ING Direct 2011 Annual Report Download - page 22

Financing the future
> ING active participant in the public
debate on the future of finance
> Scores 72 out of 100 in DJSI World
> Stepping up financing efforts
inrenewableenergy
> Record employee participation
inINGGlobalChallenge
Sustainability is about ensuring long-term business success while
contributing towards economic development, a healthy environment
and a stable society. ING’s approach to sustainability forms an
integral part of the company’s overall corporate strategy. As a
reflection of our Business Principles, social, ethical and environmental
criteria are embedded in our financing and investment policies and
our business ambitions. We make sure that our strategic decision
making is always based on financial as well as non-financial
performance objectives.
It is our mission to help our customers manage their financial future
in ways that are considered responsible, valuable and sustainable
byall those we serve through our products, people and activities.
We strive to leverage our resources, skills and expertise as an
international financial institution to contribute to economic growth,
the financial well-being of our customers and positive change. We
believe that we best contribute to society by taking the following
approach:
– Being good at what we do.
We provide high-quality products and services for the right price
that meet the needs and expectations of our customers and are
easy to access and understand. We are committed to fair,
honest and lawful behaviour that earns our stakeholders’ trust.
We foster an open, safe and stimulating place to work, where
our employees are inspired to be the best they can be.
– Mitigating harm and promoting sustainable finance.
We aim to mitigate harm and contribute to positive change by
helping to create financial solutions to global challenges like
energy and poverty.
– Making a difference in communities.
Aligned to our business skills, we invest in tomorrow’s economy
by supporting people to find their way towards a financially
secure and independent future.
BEING GOOD AT WHAT WE DO
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
We strive to meet the growing demand for environmentally and
socially responsible products in addition to generating a good
return. To make sure that the sustainable assets we manage
continue to grow, we create more awareness about green and
social products. We also look at developing new products and
services that meet the expectations and needs of customers.
Examples of these include loans designed for environmentally
friendly projects, such as renewable energy, nature development
andbiological agriculture. In addition, we offer socially responsible
investment (SRI) opportunities, such as the ING Investment
Management global sustainable equity funds. For SRI products,
ourfund managers combine conventional financial analysis with an
assessment of environmental and social policies and performance.
Within our Commercial Banking operations, the Structured Finance
Emissions Products team works with clients on projects to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol.
In our Dutch home market in particular, we offer products like
green car loans, a green savings product, a mortgage with a
philanthropic component (linked to microfinance funding) and
different advisory services.
20 ING Group Annual Report 2011
Sustainability