Alpha Bank Cyprus Ltd in line with Group policy is highly sensitised to ecological matters and makes a great effort to promote a sound and dynamic environmental policy.

Recognizing that the environment is a major modern issue, the Bank makes every effort to protect it, and contributes to its preservation as much as possible. With this in mind the Bank regularly sponsors events, takes an active role in environmental preservation and organises awareness campaigns on environmental issues aimed both at Bank staff but also the public in general.

In September 2010 Alpha Bank Cyprus Ltd was one of the 12 sponsors of the Cyprus CSR Media Initiative 2010 ,( greek only site ), a notable initiative of 12 environmentally themed Corporate Social Responsibility videos transmitted through the main stream media which was the brainchild of the Commissioner for the Environment in association with Media Studios and the support of the CCCI. The campaign was conducted through the promotion of the videos to all television stations, which were broadcast during the months of September and October 2010 with the aim of informing the public about all major environmental issues and problems facing Cyprus. Alpha Bank sponsored one of these videos titled The Water Thief which deals with ways of saving water and using it in consideration to others.

Another such awareness event with the aim of further sensitising Alpha Bank staff on environmental issues was“ ALPHA BANK VOLUNTEER DAY”, a brand new institution which took place for the first time in May 2009. For the first event the Bank organized a Cyprus wide beach and nature trail cleaning initiative. As of 2010 the Group announced that the last Sunday of May would be the annual volunteer day, so for yet another year Alpha Bank volunteers turned up en masse with members of their families at all the meeting points ready to clean. Specifically on the morning of Sunday May 30 th 2010 2010 from 9:30 to 11:30 hundreds of Alpha Bank volunteers in every town cleaned the following areas: part of the Athalassa National Park in Nicosia, Rizoelia National Park in Larnaca, part of the Molos Promenade in Limassol and the Ahmed Rasid park in Paphos.

Additionally, in its effort to further promote its Environmental Policy and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education Alpha Bank sponsored an environmentally themed educational programme titled “I Direct and Create for, and with, the Environment”. This project which ran throughout Cyprus, from November 2008 to June 2009 had a double aspect; one aspect was aimed at Primary School students and the other at High and Technical School students. Its main aim was to raise student awareness on the environment by involving them in a photographic competition and short film production with a conservation theme.

In order to view the clips click here and the photos click here (headings in Greek only).

In October 2008, Alpha Bank participated in The “ Corporate Social Responsibility” conference, as one of the sponsors, which was the first ever conference of its kind organized in Cyprus. Its aim was to sensitize corporations on environmental issues, promote optimum resource utilization, and focus on energy saving and CO2 emissions thus reducing corporate impact. Alpha Bank made a presentation on “Banking Social Responsibility and Green Loans”. The speech focused on the subject of Alpha Bank’s social corporate responsibility and its environmental policy including the schemes it offers, which contribute to the protection of the environment offering a green alternative .

In previous years the Bank’s Human Resources Division expressed its sensitivity on environmental issues by organising tree planting events such as the one at Rizoelia National Park in Larnaca.

Alpha Bank was also the Major Sponsor at the Festival organised by Astra radio station with the theme “Protecting the Environment”. During the Festival which was in collaboration with the Forestry Department, the Fire Service, the Game Department and several other organizations for the protection of the environment, educational leaflets were distributed for the education of the public on environmental issues.

Charter Against Climate Change

On the 17 th of March 2010, in a special ceremony that was conducted at the Hilton Park hotel in Nicosia , Mr . Gregorios Timplalexis General Manager of Alpha Bank Cyprus Ltd signed the Banks ’ commitment to the Charter Against Climate Change in the presence of H . E President of the Republic Mr. Demetris Christofias and received a participation certificate. The Charter was signed by another 54 companies .

By initiative of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Charter of Cypriot Businesses against Climate Change (the site is in Greek only) was created in order to continue the effort for adopting responsible environmental business practices. The initiative which was conceived in 2009 with the support of the Institute of Social Innovation aims to sensitize and inform Cypriot Businesses on the topic of climate change and contribute to the achievement of the national aims of Cyprus for the reduction of green house gases by 2020 and assist businesses in adopting more responsible environmental practices.

This challenge can only be addressed if we all take our share of the responsibility and act effectively and on time, as a social whole, to reduce our carbon footprint, that is the CO 2 emissions caused by our day to day activity.

rrespective of size or field , Cyprus businesses can play a leading part in reducing CO 2 emissions without sacrificing their earnings or competitiveness and without compromising on the quality of the products or services they offer.

Environmental Policy of the Group

The Alpha Bank Group, always aware of the importance of social issues, has developed a number of environmental initiatives. Recognising what a great responsibility it is to actively protect the environment and support the conservation of natural resources, the Group pursues a clear and comprehensive policy in matters of energy conservation, paper consumption, recycling, pollutant management and generally promoting its green principles to associates, suppliers and society in general.

Non-smoking Policy
The Bank’s strong sense of responsibility for the protection of Public Health implements a non-smoking policy in all communal areas of the Bank. This policy has greatly improved working conditions as well as the quality of communication with customers.

“Blue Flag” Programme
Alpha Bank supports the preservation of beaches and the sea so that it is safe for use. For the sixth consecutive year, Alpha Bank is the Sponsor of the international “Blue Flag” Programme, an annual environmental awareness and protection campaign. The objective of the programme implemented in more than 40 countries, is to promote the natural environment and improve the organisation of beaches thus making them safer for swimming.

Garbage – “Free Nature” Programme
Alpha Bank considers it an obligation to defend society’s right to live in clean surroundings and calls out for all people to act fast in protecting the outdoors from litter.

Recycling
Environmental issues are Alpha Bank’s primary concern, and as a corporation it considers taking interest in nature a sign of progress. As such the Bank collaborates with a company called Appliances Recycling S.A, the first of its kind in Greece to collect old and broken appliances and recycle them responsibly without burdening the environment.

Press here for more information regarding Environmental Activities of Alpha Bank.