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A bearded man in a denim shirt lies back in a teal hammock tied between birch trees, arms resting behind his head and sunglasses tucked into his shirt; he looks content and relaxed as dappled sunlight filters through the surrounding woods.

Sustainability Compass

Our approach to sustainability and social responsibility

Responsibility that evolves over time

It is our policy to operate on a sustainable basis, both in our banking business and in our relationship with society and the environment. When it comes to the transformation towards a sustainable economy, the financial sector has a key role to play. It is our intention to take an active part in this transformation, which is why we have adopted sustainability as a strategic factor.

Piktogramm einer strahlenden Glühbirne

Our sustainability goals

In this context, the term “sustainability” refers to social topics and corporate governance in addition to environmental aspects. Together, these three fields are abbreviated to “ESG”, a combination of the first letters of the terms “Environmental”, “Social” and “Governance”.

  • We support our clients on the road towards climate neutrality

  • We make an active contribution to climate change mitigation and environmental protection

  • We incorporate sustainability aspects into our governance culture

  • We combine a corporate approach with social responsibility

  • We champion sustainability at the public level


Portrait von Holger Sandker

"Sustainability is a mission for the whole of society, a challenge to which every individual and every institution can – and should – make a contribution! Banks are playing a key role in this transformation. While leading by example in our own right, we at OLB also want to be a multiplier and support our clients in their development of sustainable business models."


Holger Sandker
Head of Sustainability

Our mission statement
As a member of the Association of German Banks, we are committed to the Principles for Responsible Banking, developed by the UN together with 30 international banks, and have adopted them as a guiding framework in our business strategy.

Impact

We strive to amplify the positive impact of our activities, products and services on society and the environment, while reducing any negative impacts and managing the associated risks.

Clients

As a lender we work responsibly with our clients in order to encourage sustainable practices and promote economic activities conducive to the creation of equitable prosperity for present and future generations.

Stakeholders

We engage relevant stakeholders where appropriate and work together as partners to achieve social objectives.

Corporate governance and objectives

We aim to implement these principles through effective corporate governance and a responsible corporate culture. Our goals and objectives should reflect this aspiration and commitment.

Transparency and accountability

We will review our individual and collective contributions to the implementation of these principles and report on the positive and negative impacts and contributions to our social objectives where necessary.

Responsible banking is a high priority for us, as is our awareness of the impact of our business activities on the environment and society. We report on this annually in our sustainability statement.

We’re committed

Unsere ESG-Policy

Unsere Geschäftsstrategie orientiert sich an den Prinzipien für verantwortungsvolles Banking. Unsere ESG-Policy spezifiziert dieses Leitbild und gibt die wesentlichen Nachhaltigkeitsgrundsätze vor. In der Weiterentwicklung durchlaufen wir vier Phasen.

Wir schaffen eine verlässliche Datenbasis als Ausgangspunkt für unsere Nachhaltigkeitsziele

Das Schaffen einer verlässlichen Datenbasis im ESG-Umfeld ist zwingende Voraussetzung für die Weiterentwicklung des strategischen Rahmens und aller folgenden Schritte. Neben der Ermittlung des ökologischen Fußabdrucks des eigenen Geschäftsbetriebs sind insbesondere die Bestimmung der finanzierten, indirekten Treibhausgasemissionen sowie der ESG-Risiken des Kreditportfolios von besonderer Bedeutung.

Wir analysieren ESG-Risiken und -Chancen

Auf die Ermittlung der Daten folgt eine eingehende Bewertung im Hinblick auf die verbundenen Chancen und Risiken. Zudem analysieren wir die Stärken und Schwächen unserer ESG-Governance. Perspektivisches Ziel ist es, einen ESG-basierten Preis- und Steuerungsmechanismus zu etablieren, um einerseits ESG-Risiken zu mindern und andererseits als Kreditgeberin mit der Transformation verbundene Geschäftschancen nutzen zu können.

Wir schaffen eine starke ESG-Governance

Wir legen verbindliche quantitative Ziele für unsere Scope 1, 2 und 3 Emissionen sowie in den Bereichen Soziales und Unternehmensführung fest. Zudem schaffen wir interne Strukturen und Prozesse, um die Umsetzung unserer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie inklusive der CO2-Ziele voranzutreiben.

Wir setzen auf Transparenz

Wir veröffentlichen Nachhaltigkeitsinformationen, um Stakeholdern transparent über die eigene Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie zu informieren und eine Bewertung der Nachhaltigkeitsziele und-aktivitäten der OLB zu ermöglichen.

A group of seven young people lean together and smile toward the camera under a clear blue sky; one person in the foreground wears an orange beanie and yellow shirt, others wear pastel hoodies and denim, and a skateboard is visible—casual, upbeat outdoor gathering.

Engagement für Kultur, Bildung und Umweltschutz

Wir übernehmen soziale Verantwortung

Wir finden es wichtig, auch über das Bankgeschäft hinaus gesellschaftliche Verantwortung zu übernehmen. In erster Linie geschieht dies durch die zum 125-jährigen Jubiläum der Bank gegründete OLB-Stiftung. Wir engagieren uns für zahlreiche Projekte aus den Bereichen Kultur, Bildung und Umweltschutz, die gemeinsam mit verschiedenen Projektpartnern für die Menschen hauptsächlich im Nordwesten entwickelt und unterstützt werden. Darüber hinaus unterstützen wir soziales Engagement, wie zum Beispiel:

  • Hospizarbeit bei der Fachtagung „Tag der Kinderhospizarbeit (TADEA)“ der Stiftung Hospizdienst Oldenburg

  • Vereinsarbeit des Hospizkreis Ganderkesee-Hude

  • Inklusion beim Fußballturnier des Martinsclub Bremen e.V. und bei der Ganztags-Ferienbetreuung des DRK-Kreisverband Norden

  • Integration bei Erstorientierungskursen der Ukraine-Hilfe Osnabrück e.V.

  • Integrationslotsen im Landkreis Cloppenburg

Im Fokus stehen auch viele weitere Projekte in den Bereichen Jugend, Sport und Denkmal- und Heimatpflege. So engagierte sich die Stiftung unter anderem bei dem Schulprojekt „Energievision 2050“ im gesamten Weser-Ems-Gebiet, bei dem Planspiel Simulation Europäisches Parlament in Oldenburg, bei einem Multicord an der Grundschule Ankum und auch bei der Sanierung des Kirchturms der Ev.-ref. Kirchengemeinde Uttum.

Social responsibility

The transformation towards a sustainable economy is a mission for the whole of society, a challenge to which we want to make an active contribution. Our business practices promote the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a number of ways, most notably the following:

Sustainable Development Goal 3

Health and well-being

SDG 3:

"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"

Our contribution:

Comprehensive workplace health management is an important matter for us. We also support various health projects, such as “Klasse 2000” in schools and clubs, which focus specifically on the topics of nutrition, exercise and the prevention of violence and addiction.

Sustainable Development Goal 4

Quality education

SDG 4:

"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"

Our contribution:

Our OLB Science Award has been set up to support young scientists committed to helping the Northwest move forward. With a total endowment of EUR 22,000, our prize is the biggest science award in northwest Germany. We are also keen to promote cooperation and dialogue between science and industry. Through their research and development work, universities and colleges make a significant contribution to sustaining and expanding the regional economy. We also support these efforts with selected endowed professorships.

Moreover, we offer funding to universities and colleges in the Northwest via our Deutschlandstipendium scholarship program, and provide applicant training courses at schools.

The OLB Foundation also funds a number of projects set up by other educational programs and initiatives.

Sustainable Development Goal 8

Sustainable growth

SDG 8:

"Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all"

Our contribution:

It goes without saying that we respect and uphold human rights and firmly reject forced labor, child labor and exploitation. We do not tolerate any violation of human rights by employees, clients, business partners or service providers.

Based on the national and international guidelines, sanctions, embargoes and similar restrictions to which we are subject in our capacity as a bank, we screen all new contractual partners prior to signing any contracts and have established our own internal guidelines for this purpose.

Sustainable Development Goal 11

Safe cities

SDG 11:

"Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable"

Our contribution:

Alongside the significant share of private construction financing in our loan portfolio, we also act as a premium partner in public-sector funding for sustainable construction projects.

On top of this, the OLB Foundation awards the OLB Prize for Architecture and Civil Engineering to promote planning and construction quality in the northwestern part of Lower Saxony and create awareness of good building practices. Our 2022 competition attracted applications from architects in the Northwest whose projects are of significant architectural merit. Aside from conceptual and functional priorities, relevant selection criteria include ecological quality as well as design and choice of materials.

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Our ESG-Policy

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All ESG publications

ESG publications