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How we work
We engage our stakeholders and manage our approach through standards and policies
Engaging our stakeholders
We’re in regular dialogue with clients, staff, investors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), governments and regulators.
This helps us identify and understand environmental and social trends and opportunities in our markets.
We build our knowledge and understanding of key issues and share best practice through our membership of industry and sector organisations, adoption of global commitments, and implementation of guiding frameworks. We share stakeholder feedback with our Board and senior managers within the Bank, and report on our progress each year in our Annual Report and our sustainability reports and publications.
ESG indices and analysts
In addition to our suite of sustainability disclosures, we engage with a range of agencies on our Environmental, Social and Goverance or ESG approach.
| Organisation | Result |
| MSCI | As of November 2023, our MSCI ESG rating was ‘AA’ |
| Sustainalytics | As of December 2023, our Sustainalytics ESG rating was 26.5 |
| CDP Climate | In 2023, we achieved A- in CDP Climate Change |
| Workforce Disclosure Initiative | We continued our participation in the WDI in 2023, achieving an overall disclosure score of 95% |
Memberships and initiatives
| Memberships and initiatives | Description |
| Business for Societal Impact (B4SI) | B4SI (formerly LBG/London Benchmarking Group) is an internationally recognised standard for measuring corporate community investment. More than 300 companies around the world use the B4SI framework to measure, manage and report the value and achievements of the contributions they make. We are members of the B4SI Network. |
| Business Fights Poverty | The Business Fights Poverty community is committed to turning the promises of the Sustainable Development Goals into reality, through open collaboration between business, non-profit and government professionals. We are supporter of Business Fights Poverty. |
| Convergence Blended Finance | Convergence is the global network for blended finance. They generate blended finance data, intelligence, and deal flow to increase private sector investment in developing countries. We are a member. |
| Climate Bonds Initiative | The Climate Bonds Initiative promotes investment in projects and assets necessary for a rapid transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy. We are a partner of the Climate Bonds Initiative. |
| Equator Principles | The Equator Principles are a set of voluntary guidelines for managing social and environmental issues relating to financing for projects. As a member since 2003, we apply these principles to ensure the projects we finance and advise on are developed in a manner that is socially responsible and reflects sound environmental management practices. See our Equator Principles Reporting here. |
| Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) | We are active participants of the GFANZ Principals Group, an ambitious programme to generate the commitment, investment and alignment needed to drive forward the transition to net zero. Our Group CEO is the Co-Chair of the GFANZ Working Group on Capital Mobilisation to Emerging Markets and Developing Economies. |
| Green Investment Principles (GIP) for the Belt & Road Initiative | The GIP is a set of principles for greening investment in the Belt and Road. The Green Investment Principles aim to incorporate low-carbon and sustainable development into projects in Belt and Road countries. We are signatories to the principles. |
| Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Markets (IC-VCM) | We are a member of the IC-VCM which is focused on developing a high-quality international carbon market. Our Group CEO sits on the Distinguished Advisory Group of the IC-VCM and will aim to be involved in the development and trading of carbon markets around the world. |
| International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) | Working with a distinctive global perspective IAVE brings together leaders of volunteering, providing a platform to promote, strengthen and celebrate volunteering throughout the world. We are a member of the Global Corporate Volunteer Council. |
| International Education Funders Group (IEFG) | IEFG is an affinity network of over 90 foundations and donor-advised funds that support basic education in the Global South, from early childhood up to secondary, and adult literacy. |
| International Capital Market Association Principles (ICMA) | For over 50 years, ICMA and its members have worked together to promote the development of the international capital and securities markets, pioneering the rules, principles and recommendations which have laid the foundations for their successful operation. The ICMA Principles include Green Bond Principles; Social Bond Principles; Sustainability Bond Guidelines; Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles. We are members of ICMA and our Green and Sustainable Product Framework has been informed by the Principles. |
| Living Wage Foundation | The Living Wage Foundation promotes the adoption of a living wage by all employers in the UK. We are a member and an accredited living wage employer. |
| London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) | LBMA is the global authority for precious metals, ensuring the highest levels of leadership, integrity and transparency for the global precious metals industry by setting standards and developing market services. We are a member of the LBMA. In line with this membership, the Bank operates under a responsible sourcing framework to identify, assess and manage risks associated with the trading of physical Bullion. This is in compliance with LBMA’s Global Precious Metals Code and Regulation (EU) 2017/821 for Conflict Minerals. The Bank will only source Bullion, in the course of its business, from legitimate and ethical sources. |
| Loan Markets Association (LMA) ESG Committee | The LMA ESG Committee focuses on the growth and innovation in sustainable lending practices, and supports the syndicated loan market as new sustainable finance regulation and practices emerge. Initiatives include (inter alia) publishing and maintaining the Green, Social and Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles and accompanying guidance documents; documentation projects, such as model drafting provisions for Sustainability-Linked loans; responding to regulatory proposals in relation to sustainable finance; and hosting thought leadership sustainable finance events. We are a member. |
| Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) | Our Group Head, Conduct and Financial Crime and Compliance has chaired the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) – the industry-led banking element of GFANZ. We are a founding member of the NZBA. |
| Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) | ORRAA’s mission is to catalyse the investment of at least USD$500 million into coastal and marine natural capital through the development and deployment of finance products that build the resilience of 250 million climate vulnerable coastal people, by 2030. We are a member. |
| Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) | PCAF is a global partnership of financial institutions that work together to develop and implement a harmonized approach to assess and disclose the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their loans and investments. We are a member of PCAF. |
| Poseidon Principles | We are a signatory to the Poseidon Principles, a global framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of financial institutions’ shipping portfolios. They establish a common, global baseline to quantitatively assess and disclose whether financial institutions’ lending portfolios are in line with adopted climate goals. |
| Rocky Mountain Institute – Center for Climate Aligned Finance (RMI CCAF) | The Center was established by RMI to help the financial sector transition the global economy toward a zero-carbon, 1.5°C future. The Center helps its partners overcome barriers to climate alignment at the firm, sector, and system levels. We are a partner of the Center. |
| Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) | RSPO promotes the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders. We are a member of the RSPO. |
| Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Financial Institutions Expert Advisory Group | SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting. It is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). We are supporters of this initiative. |
| Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) Financial Services Task Force (FSTF) | SMI has a mission to build a coordinated global effort to enable the private sector to accelerate the achievement of global climate, biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goal targets. FSTF operates as an industry sub-group of the SMI and its members are drawn from across the banking industry. We are a member. |
| The Sustainable STEEL Principles | We are a signatory to the Sustainable STEEL Principles, a set of commitments to adopt a common measurement and disclosure framework designed for banks to support the steel industry in forging a pathway to net-zero carbon emissions. |
| Thun Group of Banks | The Thun Group is an informal group of bank representatives that work together with the primary purpose of furthering understanding of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights within the context of banking and considering how they may be applied across the range of different banking activities. Standard Chartered is a participant in the Thun Group. |
| United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) | We’re a signatory of the UNEP FI Statement on Environment and Sustainable Development, a global partnership between UNEP and the financial sector to understand the impacts of environmental and social considerations on financial performance. |
| United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) | Developed by UNEP FI and founding banks, the PRB provides a voluntary sustainable banking framework that can be integrated into banks’ strategies and across their portfolio of activities, bringing purpose, vision and ambition on sustainable finance to the core of the organisation. |
| UN Global Alliance of Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) | The UN Global Alliance of Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) is aimed at leveraging the insights of private sector leaders to remove impediments and implement solutions for mobilizing resources for sustainable development. As well as being a member, our Group Chairman is Co-Chair of the GISD. |
| Women’s Empowerment Principles | A set of Principles offering guidance to business on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. We are supporters. |
| World Economic Forum – Promoting Global Financial Inclusion | This project aims to foster full access to, and use of, affordable financial services for the underserved through digital means. It will accomplish this through regional activities focusing on: digital inclusion, collaboration, and improved financial inclusion metrics. We are a supporter of the Promoting Global Financial Inclusion project. |
Standards and policies
We have a range of standards and policies that guide our approach to doing business in a sustainable way.