Responsible Resource Management

One of VTB Group’s main priorities is taking a responsible approach to the consumption of natural resources, with considerable attention paid to improving systems for managing the Group’s own resource and power consumption.

In 2019, the Group continued to implement its Energy Conservation and Energy-Efficiency Programme. VTB Group companies adhere to a policy of renovating existing properties, which is aimed at, among other things, increasing the resource and energy efficiency of the facilities, complying with high environmental standards and minimising the negative impact on the environment.

As part of efforts to improve the resource and energy efficiency of VTB Group properties, resource- and energy-saving technologies are being introduced everywhere, and utility systems are being replaced or upgraded, which is having an impact on resource consumption and energy efficiency. The resource- and energy-saving technologies used by VTB Group companies have a twofold impact by reducing harmful effects on the environment and the generation of hazardous waste.

In addition to the use of resource- and energy-saving technologies aimed at reducing environmental impact, VTB Group companies are constantly reducing their own fleet and freight traffic and are optimising routes for automobile traffic. In 2019, the number of vehicles operated by VTB Group’s parent company was reduced by 43 %, while the number used in the regional network was reduced by 45 %. In addition, a portion of VTB’s Euro 4–rated vehicles were replaced by Euro 5–rated vehicles.

The process of reducing office printing and the transition to paperless document management is still ongoing. Used batteries are constantly being collected, and waste paper is recycled. VTB Group employees also take part in voluntary environmental activities.

The following were VTB Bank’s main achievements in terms of resource management in 2019:

• Implementation of the energy-saving programme, including the following energy-saving steps taken during the year:
  • Conversion to LED lights, replacing 530 fluorescent lights, 1,310 incandescent lights and 60 halogen lights, resulting in savings of 152 thousand kWh, or RUB 815 thousand, for the year;
  • Shutting down the ventilation systems in the Bank’s office buildings during off- hours, holi days and weekends, resulting in savings of 181 thousand kWh, or RUB 970 thousand, for the year;
  • Partial repair of thermal insulation of the pipelines used in the heating system and hot water supply;
• Introduction of resource-saving technologies, including reduction of the Bank’s own fleet (passenger vehicles):
  • A 15 % reduction in gasoline consumption and a 7 % reduction in diesel consumption;
• Reduction of waste collection costs by selling a portion of the waste generated;
• Collection and transfer of hazardous waste for processing/disposal;
• Recycling of wastepaper:
  • The volume of paper recycled increased by 78 % year-on-year.

Goals for the period till 2022 in terms of resource consumption and waste management:

• Conversion to LED lights;
• Introduction of an automated electricity metering system;
• Dispatching for engineering systems;
• Maximisation of the volume of waste recycled.