Green Banking is to provide innovative green products to support activities that are not harmful to the environment and help to conserve the environment. It aims to use the resources of a non-bank financial institution (NBFI) with the responsibility of avoiding spoilage and giving priority to the environment and society. Green banking saves costs, minimizes the risk, enhances bank's reputations, and contributes to the common good of environmental sustainability. It serves both the commercial objective of an NBFI as well as its corporate social responsibility. A lot of measures have been adopted including green financing creating awareness among the employees for efficient use of water, electricity, and paper, giving preference to eco-friendly while financing and reuse of equipment. SFIL Finance PLC. concentrates on the environment by Projects in the field of renewable energy (wind energy, solar energy & hydro-electric projects), a technology that reduces carbon emission like the auto brickfield, organic agriculture across the entire value chain including health food shops and environment technology such as recycling companies and nature conservation projects. From this point of view, SFIL Finance PLC. has made a Green Strategic Planning with a set of achievable targets to do the following activities related to Green Banking:
- As per Bangladesh Bank’s directives on Green Banking, SFIL Finance PLC. has taken necessary initiatives to implement the Green Banking Policy.
- SFIL Finance PLC. has already circulated a detailed “Green Office Guide” to strengthen the green practices through the firm. It will continuously monitor the meticulous compliance of green practices in the internal operations & the environment of the firm and thus it can protect the environment.
- Encouraging “Going Green” through financing in eco-friendly projects, such as adoption of renewable energy and/or energy-efficient technology, supply of clean water, the establishment of effluent and/or wastewater treatment plant, solid and hazardous waste disposal plant, biogas plant, bio-fertilizer plant, improved brick kiln projects, etc. at lower interest and utmost care.
- Designing and introducing more innovative Green Products shortly highlighting eco-benefit from green products and adding value to the existing products by inserting environmental features.
- Checking necessary environmental due diligence factors before lending a loan/investment and reducing or extending loans to certain environmentally harmful projects.
- Introducing new technology in operations that would not only benefit the customers but also increase the productivity of the employees.
- Introducing Video/Audio Conference instead of physical travel/visit.
- SFIL Finance PLC. will provide more monetary support, relief, and loans at a lower interest rate, etc. in the natural disaster areas by which the victims will survive in the newer environment.
- Organizing rigorous Training/Workshops on Green Banking issues to educate the employees and will continue for the coming days.
- Arranging more seminars and symposiums to make our clients conscious regarding environmental issues as well as to introduce our Green Products.