According to figures published at the beginning of 2018 by the European Commission, “Every year, Europeans generate 25 million tonnes of plastic waste, but less than 30% is collected for recycling. Across the world, plastics make up 85% of beach litter. And plastics are even reaching citizens' lungs and dinner tables, with microplastics in air, water and food having an unknown impact on their health." [1] 

Faced with this ecological emergency, BGL BNP Paribas has launched a number of initiatives to reduce single-use plastic waste. These include introducing the Ecobox (SuperDrecksKëscht®) in its restaurant areas, removing disposable cups, plastic cutlery and straws, and encouraging all employees to use reusable mugs, bottles and cutlery.

In an effort to take this initiative further, BGL BNP Paribas has decided to make its commitment public by signing the “Zero Single-Use Plastic” manifesto launched by IMS Luxembourg, of which the bank is a member.

The other seven BNP Paribas Group CEOs in Luxembourg, who are all fully aware of this major issue and of the key role that large companies can play, as well as their responsibility to lead by example, have also joined this initiative and have committed not only to reducing the use of single-use plastic, but to completely removing it from the company by 2020. Thus, the manifesto was also signed by Arval, Cardif Lux Vie, BNP Paribas Asset Management, BNP Paribas Securities Services, BNP Paribas Real Estate Investment Management, BNP Paribas Real Estate Advisory & Property Management and GreenStars BNP Paribas.

Geoffroy Bazin, Chairman of the BGL BNP Paribas Executive Committee and Country Head of the BNP Paribas Group in Luxembourg, who initiated this joint initiative, explained: “BNP Paribas Group in Luxembourg is using all the means at its disposal to accelerate the transition towards a greener economy. We are offering our clients products and services that enable them to make a tangible contribution to this transformation, and we are also doing everything we can to reduce our own footprint. By signing the “Zero Single-Use Plastic” manifesto, BNP Paribas Group in Luxembourg is reaffirming its policy of reducing its direct environmental impact."

[1] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-5_en.htm