Environmental Protection at the OeNB

 

The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) has a long-standing tradition in environmental protection. Ensuring the ecological sustainability of its business operations is thus a prime objective for the OeNB. The OeNB’s subsidiary Oesterreichische Banknoten- und Sicherheitsdruck GmbH (OeBS), which today is responsible for the production of banknotes in Austria, is equally committed to preserving our environment. In 1989, the OeNB incorporated the principle of environmental protection into its first mission statement. By 2003 all OeNB sites and branch offices had been integrated into the OeNB’s environmental management system, which was introduced in the late 1990s pursuant to the EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) Council Regulation. The Printing Office is certified according to the environmental management standard ISO 14001. This steps document the OeNB’s commitment to continue to act as a role model of ecological awareness.

An organizational structure has been established to facilitate the implementation of the goals set down in the OeNB’s environmental program.

The OeNB’s environmental policy is determined by its Governing Board. The formulation of fundamental strategic questions lies with the environmental officer, while the environmental coordinator and the environmental controllers, who are responsible for environmental protection in the various OeNB divisions, are in charge of implementing measures laid down in the environmental program. These responsibilities are fulfilled in a team which holds regular meetings. The environmental coordinator annually organizes internal environmental audits, which are carried out by trained environmental auditors.

• Step up consideration of ecological criteria in procurement:Make ecological assessments of the major suppliers / Obtain the Austrian ecolabel for environmentally compatible print products for the Printing Office

• Reduce emissions:Draw up an environmentally friendly travel concept, review use of rail, airplane and car travel for business trips

• Step up environmental protection activities throughout the OeNB:Perform environmental audits of suppliers, in particular of subsidiaries

• Develop a green IT concept:Produce lifecycle reviews of energy and resource consumption of the OeNB’s IT facilities (servers, computers, printers, etc.) / Present information on green IT and lifecycle management (eco design)