Other projects

Fairtrade@work

BNP Paribas Fortis has invested in promoting fair trade for some years. Coffee machines have dispensed Max Havelaar coffee since 2005. To mark the launch of ethical investment funds, banking staff were given the chance to sample Max Havelaar coffee pads in 2006. And a special Fairtrade menu has been annually available in the staff restaurants of the central offices since 2008.

This year we are not only offering a Fairtrade menu in the staff restaurants, but are also organising many other things:

• Fair Trade sweets for all office staff throughout that week and also for customers on the day + Fair Trade posters and brochures;
• 10% discount for all staff on the 400 products at www.ethicstore.be;
• Quiz on the intranet in which EUR 25.00 shopping vouchers could be won;
• Fair Trade meal will be repeated in October 2009;
• All vending machines will offer Fair Trade coffee (also the ones which did not previously have it);
• Fair Trade sweets were also introduced to the vending machines.

BNP Paribas Fortis and Fortis Investments participated in the Max Havelaar Fairtrade@work action to highlight our actions. We are very happy with this Award and we hope to reach as many employees as possible with our actions and convince them of Fair Trade, delicious products for an honest price.

Financial Literacy

“Financial education is the process by which financial consumers/ investors improve their understanding of financial products and concepts and, through information, instruction and/or objective advice, develop the skills and confidence to become aware of (financial) risks and opportunities, to make informed choices, to know where to go for help, and to take other effective actions to improve their financial well-being and protection.”

In cooperation with Business & Society we launched a workgroup on Financial Literacy. In this workgroup this specific theme is discussed in depth and in total confidence with some other interested bankers. Goal is to exchange experiences and information or even to create cooperations with an added value for all participants.

CSR Review

This review is made by the CSR department on a regular base en distributed to the colleagues who are interested. The review is an overview of the latest developments within CSR, internal at the bank or external on a larger scale. Some of the topics discussed in this review : Social Inclusion, Community Involvement, Climate Change, Environment, Energy, Biodiversity, Water, Greening IT, Mobility, Sustainable Building Practices, CSR Communication and Reporting, Human Rights, Microfinance,... CSR Review.

Stakeholders Dialogue

A structural dialogue with stakeholders is mainly a valuable source of information to set new topics for our sustainability policy. In these conversations the point of view of all parties on social matters are communicated. These dialogues also allow us to better understand which information stakeholders need from us to form a weighted opinion about the sustainability performance of our bank.

Business & Society

BNP Paribas Fortis is a member of Business & Society, a Belgian member association which joins companies and business federations from different industries with regard to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). B&S belongs to the network of national partner organisations of CSR Europe.

We participate in work groups, transparent sessions and CSR lunches. B&S always selects innovating topics which have a real impact on companies. It gives us an insight in the opinions of deciding actors. In cooperation with B&S we launched the Financial Literacy work group.