scope

The corporate carbon footprint reduction has been calculated for two separate types of activities:

1. Reduced consumption of utilities in the new facility,

2. Environmentally friendly furniture and fittings used in a new facility.

The carbon footprint considered in the project covered all direct and indirect emissions except emissions from exempt activities.

How was the carbon footprint calculated?

Project results

The choice of environmentally friendly solutions was deliberate at each stage of the finishing works in the new facility. Combined with reduced energy and other utilities consumption and the purchase of green electricity, this allowed for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% per year. For a single branch of the bank, this means s a reduction by 39 tons of CO2 equivalent annually. This is how much 26 people would save annually by switching from driving a car to biking.

Final product

Cooperation with our Foundation guaranteed:

• Independent verification of the bank’s participation in continuous reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Detailed report that includes calculations of the emissivity of individual initiatives, as well as recommendations for possible further emission reductions.
• Digital calculator to determine the carbon footprint for the investigated branch.
• Carbon Footprint Calculation Certificate according to GHG Protocol, A Corporate and Reporting Standard, revised edition, March 2004. World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Carbon footprint Millennium – PROJECT SUMMARY

Millennium Bank SA introduced a number of solutions in the new branch to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some of them were related to reducing the consumption of utilities (electricity, heating, water, etc.), and some to one-off actions, e.g., selecting ecological fitting materials or recycled furniture. While the Bank had operational data on media consumption, finish materials manufacturers were not always able to provide the carbon footprint of their products. Please note that correct and complete data are the overarching foundation for calculating the carbon footprint. Only after the data are properly compiled can mitigation strategies be implemented. The carbon footprint calculator prepared by the Foundation is a template for collecting and analyzing the necessary data. With this solution in place, Millennium Bank SA will be able to track emissions in its other branches and, as a result, continuously reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

EXPERT’S PERSPECTIVE

“What is extremely important in calculating carbon footprint is not to compare apples against oranges. Therefore, correctly determining system boundaries and parameters is critical. The subject of evaluation was the previous and new branch of the bank. We have included parameters such as the number of full-time employees, the number of clients served per unit, and the opening hours, which, if changed, could also reduce the subject’s carbon footprint. Both the client and the Foundation were eager to calculate the actual reduction rate that followed the actions to reduce the use of utilities and the transition to renewable source power.”