Sustainable Finance
The Equator Principles
The Equator Principles are a voluntary set of guidelines for managing the social and environmental impacts of lending to development projects. We have used the guidelines since their inception and we adopted the revised Equator Principles 2 (EP2) in June 2006.
In line with the Principles, we will only provide loans to projects that are run in a socially responsible way with sound environmental management practices. Sometimes this means having to turn business away, a risk we also have to manage.
The Equator Principles apply to all projects with a capital value in excess of US$10 million, including project finance advisory work. They also apply to existing projects that have been significantly expanded and to projects funded through the bond markets.
- 34 Equator Principles projects approved
- 2,122 employees trained in social and environmental risk in 2007
Download resources
- Human Rights Policy (PDF, 15KB)
- Sustainable Lending and the Equator Principles (PDF, 520KB)
- Group Environmental and Social Risk Policy (PDF, 15KB)
- Defence Equipment and Armament (PDF, 16KB)
- Oppressive Regimes (PDF, 14KB)
- 2007 Sustainability Review (PDF, 2.3MB)
- Read more articles in the resource centre
Awards
Awarded by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service
Bank of the Year 2006 for Global CSR