NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE

Implementation of waste reduction practices during the course of the Bank's operations.

The Bank's employees and not-for-profit organisations/institutions which are supported through equipment donations.

Ongoing.

In line with our commitment to environmentally responsible operations, since 2004 NBG has developed and implemented an Environmental Management System, in compliance with international standard ISO14001.

The Bank provides for the prevention and reduction of generated waste (paper, toner and waste related to electrical/electronic equipment) and has designed special procedures which are enriched on an ongoing basis through innovative actions. 

Specifically:

• Internal Electronic Document Management System (SHDA) and paper management

Within the context of implementing infrastructure projects for the modernisation and improvement of the Bank's operations and Environmental Management, the Bank has introduced the SHDA System. 

NBG's SHDA has proved extremely beneficial as in the course of the Bank's normal business activity the bulk of solid waste is paper. (See Chart I). Since 2011, the management of the Bank's correspondence is carried out fully via SHDA. SHDA has introduced innovative facilities that enable: 

1. Immediate dispatch of electronically signed documents, forwarding of incoming correspondence documents to be processed, sending of document notifications and monitoring of the progress of the case referred to in document.
2. Adoption of correspondence templates thereby enhancing the quality of internal communication in the Bank. 
3. Application of rules related to the execution of documents by the competent officers.
4. Electronic filing of correspondence. 
5. Advanced search of documents using single or combined criteria.

• Additional procedures for the prevention and reduction of paper consumption

1. New procedures/transactions were developed in 2015, substituting others that required extensive printing. NBG’s alternative networks were further developed and adopted also by customers, accordingly reducing considerably the printing of transaction documents at branches. 
2. The Bank has already planned to discontinue the dispatch of printed notices for consumer loans/credit cards and replace them with electronic i-statements.
3. In 2015, a total of 116 tonnes of paper were recycled. The Bank deposits every year the proceeds of the recycling of paper to NBG staff’s Supplementary Insurance Fund (€7,349.93 in 2015).
4. In addition, the Bank regularly develops e-learning courses, drastically reducing staff travel and paper consumption. In 2015, 439 e-learning staff training events were carried out with 16,958 participations, while 2,661,281 A4 sheets were saved (for the period 2010-2015 see Table: I).

• Managed Print Services (MPS): Prevention and reduction of toner consumption

The Bank expanded the application to all its buildings (40 Administration buildings, 567 Branches) of its innovative MPS system that started as a pilot application in 2000. Included in the frame of this arrangement is also the environmentally friendly management of waste originating from the device consumables (see Chart: II). 

Reduction of Electronic and Electrical Waste: Management of equipment
In seeking to effectively manage the environmental impact of its electrical and electronic equipment (PCs, monitors, printers) the Bank endeavours to extend the life circle of the said equipment both by recovering reusable materials in other NBG services and by donating it to institutions that may need it. The Bank thereby provides for the reduction of electrical/electronic waste as well as its obsolete furniture and other appliances. Additionally, the Bank provides for the delivery of other obsolete equipment to an external certified body, for its further ecological management/recycling. (See Chart: III)

The Bank outsources recycling tasks to certified and licensed businesses.

The NBG staff as a whole participates in the implementation of the actions.

Throughout Greece.

• SHDA and paper management

Since 2011, the Bank’s correspondence is fully managed by SHDA System. New procedures/transactions were developed in 2015 (e.g 16 new SHDA templates), substituting others that required extensive printing, accordingly reducing the total consumption of paper.
The progress of SHDA project implementation has been monitored as of its initial launch in 2008 to 31/12/2015 providing to the Bank with measurable results.

Specifically: 

1. Total number of Electronic Documents (2008-2015): 6,146,008
2. Total Number of Electronic Samples (2015): 496 

According to 2015 statistical data regarding the efficiency of SHDA:

1. 4,000 users on a daily basis.
2. 971,254 documents communicated (saving almost 1,924,526 pages)
3. Average Number of New Documents/day 3,885
4. Central Services= 415,638 documents, 
5. Branches= 555,616 documents

• Additional procedures for proactive reduction of paper consumption

Furthermore, communications between the Bank and associated engineers and lawyers were incorporated in the Bank's IT system for the Management of Applications for Real Estate Legal/Technical Review saving a total of some 9,000 sheets of paper/year.

• Reduction of Electronic and Electrical Waste: Management of equipment

Within the context of managing its equipment, in 2015, NBG donated to various bodies 606 items of computer and other mechanical equipment, 542 items of furniture, while 79,301 kg of electrical and electronic equipment from Bank's installations were recycled.

The Bank's immediate benefit from the implementation of the said actions is reflected in reducing its environmental footprint through concerted and constant efforts, saving natural and financial resources and social contribution via sponsorships and donations.

• SHDA and paper management

Significant reduction: 
a.Of paper consumption and toners by eliminating the need for printouts, positively affecting the NBG's environmental footprint and reducing the Bank's operating cost.
b.Of the Bank's indirect environmental impact through the minimisation of the necessary travel involved in delivering printed correspondence.
c.Of the space required for the safekeeping storage-filing of printed correspondence which is monitored and handled electronically.

• Managed Print Services (MPS): Prevention and reduction of toner consumption

In 2015, the number of users currently using the system amounts to circa 10,500 individuals. In addition, the project will be expanded to subsidiary companies of the NBG Group

Anticipated benefit: 25%-35% reduction in printing-operating costs.