DNV has verified the Social Report 2005 of Banca Popolare Etica (BPE) in Italy.
“BPE wanted a methodology to verify the Social Report 2005, going further than just the marketing purpose. The DNV Industry service Verification of Sustainability Report helps the bank to consolidate the growing concern for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues. CSR is used in the bank as a governance tool,” says Industry Sector Manager in DNV Industry Italy Massimo Berlin.
Berlin continues, “Our proposal was the only one satisfying the bank’s needs as the methodology is based on fundamental business processes control.”
Focusing on social responsibility
The Social Report 2005 shows Banca Popolare Etica’s customers the activities performed and allow them to see that these activities are coherent with the mission of BPE. Emphasis on financial aspects has been changed to focusing on social responsibility towards stakeholders.
"BPE represents a new way of operating as a bank, and to evaluate topics important to stakeholders is a motivation for the bank to find new business opportunities," says Project Manager for the BPE project Antonio Astone in DNV Industry Italy.
The Social Report 2005 focuses on transparency, social responsibility and the environment. For BPE these issues relate to:
- Transparency: Commitment to have clear communication, communicating who is responsible for specific activities and clarifying what these responsibilities are.
- Social responsibility: The adoption of an ethical code which allows everybody to have easy support and access to credit and financial services.
- Environment: The development of environmentally related projects aimed at reducing emissions (CO2 reduction) and the purchase of green quotas.
The verification by DNV involved all the main business processes where BPE’s activities have an impact on stakeholders including employees, customers, partners, suppliers, public administration. It also shows BPE’s commitment to having transparent management of its activities.
An ethical approach
BHP promotes initiatives aimed at social, human and sustainable development and was established to meet the needs of those savers who want to manage their savings in a socially responsible way.
The concept behind BPE is to produce and distribute richness on the basis of values such as solidarity, transparency and the common good.