New emphasis on sustainability on HSBC website

Previously referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility, the bank explained how sustainability had always been at the heart of HSBC’s business in Malta.

The HSBC group’s strategy, it said, was to commit to sustainability by contributing to a stable economy while managing the social and environmental impacts of its business.

In Malta, the HSBC group’s strategy was fulfilled through three commitments: children, the environment and Malta’s heritage.

Following the formation of the HSBC Malta Foundation early this year, where the three “HSBC Cares” Funds were consolidated into one foundation, HSBC had now undergone the task of completely revamping the sustainability microsite.

The site is accessible from www.hsbc.com.mt under the link “HSBC in the Community” and contains 3 main areas: “Sustainability and Environment”, “Children”, and “Malta’s Heritage” and may also be directly accessed via the URL http://www.hsbc.com.mt/sustainability.

The site included information about HSBC programmes, like the HSBC climate partnership worldwide initiative, assistance to charitable institutions, sponsorships for restoration projects of Malta’s heritage and updated activities where HSBC staff volunteered their time for community work.

“Sustainability is a major challenge facing the world.  HSBC Malta’s business is based on economic growth and it believes this is a force for good in people’s lives,” HSBC Malta CEO Alan Richards insisted.

“The key is to manage growth sensibly and responsibly to ensure progress is not pursued at the cost of sustainability,” Richards concluded.