In-House Operations

The firm directly impacts the environment in a number of ways. Its businesses consume electricity, employees travel for business purposes, they use paper and generate waste in the course of their work, and offices require heating and cooling systems. Improving the use of these resources can boost operating margins and enhance environmental performance.

UBS has a long track record for managing its environmental impact and CO2 footprint, with the first energy unit having been established in the 1970s. In 2006, UBS decided to set a group-wide CO2 emission reduction target of 40% below 2004 levels by 2012. UBS seeks to achieve this target by implementing:

in-house energy efficiency measures that reduce energy consumption in buildings it operates in;
increasing the proportion of renewable energy to avoid emissions at source; and
offsetting and neutralizing emissions that cannot be reduced by other means.

UBS also decided to set firmwide targets for paper and waste. This includes the goal of reducing paper consumption per employee by 5% by 2009 when compared with 2006 levels. It also wants to have 20% of the paper it uses come from recycled sources. At the same time, it will be seeking to improve its environmental footprint by reducing waste per employee by 10%, and by sending 70% of its waste to recycling.



UBS's improvement programs include investments in energy-efficient technology, and encouraging good housekeeping measures.	UBS seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by improving the energy mix we purchase towards a higher proportion of renewable energy.	UBS is constantly identifying ways to encourage use of environmentally friendly alternatives to air and road travel.



Reducing consumption and encouraging the use of recycled paper results in many environmental benefits.		Recycling initiatives help to encourage staff engagement in the ISO 14001 program.

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