Piraeus Βαnk – New financing for medium-sized enterprises with sustainable development criteria

Piraeus Bank, in the context of its broader strategy to support the Sustainable Development of the Greek economy and the harmonization of its operations with the Principles of Responsible Banking, continues to provide, as stated in its announcement, financing to selected companies, with criteria related to Environmental issues. , Society and Corporate Governance (ESG) combining growth and economic performance with social and environmental sustainability.

Specifically, for the first time in Greece, Piraeus Bank included ESG criteria in new financing of medium-sized enterprises. This funding concerns the businesses:

• VIOMES SA

• PELOPAC SA

• FILOTAS BELLAS SA

Under the relevant agreements, the three leading companies are committed to supporting sustainable development, setting specific targets on a case-by-case basis to optimize their energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption, reducing water consumption and reducing productive waste in their processes. Also, increasing the use of recycled raw materials

With these moves, the three companies actively support the protection of the local and wider environment, while at the same time, they adopt social criteria related to their operation.

Piraeus Bank is the first bank in Greece to proceed with corporate financing by including ESG criteria in the evaluation process, and to date has implemented this fora significant number of large and medium-sized enterprises, with a total financing amount of approximately 210 million euros.

The aim of the bank is to actively promote the environmental and social awareness of companies, to adapt them to the new model of sustainable development, to strengthen their competitiveness in the international market and to participate in the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Climate Agreement.

Businesses financed through Sustainability Linked Loans are motivated to meet ESG criteria in order to benefit from competitive terms, such as lower lending pricing, by committing to the criteria to enjoy the benefits throughout its life. loan. These criteria may relate to the optimization of their energy efficiency, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, the reduction of waste in their production process, the increase in the use of recycled raw materials, etc.

The environmental benefit that is expected to be achieved in the coming years from the active partnership of the companies and the bank is estimated to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the rational use of raw materials, as well as the protection of the natural environment in general.

Sustainable investments and environmental protection

VIOMES company is based in Peania, Attica, is active in the production and marketing of plastic household items, designs and produces technical products for specialized uses and is going to implement an investment plan to expand production capacity to strengthen its position in the domestic market, but and the significant improvement in her extroversion. Its long-term goal is to minimize the impact of its activities on the environment, to continuously improve its environmental performance and to reduce its energy footprint.

Under the new financing agreement, it is committed to supporting sustainable development, setting case-by-case targets for improving energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption and increasing the use of recycled raw materials.

PELOPAC is located in the Sindos Industrial Zone and its main activity is the production and export of high quality food. Its products are based on Greek and Mediterranean recipes and combine traditional production methods with state-of-the-art packaging methods. The company focuses on exports. It supplies top brands and large retail chains with private label products in the markets of the USA, Australia, Britain and many European countries. Since 2004, the company’s products have been distinguished with a total of 28 Great Taste Awards, while they have been repeatedly included in the SIAL Trends & Innovations and PLMA New Product Expo, which are global distinctions for innovative products. Under the bank financing agreement, the company is committed to specific goals in reducing energy and water consumption.

The company FILOTAS BELLAS is based in Imathia and deals with the production of cheese products with the main product being Vermiou cheese with a registered brand name. It is one of the most important cheese factories in Greece and exports about 70% of its production mainly to European countries (mainly England, Germany, Italy and Belgium), but also to the USA, China, etc. The company is committed to following a comprehensive approach to further improve its environmental performance and has set targets for reducing energy consumption, increasing the use of recycled raw materials, and reducing waste resulting from its operation.