Partner Profile

HSBC - North America
Location	Prospect Heights, IL
Goal	HSBC - North America pledges to reduce total U.S. GHG emissions by 10 percent from 2005 to 2010.
Environmental Web Site
Company Description HSBC - North America comprises all of HSBC's U.S. and Canadian businesses, including the former Household International businesses. The company's businesses serve nearly 60 million customers in five key areas: personal financial services, consumer finance, commercial banking, private banking, and corporate investment banking and markets. Financial products and services are offered under the HSBC, HFC and Beneficial brands.
Reasons for Joining Climate Leaders HSBC recognizes the global implications of climate change and pledges to counteract the impact of its own operations on the environment. The company has been at the forefront of the financial industry in gathering environmental impact data and analyzing its operations to find energy efficient methods of reducing and offsetting GHG emissions. HSBC believes that joining EPA Climate Leaders provides a method of displaying its achievements to society as well as an opportunity to learn and benefit from other members as they continue to look for new practices to support their emissions reduction objective. HSBC has become the first major bank to go “carbon neutral,” achieving this goal for its global operations in late 2005. The bank has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions to zero by reducing energy use, buying “green” electricity, and offsetting the remaining carbon dioxide emissions by investing in carbon projects. According to Stephen Green, HSBC chairman, “Sustainability matters because the societies in which we operate tell us it matters. We believe it complements profit, and for this reason, sustainability is part of our growth strategy and our brand."
GHG Reductions Before Joining Climate Leaders Since 2003, HSBC has been committed to a comprehensive worldwide program and practice of tracking and publicly reporting its impact on the environment through the collection of energy, water, waste and material consumption data. In 2004, HSBC - North America broadened the program scope to include the newly merged legacy Household, ensuring its commitment to track total operations, both nationally and globally. More recently, using a baseline inventory from 2004, HSBC established internal target energy and resulting GHG emission reduction goals, set against a 5-year time period. HSBC has demonstrated its commitment to the environment through its declaration of carbon neutrality, accomplished in part through the purchase of renewable energy certificates as well as the implementation of multiple energy reduction and savings programs. For its efforts, HSBC - North America was named an EPA Green Power Partner of the Year in 2005. In addition to joining EPA Climate Leaders, HSBC is a member of the EPA Green Power Partnership and ENERGY STAR programs, the Climate Change Group, the Business Roundtable Climate Resolve, UNEP, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Carbon Disclosure Project. Further, HSBC is a signatory and leading adopter of the Equator Principles. HSBC - North America is pleased to join the family of EPA Climate Leader Partners in 2006 and looks forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the environment.
Approach to GHG Management HSBC - North America is taking steps to identify key opportunities to reduce total GHG emissions. In an effort to maximize the energy efficiency of its facilities and reduce energy costs, HSBC has made significant purchases of renewable energy certificates to offset more than 35 percent of its US operations; implemented standards for new construction utilizing LEED principles and practices; joined EPA ENERGY STAR to identify and maximize improvements to existing buildings to ensure they operate at an optimum level; and implemented industry sector guidelines that dictate how they conduct business in an environmentally conscious manner with their customers and vendors. They also have conducted extensive employee awareness programs that speak to energy efficient practices not only at the office but also at home.

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