We Generate Value for the Environment
Türkiye Finans pursues a policy approach that envisages efficient use of natural resources, especially electricity, natural gas and water.
Türkiye Finans places priority on environmental protection and climate change in building a sustainable future, protecting our planet and therefore, supporting the wellbeing of humanity. To this end, the Bank aims to:
- reduce the use of natural resources and achieve maximum efficiency in its service cycle by incorporating the latest technologies and techniques at all of its facilities; and
- play a significant role in reducing the negative impacts of its stakeholders on the environment in connection with its products, services and business relations as a responsible service provider.
Türkiye Finans tackles environmental sustainability within the scope of its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy
Türkiye Finans is a company that has laid claim to environmental sustainability at Board level. Pursuant to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy (please refer to page 13) approved by the Board of Directors, Türkiye Finans, in all of its activities, is focused on:
- observing environmental sustainability;
- disseminating awareness on environmental protection and the ecological balance throughout its entire organization and among its stakeholders; and
- reducing consumption of all natural resources, particularly energy and paper.
The Bank is determined to press ahead with its efforts in these areas.
An approach envisaging proper and efficient use of resources
As one of the pillars of sustainability, environmental protection is extremely important in terms of the welfare and living conditions of future generations. At the same time, careful environmental management and the efficient use of scarce resources are issues of close interest to all economic actors involved in the production, trade and service cycle in terms of profitability, competitive edge and brand reputation.
As one of Turkey’s leading participation banks, Türkiye Finans pursues a policy approach that envisages efficient use of natural resources, especially electricity, natural gas and water.
Electricity, natural gas, water and paper are the primary natural resources used most intensively by the Bank. Information concerning the amount of electricity, water and natural gas consumed at Türkiye Finans during the reporting period is given below.
Türkiye Finans also carries out projects aimed to lower use of paper, which is one of the most important inputs of the banking industry’s service cycle. To this end, the Bank is about to launch a system, which will measure paper consumption in the most accurate way. Türkiye Finans targets to announce its paper consumption statistics in its 2014 report.
With respect to the disposal of construction waste, malfunctioning electronic devices, batteries and similar types of waste produced at the service points, the Bank observes compliance with the legislation in effect in Turkey and carries out joint efforts with various agencies and institution for the reuse and disposal of wastes.
Türkiye Finans’ natural resource consumption in 2013
Resource |
Amount |
Scope |
|---|---|---|
Electricity consumption |
18,514,491 kWh |
Total consumption of Türkiye Finans’ head office buildings, branches and off site ATM devices in 2013. The consumption of new branches opened in 2013 and off site ATMs whose electricity consumption is below a specific limit is not included. |
Water consumption |
17,636 m3 |
Total water consumption of head office buildings. |
Natural gas consumption* |
269,944 m3 |
Total amount of natural gas consumed for heating and other purposes in head office buildings. |
* Natural gas consumption in Terajoules = 10041.916799999999
Datacenter
In addition to energy savings, the Datacenter was set up under a flexible infrastructure that can support Türkiye Finans' sustainable growth.
EFFORTS CARRIED OUT AT SERVICE POINTS IN ORDER TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY IN RESOURCE UTILIZATION
Türkiye Finans conducts planned activities to save energy and lower energy consumption.
The taps that are available for use of employees in the head office were replaced with photocell armatures in 2013, a significant step taken to prevent unnecessary water consumption.
In 2013, photocells sensitive to sunlight and sensors that detect the presence of a person in the environment were launched at the head office building in Kartal within the scope of lighting automation. Moreover, during the installation of these devices, all lighting armatures were integrated into the automation system. The system, which is activated after working hours, checks all locations every half hour after 7:00 pm through motion sensors and automatically turns of lighting devices in locations where no movement is detected.
With its field application launched in February 2014, the software allowing remote access to the compensation system was installed. With this piece of software, Türkiye Finans has begun to monitor energy consumption statistics of its branches as well. In the light of the data acquired through such comprehensive monitoring, the Bank aims to implement a new plan to lower electricity consumption.
Switching to more energy efficient air-conditioning systems
The air-conditioner systems used in the new branches opened in 2013 and the head office buildings in Kartal and Tophane were replaced with VRV devices, which consume less energy than split systems. The VRV system requires less space than split systems with relatively low maintenance costs, thanks to minimizing the number of external units. VRV systems are able to cool a location while heating another, doubling energy efficiency and thus providing significant cost advantages.
DEVELOPMENTS THROUGH EFFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES
Türkiye Finans Datacenter: A critical element in Türkiye Finans’ energy saving target
Having entered operation at the end of 2011, the Türkiye Finans Datacenter operates as a full back-up and high-tech center meeting Tier III standards.
Attracting attention with its range of features such as high security, electrical charge, heat and moisture, and instant monitoring and controlling functions, the Datacenter is critically important in reducing the environmental impacts resulting from the Bank’s service cycle, while also managing them in the most appropriate manner at the same time as increasing efficiency.
Türkiye Finans Datacenter is Turkey’s leader in virtualization with an 85% virtualization ratio
Having achieved an energy efficiency level (PUE-power usage effectiveness) of 1.6 in 2013, the Datacenter has demonstrated an extremely strong performance, exceeding the averages in both Turkey and in Europe. Thanks to its technical specifications and its effective management, the Datacenter saves USD 200,000 worth of energy every year. This amount is equal to the 6-month energy bill of the Dataceter, indicating the high efficiency achieved in energy use. Likewise, the Datacenter’s carbon footprint caused by its energy consumption has been almost halved since virtualization.
In addition to energy savings, the Datacenter was set up under a flexible infrastructure that can be expanded so as to support Türkiye Finans’ sustainable growth.
Given that it operated at nearly one third of its capacity during the reporting period, the Datacenter’s PUE value would fall below 1.3 once it starts operating at full capacity.
85%
The virtualization level that Türkiye Finans reached in 2013.
Türkiye Finans Datacenter
Realizations in 2013 |
Targets for 2014 |
|---|---|
|
|
The testing environment preparation system, which is able to create testing conditions within hours, allows Türkiye Finans to provide a rapid service to its customers. As indicated by the results of the periodic tests performed, it is not necessary to turn off the systems, even for annual maintenance work, thanks to the auxiliary systems of the Datacenter, while all equipment is able to work at high performance even when maintenance work is being carried out.
According to the data announced by Gartner, an independent research institution, Türkiye Finans reached a virtualization level of 85% in 2013 (world average: 65%). With this result, the Bank is the leader of the Turkish banking industry in terms of virtualization.
The Server Modernization and Consolidation Project and the Main Banking Technological Infrastructure Transformation Project, both carried out in 2013, have provided the Bank with significant substantial gains, while strongly contributing to its service quality and efficiency, as well as customer satisfaction.
Türkiye Finans handed Tier III Design and Tier III Constructed Facility certificates in 2013, which are recognized worldwide as the most important certificates with respect to datacenters.
Türkiye Finans received the Tier III Design certificate awarded by the Uptime Institute, an institute that conducts activities to ensure worldwide standardization among datacenters. The Bank has taken this achievement to a new dimension and was also deemed worthy of the Tier III Constructed Facility certificate. The Türkiye Finans Datacenter was the first and only datacenter to receive the Tier III Constructed Facility certificate.
The Türkiye Finans Datacenter was subjected to a variety of comprehensive tests and examinations by the specialists of the Uptime Institute in November. For all critical resources, switches were turned off one by one while systems were in operation, with an audit of which substitutes of these systems worked without interruption. As a result of the examinations, the Bank was found to be in compliance with the Tier III Constructed Facility standard, demonstrating that Türkiye Finans’ success in design is seamlessly put into practice.
Türkiye Finans undertook an infrastructure investment of more than USD 10 million for its datacenter during the reporting period.
BCMS
The primary objective of Türkiye Finans' Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) is to ensure that the Bank fulfill its mission.
CIO Award for Türkiye Finans in 2013
Türkiye Finans’ success in technological transformation was crowned with the CIO award. The Datacenter project, which was realized in a total investment of USD 25 million including the systems used in the datacenter, received the CIO award, which is granted to Turkey’s most successful information and communication technologies projects and managers.
Speaking in the award ceremony after having received the CIO Award, the Deputy CEO of Türkiye Finans, Fahri Öbek, stated, “In our datacenter, we use a special exhaust system, which no other datacenter has. We installed this system because of the importance that we attach to working conditions in the Bank. In the event of a fire, gas produced in the datacenter can be discharged rapidly.” The CEO of Türkiye Finans, Derya Gürerk, said the following about this issue: “Institutions that are not able to catch up with technological transformations, particularly those operating in the financial sector, which is one of the driving forces of the economy, lose their competitive edge. At Türkiye Finans, we invest a great deal in technology. We have received awards and certificates for the investments we have carried out in our datacenter, while the customer satisfaction which we ensure through our uninterrupted services adds value to our bank.”
Business Continuity Management at Türkiye Finans - An important instrument on the path of environmental sustainability
It is not possible to discuss sustainability for a corporation that has failed or lost its reputation due to service interruptions. For this reason, one of the prerequisites of sustainability is “business continuity”.
Because of the nature of its sector, Türkiye Finans is dependent on complicated processes, resources and systems. Severely interrupted business processes or the loss of systems and resources related to these processes may seriously harm the reputation of the Bank and compromise stakeholder benefits.
The primary objective of Türkiye Finans’ Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) is to ensure that the Bank fulfill its mission. Türkiye Finans has planned, installed and implemented the BCMS to manage service interruptions caused by extraordinary situations, to prevent the loss of systems and resources and to protect its reputation in such a situation, as well as to fulfill its legal obligations.
By means of the BCMS, Türkiye Finans aims to:
- ensure the security of Bank personnel and customers in the first place;
- fulfill the obligation to set up a BCMS that works in line with legal requirements and is compliant with the respective standards;
- fulfill its commitments to legal authorities;
- protect its reputation;
- set up a governance and organizational structure which is most appropriate for the BCMS;
- maintain its market share in the sector;
- return to its normal way of making business without jeopardizing its existence; and
- continuously meet the expectations of stakeholders with respect to participation banking services even during crises.
Efforts in the area of business continuity
Türkiye Finans launched its efforts in 2009 to set up a Business Continuity Management System. The Bank established the Business Continuity Management Committee the same year; and set up in 2010 the Extraordinary Situation Center in Ankara to substitute the main datacenter in Kartal, and backup working locations in Tophane and Küçükbakkalköy in Istanbul to substitute the current working locations.
In 2011, the Business Continuity Department was set up to carry out the foundation and coordination of Business Continuity Management in the Bank on behalf of the top management. Consequently, the Business Continuity Policy, Business Continuity/Emergency Plans and Business Continuity Strategy were created. Business Impact Analyses were performed to determine the impacts of possible interruptions to all business processes and stakeholders; and the Risk Evaluation studies were conducted which specify the risks that may be imposed on the Bank’s vitally important activities and the entities (IT, HR, locations, suppliers, etc.) that support critical processes.
Cultural change and awareness
Cultural change and awareness is one of the most basic conditions for the effective and successful operation of the Business Continuity Management System. To ensure this, Türkiye Finans holds training sessions throughout its organization every year on a regular basis. Tests and drills are held regularly every year, which demonstrate how effective and up-to-date the implemented plans are, while ensuring any events which threaten the sustainability of the Bank are responded to with measures that become reflex actions.
In the “Business Continuity Activity Tests” performed in 2013, 98% of the critical processes were recovered within the targeted periods of time.
The entire system is reviewed on a regular basis every year based on the approach of “Continuous Improvement”; its functionality is assured through “internal audits” and any problems and opportunities for improvement are recorded and managed within the scope of the “corrective/preventive action” process.
Three mobile branches were put in service to substitute those branches that suffered interruptions to their services because of emergency situations. The mobile branches were effectively deployed following the Van earthquake; customer satisfaction is ensured as critical services may be rolled out without interruption.
Having received the ISO 22301 certification, Türkiye Finans is the only Islamic financial institution in the world and the first and only bank in Turkey to hold this certification.
Türkiye Finans is the only Islamic financial institution to hold the ISO 22301 certificate.
Having received the ISO 22301 certification in 2013 by ensuring full compliance with the internationally recognized standards in the area of business continuity, Türkiye Finans is the only Islamic financial institution in the world and the first and only bank in Turkey to hold this certification.
Having received the ISO 22301 Business Continuity Certificate in October 2013 after a three-tier auditing process, Türkiye Finans has thus:
- achieved the compliance and effectiveness of its Business Continuity Management System confirmed by an independent institution;
- given assurance to all of its stakeholders with respect to the effectiveness of the system;
- fulfilled its commitments towards legal and regulatory bodies; and
- taken a significant step that enhances its reputation at home and abroad and provides the Bank with an additional competitive edge over its rivals;
Türkiye Finans is Turkey’s leading bank in terms of the level of awareness and maturity in the area of business continuity. Türkiye Finans is also the only bank where business continuity management is evaluated and reviewed at the senior management level and executed under the coordination of the head of the respective unit.
Total Printing Management Project
Through the Total Printing Management Project launched in 2013, Türkiye Finans achieved significant reductions in its use of energy and paper. Within the framework of the project, which aims for end-user satisfaction with faster printers, the Bank monitors printing management statistics and can therefore reach decisions more rapidly on saving issues.
During the initial application of the project, the Bank achieved TL 600,000 in annual savings in terms printer and paper costs, and printing and routine procurement processes. The project enabled the Bank to cut its use of paper by 40% in terms of number of printed items and nearly halve the number of printers. The project also reduced the amount of electricity consumed by the printer park by around 50%.
15%
The lowered carbon emissions by the renewal of PCs
Desktop Modernization Project
With new high-performance computers, operating systems and office programs, Türkiye Finans increased employee satisfaction and efficiency. The Bank has minimized and even eliminated computer-based performance problems in all of its units, beginning to provide faster service to its customers.
The renewed PCs and the new devices have lowered electricity consumption by 22% and carbon emissions by 15%.
Total Scanning Management Project
This project, which envisages single-type scanners for the Bank’s entire scanner park, will increase efficiency and productivity, while also contributing to efforts to reduce electricity consumption. The project is planned to be launched in 2014.
The Digital Signage Project
The Digital Signage Project, which is planned to be launched by Türkiye Finans in 2014, will save a significant amount of printing and paper by slashing the volume of printed visual materials needed in its branch network. The complete transfer of printed visual materials to an electronic environment will also allow the Bank to effectively apply a centrally managed, customer-oriented strong promotion and marketing approach throughout its organization.
This project, which will strengthen the Bank’s image as an environmentally friendly institution by minimizing paper consumption, will also create a competitive edge for the Bank within the scope of its Customer Experience Project. The Digital Signage Project will be able to be integrated into new technologies and marketing tools.
The launch of the Digital Signage Project will bring savings for the Bank in two ways: no exchange rate board will be installed in new branches, and the existing exchange rate boards will not be renewed.
AS A RESPONSIBLE SERVICE PROVIDER, TÜRKİYE FİNANS CARRIES OUT SYSTEMATIC EFFORTS AND WORKS TOGETHER WITH ITS STAKEHOLDERS TO REDUCE ITS DIRECT IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ARISING AS A RESULT OF ITS PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND BUSINESS RELATIONS.
Although the impact of the banking industry on the environment is very limited when compared to other industries, it is vitally important to manage the negativities arising from the product and service cycle value chain, as well as to offer products and services that positively contribute to the environment.
Within the scope of its socially and environmentally responsible lending policies, Türkiye Finans extends financial support to all energy-related projects, particularly renewable energy projects, based on its approach to produce added value for the community and environment in terms of sustainability and social responsibility, and to raise social awareness regarding the environment.
The Bank evaluates any requests for financing or projects which may potentially have impacts on the environment by observing full compliance with the legislation that regulates issues related to Turkey’s environmental protection; and may require project owners to undertake the necessary revisions by collaborating with the Bank, where necessary.
Türkiye Finans offers products and services - particularly in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency - that serve its global targets of tackling climate change and protecting the environment. For information on this topic and the realizations during the reporting period, please refer to the section entitled “We Generate Value for Our Customers” on page 28-41 of this report.
PDF İndir