Sustainability at the OeNB

The OeNB is aware of its responsibility for the environment and our society. Since 1998, it has operated an environmental management system certified under the EU’s EMAS Regulation, reflecting its long-standing commitment to environmental protection. Even an office-based organisation such as the OeNB has a measurable environmental footpringt – for example, through heating, lighting, materials consumption and business travel by its approximately 1,100 employees. Through EMAS and numerous improvement initiatives, we have significantly enhanced our environmental performance and continue to pursue further improvements.

EMAS is short for the EU’s “Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.”

Reducing energy use
This includes implementing measures aimed at improving insulation, greening and shading to enhance the OeNB’s climate fitness (urban heating programme). The OeNB developed this project with climate, architecture and green space experts. With the help of climate change models, the experts identified urban temperature hot spots in the OeNB’s neighbourhood in Vienna and on the OeNB’s premises.
Another measure to save energy has been installing a new IT dashboard for measuring storage capacity requirements across business areas.

Renewable energy sources
The OeNB promotes renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels such as natural gas. The environment will benefit significantly from (1) the goal of the OeNB’s energy supplier in Vienna (Wien Energie) to become climate neutral by 2040 and (2) the use of district heating at the OeNB’s Western Austria branch office.

Expanding photovoltaics to secure an environmentally friendly power supply
As to calculating the carbon footprint while considering the standards of the widely used Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, without prejudice to fully accounting for scope 3 emissions, the OeNB recently collected additional data on indirect emissions, such as on employee commuting and waste generated in operations (scope 3). These data complement data on direct emissions, such as from the OeNB’s vehicle fleet or refrigerants used (scope 1), and on indirect emissions from energy purchases, such as district heating or district cooling (scope 2).

Mobility
In terms of mobility and transportation, the OeNB seeks to evaluate and pursue innovations and environmentally friendly propulsion technologies. This also includes how OeNB employees get to and from work. In 2023, the OeNB for the first time conducted an employee commute survey, including the means of transport used. The results should be reviewed to derive further findings.

Procurement
For contracting authorities such as the OeNB, Article 20 Federal Procurement Act 2018 stipulates that, in the award procedure, consideration must, among other things, be given to the environmental compatibility of the service. The OeNB is committed to complying with this principle; environmental compatibility is part of its procurement strategy.
 

Social sustainability helps ensure long-term social cohesion, equal opportunities and quality of life. The OeNB contributes to these goals through activities ranging from research and education to culture.

The OeNB operates within a clear governance framework shaped by the Nationalbank Act, EU treaties and the Statute of the ESCB and of the ECB. Professional and social competence, transparency, ethical values and accountability are central to the way it operates.