At ING Group, we prioritize environmental awareness and human rights in all countries we operate in and in our business relationships. In addition to national and international laws and regulations, ING acts in accordance with its Enviromental and Social Risk Policies created with the awareness of responsibility to society in financial decisions and intermediated transactions
In line with our social, ethical, and environmental vision, our Environmental and Social Risk Policies that were created to guide our activities have become an integral part of ING's credit risk management practices. In other words, we examine any potential social and environmental impact of our activities (such as destruction of forests, air pollution, child labor, and controversial weapons).
These policies are developed and updated through our work with organizations dealing with issues such as human rights and climate change, our employees, customers, and shareholders. In this context, a first conformity assessment is carried out for each customer relationship based on our Environmental and Social Risk Policies, which are prepared and regularly updated. After the first conformity assessment, the business relationship is supported by continuous monitoring. Within this framework, ING's specific teams provide recommendations on potential environmental and social sensitivities in relation to the customer, activity, sector, and transaction.
Moreover, since 2003, ING Group has voluntarily adopted the Equator Principles, which are based on the environmental and social responsibility standards of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and are accepted as the basis for financing projects over USD 10 million by international banks that have adopted them on a voluntary basis. Within this framework, social responsibility and environmental risk are considered in project financing and actions are taken in line with relevant standards. In addition, the compliance with global responsibility standards of the ING Group and the success of our work in this area are also demonstrated by evaluations conducted by institutions such as the FTSE4Good and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
In addition, ING Group signed the United Nations Global Compact in 2006. Since 2007, we have been conducting our activities with a zero carbon footprint. In order to determine the approach of our stakeholders to sustainability and improve the way we do business in line with the expectations and needs of the societies in which we operate, we regularly conduct the ING Importance Survey. The results are published in the ING Annual Report and the priorities in the strategy are updated based on the views of the stakeholders.
ING is leading the way in sustainable banking in Türkiye
We at ING have taken significant steps in sustainability in the energy, construction and infrastructure sectors in Türkiye and particularly follow and support projects with high environmental awareness. In this context, the support of renewable energy investments in Türkiye has also been included on the agenda.
In the scope of green entrepreneurship, ING is particularly focused on energy and heat savings in both its branches that interact with customers and its headquarters offices. ING's Operation and Call Center in Kahramanmaraş, which is designed according to eco-friendly building criteria, serves as an example in terms of "sustainable" and "human-oriented" design solutions.
Additionally, ING Türkiye places great importance on improving the sustainability of its procurement activities, promoting the provision of sustainable products and services and taking into account the environmental and social dimensions of purchased products and services.
ING Türkiye also prioritizes the adoption, support and inclusion of a series of fundamental values related to human rights, labor standards, the environment, and the fight against corruption by its suppliers within their sphere of influence, through written regulations. In this context, we expect our suppliers to accept working under the obligations of the United Nations Global Compact, and it obtains a definite commitment to compliance with these principles in the contracts it signs.