Press Release.
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has successfully passed the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems (EMS) certification audit conducted by Bureau Veritas. The accreditation was awarded to NBB by the Certification Body Bureau Veritas, with the support of ISO Business Consultant at HA Consultancies. NBB is the first bank in the Kingdom to achieve this international certification, reinforcing its position as one of the leading banks when it comes to sustainability considerations.
The Bank has made continuous strides in its 3-year sustainability roadmap, highlighting the necessary shift towards becoming a greener organisation. With various ESG initiatives launched over the course of the year, NBB continues to strengthen its commitment in embedding eco-friendly practices as part of its business operations.
NBB has launched a number of environmentally driven products in line with its sustainability goals, driving forth environmental awareness across the community with solar panel financing, exclusive auto-financing for hybrid and electrical cars and its new initiative to install solar panels in select NBB branches across the Kingdom.
Commenting on this achievement, NBB Group Chief Human Resources and Sustainability Officer, Dana Buheji, said: “Being the first bank in Bahrain to successfully achieve the requirements of the ISO 14001 certification showcases NBB’s commitment towards sustainable growth and its continuous efforts to preserving the natural resources of our Kingdom for future generations. This recognition is part of our role in supporting Bahrain’s goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2060, in line with the Economic Vision 2030 and the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals.”
Haitham Seyadi, Group Head of Property, Procurement and Administration at NBB, added: “At NBB, we strive to implement the best international practices in all our activities. Achieving the ISO 14001:2015 certification is in accordance with our goal of improving our environmental performance, as well as taking action to mitigate climate change and minimise our environmental impact.”
On his end, Ammar Jameel, ISO & Business Consultant at HA Consultancies, clarified: “ISO 14001 is the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems designed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) to help businesses and other organisations reduce their environmental impact. We are pleased to have contributed towards NBB’s efforts towards promoting sustainability through their shift towards a more responsible method of operation.”
Nauman Munawar, Certification Manager at Bureau Veritas said: “As the first bank in the Kingdom and GCC to receive this prestigious recognition, NBB maintains its goal in embedding ESG considerations across its products and services, thus earning them this achievement.”
The bank continues to roll out eco-friendly solutions to benefit both its customers and the Kingdom thus contributing meaningfully to the future development of the banking industry.