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.
| Membership | Description |
| Equator Principles | The Equator Principles are a set of voluntary guidelines for managing social and environmental issues relating to financing for projects. We only provide loans to projects that adhere to these principles. |
| FTSE4Good | FTSE4Good is the Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) index. It recognises companies that uphold human rights, work towards environmental sustainability and develop positive relationships with stakeholders. We are a constituent of FTSE4Good. |
| Dow Jones Sustainability Indices | The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices are the first global indices tracking the financial performance of leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. We are a constituent of DJSI. |
| International Labour Organisation | The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a United Nations agency which promotes human and labour rights. We fully support the fundamental ILO conventions. However, we're considerate of labour laws within the countries in which we operate and of the fact that some countries have not ratified all of these conventions. |
| Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development | The OECD promotes policies to improve economic and social well-being for people around the world. It provides a forum for governments to work together and find solutions to common economic, social and environmental problems. |
| UN Global Compact | The United Nations Global Compact comprises ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. |
| UNEP Finance Initiative | We're a signatory of the United Nations Environmental Programme 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. |
| Universal Declaration of Human Rights | We have policies in place to protect the human rights of our employees, suppliers, customers and communities in which we operate. Our policies also ensure that human rights are taken into account in procurement and lending decisions. |
| Carbon Disclosure Project | We are included in The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an independent organisation that holds the largest database of corporate climate change information in the world. |
| The Banking Environment Initiative and Consumer Goods Forum ‘Soft Commodities Compact’ | The Banking Environment Initiative and Consumer Goods Forum ‘Soft Commodities Compact’: The Banking Environment Initiative (BEI), in collaboration with the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), have established the ‘Soft Commodities’ Compact- a unique, initiative that aims to mobilise the banking industry as a whole to contribute to transforming soft commodity supply chains – and therefore help clients achieve zero net deforestation by 2020. The BEI is convened by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. |
| 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. |
| Global Business Coalition for Education | The Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education) brings the business community together to accelerate progress in delivering quality education for all of the world’s children and youth. |
| International Education Funders Group | The International Education Funders Group (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. |
| Green Bond Principles | The Green Bond Principles are voluntary process guidelines that recommend transparency and disclosure and promote integrity in the development of the Green Bond market. |
| Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil | The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil promotes the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders. |
| 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. |
| Natural Capital Finance Alliance (NCFA) | Financial Sector signatories of the NCFA demonstrate their commitment to integrate natural capital risks and opportunities into their products and services. |
| International Integrated Reporting Council | The International Integrated Reporting Council helps organisations to think holistically about their strategy and plans, make informed decisions and manage key risks to build investor and stakeholder confidence and improve future performance. |
| UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association | The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association is the membership association for sustainable and socially responsible financial services, promoting responsible investment and other forms of finance that support sustainable economic development, enhance quality of life and safeguard the environment. |
| Thun Group | 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. |
| The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) | IHRB’s mission is to shape policy, advance practice and strengthen accountability in order to make respect for human rights part of everyday business. Standard Chartered has donated to support IHRB’s work. |
| LBG | LBG is the internationally recognised standard for measuring corporate community investment. More than 300 companies around the world use the LBG framework to measure, manage and report the value and achievements of the contributions they make. |
| UN Principles of Responsible Banking | The Principles for Responsible Banking are a framework to systematically identify and seize new business opportunities created by the emerging sustainable development economy, while at the same time enabling banks to effectively identify and address related risks. |