Green Achievements

Environmentally Sustainable Business Practices

At Capital One we take our commitment to establish environmentally sustainable business practices seriously. The information below highlights some of our efforts to build green initiatives into our day-to-day processes:

• Carbon footprint - Working with Environmental scientists, we have calculated our carbon footprint for a second year running. As a result of our efforts during 2008, our footprint has reduced by 8,858 tCO2e from 2007, a reduction of 31%. This reduction is mainly attributable to changes in our marketing strategy and the introduction of 'on-line account servicing' and 'paperless' options, which have seen a significant reduction in our paper usage.
• PEFC / FSC paper - With the exception of statements and cheques, all paper used for U.K. customer communications is now either PEFC* or FSC** accredited, which appear to be more environmentally sensitive than the available 100% recycled paper. These schemes ensure our paper is sourced from certified forests, which are managed to ensure long term timber supplies while protecting the environment and the lives of forest-dependent peoples. A system of Chain of Custody certification traces forest products through the supply chain to the end-consumer. In addition, all printer and copier paper used in our Nottingham and London offices is PEFC accredited.
  * PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)
  ** FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
• E-statements - We are encouraging our customers to become "paper free" through marketing campaigns designed to highlight the benefits of our on-line account service. As of August 2009, 38% of customers who are registered to our online account servicing have signed up to the paper free option.
• Electricity - In October 2007, we transferred to a Green Energy contract for our Nottingham Office.
• Prince's May Day Network - Capital One U.K. is a member of the Prince's May Day network run by Business in the Community. During 2008, Capital One pledged to 'Measure and report on its business' carbon emissions publicly or to Business in the Community'. As a result we are now entitled to use the Prince's May Day pledge logo. Only the 541 businesses that joined the Prince's May Day Network AND measured and reported their carbon emissions to Business in the Community during the 2009 May Day report-back are entitled to use the logo. During 2009, Capital One has also pledged to 'Encourage employees to reduce their carbon emissions at home and at work'.