Daily CSR
Daily CSR

Daily CSR
Daily news about corporate social responsibility, ethics and sustainability

UBS Seeks To Be A Sustainable Leader In The Financial Sector



04/30/2016

UBS is integrating sustainability in its entire operation.


Dailycsr.com – 30 April 2016 – The UBS has announced its Sustainability Report for the year of 2015. This year’s report marks the fifteenth one in a row, whereby UBS has been disclosing its “key information on its corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy” along with its performance details in its annual report, which is available on its official website. Nevertheless, in the year of 2015, UBS has taken deliberate steps to integrate its reporting system.
 
Moreover, the Chairman at UBS, Axel A. Weber, who also holds the chair place in the “UBS Corporate Culture and Responsibility Committee”, said:
"UBS and Society is an integral part of our responsibilities towards all stakeholders. Across all client segments we see a growing interest in sustainable investing. I firmly believe our bank is uniquely positioned to cater to this demand – and in fact we already do so, for example with novel financial products and services such as impact investing. But UBS and Society goes beyond, indeed it is our umbrella platform covering activities in sustainable investing and philanthropy, environmental and human rights policies, environmental footprint, and community investment."
 
UBS aims to become a leader of sustainability in the “financial industry”, whereby it consciously shares its performance, in attempt of building “long-term value” besides “providing consistent returns to its stakeholders”. Furthermore, UBS also sees the need of promoting “the common good” for which it accounts for its action in a purposeful and proactive manner.
 
The company fulfils its commitments toward the society through its key programme, namely “UBS and Society program”, whereby the aims of the company are to:
  • “make sustainability the everyday standard across the firm,
  • “channel a growing portion of investable client assets through innovative financial mechanisms to address societal challenges,
  • “make sustainable performance part of every client conversation,
  • “train employees on sustainability,
  • “create a credible sustainability approach,
  • “measure the impact of its community investment activities, and
  • “support the transition to a low-carbon economy through a comprehensive climate change strategy”.
 
Below is a list of achievements accomplished UBS in the year of 2015:
  • “took over the leadership position in the Diversified Financials industry group of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
  • “increased total invested assets according to sustainable investment criteria to CHF 934 billion, representing 35% of the firm's total invested assets (as of 31 December 2015)
  • “publicly supported international, collaborative action against climate change
  • “committed to RE 100, with the goal of sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and, in doing so, reducing its greenhouse gas footprint by 75% compared with 2004 levels
  • “made direct cash contributions totaling CHF 27.4 million through its Community Affairs program and an additional contribution of CHF 37.5 million to its affiliated foundations in Switzerland, to the UBS Optimus Foundation and to the UBS Anniversary Education
  • “saw 27% of its employees (or 16,356) volunteer (a 26% increase compared with 2014)