Foreword

2023 marked the first full year of operations for the European Central Bank (ECB) without pandemic-related restrictions, following three years of unusual conditions. ECB staff resumed business-related travel and increased their on-site presence. While this was a welcome development, it led to an unavoidable rebound in the ECB’s operational carbon footprint.

Despite this, the ECB’s unwavering commitment to environmental protection means that we are taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate our impact on the environment. In 2023 we achieved reductions in our operational carbon footprint wherever possible. This was largely due to efforts by ECB staff to change their pre-pandemic habits, for example by significantly reducing the number of physical meetings, events and conferences with external participants. This new approach helped cut emissions by 62% compared with 2019.

We are taking action on all fronts to address climate change and nature degradation. Last year colleagues across the ECB worked on our “climate and nature plan 2024-2025”. The plan outlines where we are broadening our efforts and identifies three focus areas for our activities in 2024 and 2025: the implications of the green transition, the physical impact of climate change, and the risk that nature loss and degradation pose to the economy. We will also continue to build on our climate-related work in the areas of macroeconomic analysis and monetary policy, banking supervision and financial stability, climate-related data, and banknotes, payments and market infrastructure, as well as our own corporate sustainability. As President Lagarde put it, the plan is “the compass that will guide us on the path to a greener future”. By following the actions set out in the plan, we will contribute to our climate objectives.

This Environmental Statement highlights our efforts to lessen the environmental footprint of our own operations. The stakes could not be higher. Average temperatures are projected to increase to approximately 3°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.^[1] We need to be more determined than ever to combat climate change by preventing the worst and securing a sustainable future. We will rise to the challenge and remain dedicated to achieving our ambitious carbon reduction objectives. We will also stay adaptable and innovative in mitigating our environmental impact across all business areas. By working together, we can have a positive impact and inspire broader action.

Myriam Moufakkir
Chief Services Officer of the European Central Bank

1 The year in figures

Figure 1

2023 highlights

Figure 2

2023 in figures

(2023 figures and percentage changes from 2022 to 2023 and from 2019 to 2023)^[2]

2 Environmental management at the ECB

2.1 Organisational context

2023 was the ECB’s first full year of operations without pandemic-related restrictions. From 2020 to 2022 these restrictions had a significant impact as a result of restricted business travel and limited presence of ECB staff at its premises. As expected, in 2023 the ECB’s operational carbon footprint increased owing to the rebound in emissions stemming from increased business travel and onsite presence. Business travel emissions rose sharply by 148%, while conference participants’ travel emissions increased by 247% compared with the previous year. However, in comparison to the pre-pandemic year 2019, business travel emissions decreased by 32% and conference participants’ travel fell by 62% (see Chapter 3.2 – Indirect emissions). The ECB’s daily operations in 2023 were also affected by the introduction of the new teleworking regime. The ECB’s teleworking regime allows all staff, whose work can be done remotely, to work up to 50% from outside the ECB’s premises.

Changes in the organisational environment, including related opportunities and risks, as well as stakeholder expectations, will continue to contribute to the future development of the ECB’s environmental management system (EMS).

Beyond the activities of the EMS, the ECB works on climate-related issues as they affect the conduct of the tasks within its mandate. Climate change and nature degradation affect the economy and financial systems, as well as the ECB’s own exposure to related risks. An understanding of the implications of climate change as well as the transition needs for the economy and financial sector is essential for the ECB to deliver on its mandate.

The work ongoing across the ECB in 2023 is set out in the ECB’s Annual Report and the Annual Report on supervisory activities. In addition, as of 2023 the ECB and the Eurosystem central banks publish climate-related financial disclosures on a yearly basis, covering financial assets in the portfolios held by Eurosystem central banks for monetary policy purposes. Eurosystem central banks also publish disclosures for the non-monetary policy portfolios they manage under their own responsibility. Furthermore, regular publications are made available on the ECB’s website throughout the year.

In January 2024 the ECB published its climate and nature plan 2024-2025, which reaffirms its commitment to continue climate action in the following areas: macroeconomic analysis and monetary policy; banking supervision and financial stability; climate-related data; payments, banknotes and market infrastructure; and environmental performance of our own operations and portfolios.^[3] It also identifies three focus areas that will guide the ECB’s activities in 2024 and 2025, namely navigating the green transition, assessing the physical impact of climate change and exploring nature-related risks.

2.2 Overview of the environmental management system and relevant changes

The ECB’s Environmental Statement 2024 discloses environmental data on the ECB’s three premises within the scope of the EMS. This includes the ECB-owned main building, as well as the rented premises in Frankfurt city centre – the Eurotower and the Japan Center. All office space in the three buildings is occupied by the ECB.

Owing to the different ages and structural requirements of the buildings, the data for the main building are reported separately from the aggregated data for the city centre premises.

In line with the three-year reporting cycle of the European Union’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) standard, this year’s Environmental Statement is the second update of the ECB Environmental Statement 2022.

The ECB’s environmental policy outlines the ECB’s commitment to environmental protection and its strategic objectives for continuously improving its environmental performance. Information on the ECB’s environmental policy and the governance of its EMS is available on the webpage on environmental protection at the ECB.

In 2023 the EMS achieved its intended objective of continuous improvement, as demonstrated by the reduction in our environmental impact and the implementation of new measures. Overall, environmental performance improved considerably relative to the baseline year 2019.

3 The ECB’s carbon footprint

The ECB follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol framework to account for carbon emissions in scopes 1, 2 and 3. Scope 1 includes direct emissions and scope 2 and 3 indirect emissions. The scope of the 2023 greenhouse gas inventory is unchanged compared with 2022. Figure 3 presents the emission sources reported under the different scopes.

Figure 3

Components of the ECB’s carbon footprint

Total emissions increased by 50.8% from 2022 to 2023 (Chart 1), mainly driven by increased travel activities. While scope 1 emissions decreased (-15.5%) and scope 2 emissions declined by a smaller extent (-3.9%), scope 3 emissions increased by 61.4% owing to a strong contribution from emissions from conference participants and business travel.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions continue to be positively impacted by the energy saving measures implemented as of 1 September 2022 under the German government’s short-term energy-saving ordinances.^[4] While these measures are no longer required by law the ECB has continued to implement them.

Chart 1

Total CO₂e emissions – scopes 1, 2 and 3

(tonnes CO₂ equivalent)

The ECB focuses on avoidance of emissions, followed by their reduction. As the third and final component of its emission management, since 2018 the ECB has offset unavoidable emissions with credits that finance emission avoidance projects worldwide. The credits purchased to offset 2023 emissions contribute to Gold Standard projects facilitating access to clean energy and water in marginalised communities. In addition, suppliers already compensate for upstream emissions from train travel within Germany^[5] and a share of office paper.

For further details on data, see Chapter 5 – Technical Information.

3.1 Emissions related to the operation of the ECB’s premises

Emissions from the operation of the ECB’s premises resulting from heating, cooling and fuel use are counted as direct emissions in scope 1 and indirect emissions in scope 2. In 2023 scope 1 and 2 emissions accounted for 10.1% of the ECB’s total carbon footprint, decreasing in both absolute and relative terms owing to the considerable increase in scope 3 emissions.

Upstream emissions from the ECB’s energy consumption are accounted for under scope 3 (see Chapter 3.2 – Indirect emissions). In this chapter, scope 2 emissions are reported in accordance with the market-based approach, while location-based emissions are reported in Chapter 5 –- Technical Information.

Chart 2

CO₂e emissions – scopes 1 and 2

(tonnes CO₂ equivalent)

3.2 Indirect emissions

In 2023 indirect emissions under scope 3 accounted for 89.9% of the ECB’s carbon footprint. For more information on underlying developments resulting in changes to scope 3 emissions, see Chapter 4 – Environmental aspects and impacts of the ECB's activities.

Business travel and hotel stays

Pandemic-related business travel restrictions were fully lifted at the end of 2022 and therefore did not affect travel activities in 2023. This resulted in a 148% increase in emissions from hotel stays and business travel compared with 2022. The ECB partly succeeded in limiting the rebound of travel to pre-pandemic levels, reporting 34% fewer kilometres travelled in 2023 compared with 2019. However, this was not sufficient to meet its target to keep annual travel-related CO₂e emissions to a maximum of 60% of 2019 levels until 2024. Although part of the increase in emissions relates to a strong increment in the emission factors, the ECB is committed to adhering to its annual target. Business travel emissions are therefore closely monitored as part of the quarterly internal reporting to senior management.

Business travel emissions include well-to-tank (WTT) emissions^[6] for all fossil fuel-based transport. For air travel, the Radiative Forcing Index (RFI)^[7] is considered in emission calculations. By including RFI and WTT emissions, the ECB follows a best practice approach to achieve a complete calculation of travel emissions. For more information on business travel emissions, see Chapter 4.9 – Travel activities.

Conference participant travel

The ECB’s carbon footprint accounts for the business travel emissions of its own staff and the travel emissions of external participants attending conferences and events held on ECB premises. For the travel emissions of conference participants, the same approach is used as that for business travel emissions, i.e. integration of RFI-factors for plane travel and WTT emissions for fuel-based transport.

Although the ECB has only limited influence on the emissions from conference participants and some delegates’ business travel is likely to be double-counted, the ECB has continued to report on conference participant travel since 2021 in order to present as complete a picture as possible on carbon emissions.

Conference participant travel emissions increased by 247% compared with 2022. The ECB acknowledges that the calculations are based on certain assumptions as a result of underlying data quality issues. It actively engages in steering the related emissions by limiting the number of conferences and meetings with external participants held on ECB premises to 50%. For more information on developments in 2023, see Chapter 4.9 – Travel activities.

Staff commute and teleworking

Due to remote work during the pandemic years from 2020 to 2022 and under the teleworking regime which came into effect at the beginning of 2023 allowing staff members to work for up to 110 days per calendar year remotely, a share of the ECB’s emissions has shifted to staff homes. Since the data on staff commuting and teleworking are interrelated, the ECB includes these emissions in its carbon footprint boundary under the category “Emissions from staff commuting and teleworking”.

The ECB conducts staff surveys every two years to calculate emissions from teleworking and commuting. The most recent survey was conducted in summer 2023. The derived data are complemented with additional information, such as the number of staff on business travel, and specific assumptions, such as sick leave and parental leave rates, to yield more accurate estimates. Emissions from teleworking decreased by 38% in 2023 compared with the previous year, amounting to 394 tonnes CO₂e. By contrast, commuting emissions increased by 15%, amounting to 1,303 tonnes CO₂e in 2023. The ECB acknowledges the limited reliability of the teleworking and commuting emissions data which are based on underlying assumptions and a survey-based approach. For more information on the survey approach, see Chapter 4.9 – Travel activities.

Waste

Emissions resulting from the disposal of waste decreased by 2.6% compared with 2022. Overall, waste emissions remained stable, as the number of employees working on-site has largely levelled off compared with pre-pandemic times. For more information, see Chapter 4.5 – Waste and recycling.

Purchased goods and services

Purchased goods and services comprise emissions from catering and cleaning services, external printing services, information and communications technology (ICT) services, gardening services, office supplies and stationery, paper consumption for office purposes, ECB publications and other paper items, electricity consumption at the external data centre, as well as fresh and waste water consumption.

The calculation of catering emissions is conducted at ingredient level, with corresponding emission factors accounting for their lifecycle, including transport. Printing services emissions refer to paper production and electricity consumption of external service providers. Emissions from gardening services account for fuel consumed during gardening work. Office supplies, stationery and cleaning service emissions are calculated by means of value-based emission factors, since consumption activity data are not sufficiently detailed and relevant emission factors are not available. The ECB accounts for emissions from ICT services besides data centre and IT equipment consumption based on the number of minutes spent by ECB staff in videoconferences.

In 2023 emissions from purchased goods and services amounted to 8% of scope 3 emissions and increased by around 41% compared with the previous year. In particular, catering emissions rose by around 73%, reflecting higher demand owing to the increase in on-site work and events. For more information, see Chapter 4.3 – Material efficiency and Chapter 4.4 – Water and waste water.

Chart 3

CO₂e emissions – scope 3

(tonnes CO₂ equivalent)

Chart 4

Scope 3 – shares of CO₂e emissions in 2023

In addition to CO₂e emissions, the ECB records and reports on other emissions resulting from its activities. Other emissions comprise quantities of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and particulate matter (PM) from the ECB’s fuel consumption by the vehicle fleet and emergency power unit test runs. Furthermore, the ECB presents biogenic emissions^[8] from biogas consumption falling outside the scopes in line with the requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. For more information, see Chapter 5 – Technical Information.

4 Environmental aspects and impact of the ECB’s activities

4.1 Update of the environmental aspects assessment

Direct and indirect environmental aspects of the ECB’s activities are reassessed on an annual basis, taking into account the ECB’s ability to influence each aspect and its magnitude in terms of environmental performance.

Compared with the environmental aspects assessment of 2022, the ratings for 2023 remained stable, with the exception of business travel by plane, which saw an increase in significance level. Furthermore, construction projects were added as a direct environmental aspect to reflect the impact of construction and relocation projects on biodiversity, resource efficiency, energy and emissions.

Figure 4

Assessment of the ECB’s direct environmental aspects

Figure 5

Assessment of the ECB’s indirect environmental aspects

4.2 Energy efficiency

The ECB’s overall energy consumption decreased by 6.3% compared with the previous year and 23.2% compared with 2019. This was achieved, among other things, through energy saving measures implemented to bring the ECB into compliance with the energy saving regulation of the German federal government in 2022. Although no longer required by law, the ECB continued to apply these measures throughout 2023. This development was remarkable, as it was achieved despite the return of staff to the ECB’s premises. The ECB is aware of the interdependency of energy consumption on-site and energy consumption outsourced to employees’ home offices, which also contributes to the development of energy consumption.

To achieve further reductions in energy consumption on-site, the ECB is constantly working on identifying and implementing energy efficiency measures. In 2023 it implemented higher internal office temperatures in the summer and reduced air humidity levels to a minimum of 30%. Furthermore, the ECB participates in a local energy efficiency network and exchanges information on energy saving measures at Eurosystem level, both of which provide new input on measures that could be implemented on ECB sites.

In 2023 the ECB consumed 5.5% less electrical energy and 12% less energy for heating and cooling than in the previous year. Following the return of more staff on-site, the amount of biogas used for cooking in the main building’s kitchen increased by 136% compared with 2022. After the re-introduction of a pick-and-weigh system in the canteen aimed at reducing food waste, it is no longer possible to report the number of meals served.

The energy consumption dashboard presents weather-adjusted, real-time energy consumption for the main building including a forecasting feature which allows energy use to be steered. The tool has been further refined in the past year, giving a clearer overview and more accurate picture of when implemented energy saving measures are having a positive effect on energy consumption.

Electrical energy consumption at the city centre premises decreased by 1.1%, while heating and cooling energy consumption decreased by 8.8% compared with 2022.

Procured energy in the Eurotower is supplemented by two cogeneration plants powered with biogas. The plants contribute to supplying the building with heat and electrical energy. Biogas consumption in the Eurotower decreased by 14.6%, reflecting the effects of the energy saving measures, while electricity consumption from the grid was further reduced by 4.8% compared with the previous year.

In the Japan Center, heating is provided through district heating. Consumption increased by 7.6% relative to 2022. By contrast electricity consumption was reduced by 14%.

Chart 5

Energy consumption – main building^[10]

(MWh)

Chart 6

Energy consumption – city centre buildings

4.3 Material efficiency

The ECB has set itself the goal of eliminating single-use plastic items in customer-facing outlets and kitchen operations by 2024. Together with external service providers, the ECB is exploring ways of reducing packaging waste in the canteens and cafeterias. This includes, for example, actively encouraging the use of reusable packaging for take-away items whenever possible and seeking sustainable packaging alternatives for single-use items.

In the following section, resource consumption from publications, office paper, cleaning agents, office supplies, and chemicals for water treatment and cooling are described. Details on the CO₂e emissions are presented in the subsection on purchased goods and services in Chapter 3.2 – Indirect emissions.

4.3.1 Publications

In 2023 the ECB’s official publications were fully digital. Although the amount of paper consumption for publications measured in tonnes varies significantly from year to year, the trend is towards phasing out paper consumption in favour of digital publications.

Chart 7

Paper consumption for official publications

(tonnes)

4.3.2 Office paper

Office paper consumption increased almost tenfold compared with 2022. Given that no office paper was ordered in 2022, the high consumption in 2023 stemmed from the need to top up stock and ensure a stable supply for coming years. As a result of this purchase, the share of recycled paper amounted to 98.4%.

In 2023 ECB calendars were printed on-site on paper purchased in previous years. As such, they do not appear in the paper consumption figures for 2023.

Chart 8

Office paper consumption

(thousands of sheets of A4 equivalent)

4.3.3 Cleaning agents

In 2023 the ECB ceased using aqueous ozone, as pandemic-related disinfection requirements no longer applied, and re-introduced microbiological cleaning agents. Consumption of cleaning agents increased significantly compared with 2022, by 197% in the main building and 104% in the city centre buildings, owing to increased occupancy and several large-scale events and conferences. Some of the cleaning agents included in Chart 9 were not consumed in 2023 but were bought as stock mainly for use in 2024.

Chart 9

Cleaning agent consumption

(tonnes)

4.3.4 Office supplies

In the ECB’s stationery catalogue, eco-labels are displayed to promote environmentally friendly stationary, encouraging staff to choose these items over unlabelled ones. In 2023, 38% of the stationery items in the catalogue were labelled eco-friendly. The ECB is investigating ways of further increasing this share. Employees are urged to return unused stationery and other office materials to the logistics storeroom to enable reuse by other staff.

4.3.5 Chemicals for water treatment and cooling agents

Chemicals used for water treatment decreased by 18.81% in 2023 in the city centre buildings and 10.03% in the main building owing to a reduction in technical water consumption. In the city centre buildings, no cooling agent losses were reported. In the Japan Centre, several cooling machines were replaced, reducing the risk of future leakages. In the main building, cooling agent losses increased by 56.7% compared with 2022 as a result of accidental leakages.

Chart 10

Chemicals used for water treatment

(tonnes)

Chart 11

Cooling agent losses

(kilograms)

4.4 Water and waste water

The ECB monitors technical and non-technical water consumption on its premises. Technical water consumption covers water used for temperature control in the buildings. Non-technical water consumption includes the amount of water used for processes in kitchenettes, canteens and sanitary facilities. Additionally, water used for the irrigation of trees on the site of the main building is reported as non-technical water. This needs to be kept in mind when comparing the non-technical water consumption of the main building with that of the city centre premises.

At the main building, fresh water consumption decreased by 15% and technical water consumption by 53% compared with 2022. Non-technical water consumption increased slightly by 5%, partly resulting from the maintenance of green areas. Fresh water consumption tended to level off and decreased significantly by around 65% compared with 2019 thanks to water saving measures such as irrigation bags for trees and not watering green areas during hot summer months.

At the city centre premises, fresh water consumption and non-technical water consumption increased by 20.4% and 31.5% respectively compared with the previous year, while technical water consumption decreased by 8.3%. Overall, fresh water consumption increased, reflecting the rise in non-technical water consumption stemming from greater use of staff restaurants in both buildings following the return of staff on-site. This was counterbalanced by the slight decrease in technical water consumption. Non-technical water consumption was 6.3% lower than in 2019 and close to pre-pandemic levels owing to higher occupancy rates.

Details on CO₂e emissions related to water and wastewater are described in the subsection on purchased goods and services in Chapter 3.2 – Indirect emissions.

Chart 13

Water consumption – city centre buildings

(m³)

4.5 Waste and recycling

In order to achieve the target of a 5% reduction in residual waste per workplace relative to 2018, measures encouraging waste avoidance and reduction were in place, including awareness raising activities. The ECB significantly outperformed its target with a reduction of 65%, thanks to these measures in combination with increased teleworking and therefore a reduced staff presence on-site compared with 2018.

Total waste amounted to 558 tonnes in 2023, a slight increase of 5% compared with 2022. This increase was largely expected given the presence of more staff on-site in 2023 relative to 2022. 97% or 541 tonnes of waste was non-hazardous. This included plastic packaging, organic waste, residual waste, confidential paper waste as well as paper and cardboard. The remaining 3% or 16.7 tonnes of waste was hazardous and included electronic waste (13.9 tonnes) and other hazardous waste (2.8 tonnes), which consisted of waste from construction works and batteries. The ECB donates some IT equipment, allowing old devices to be reused, which contributes to reducing IT waste streams.

Total waste generated at the main building decreased by 17% relative to the previous year. The waste fractions of packaging and organic matter including grease separator waste increased by 62.4% and 3.3% respectively compared with 2022, owing to increased use of the canteens. The waste fractions of paper and cardboard, confidential paper, and residual waste were reduced by 9.5%, 20.5% and 24.5% respectively. Compared with 2019 (pre-pandemic), the ECB has managed to keep the total amount of waste at the main building consistently low, achieving a decrease of 51.4%.

Total waste generated by the city centre premises increased by 40.1% compared with 2022. The rise was driven by increases in residual waste (+76.7%), packaging waste (+57.8%) and organic waste including grease separator waste (+39.1%). This trend was offset by reductions in paper and cardboard waste (-2.7%) and confidential paper waste (-11.9%). Relative to 2019, the ECB reduced total waste at its city centre premises by around 26.4%.

Chart 14

Waste and recycling – main building

(tonnes)

Chart 15

Waste and recycling – city centre buildings

(tonnes)

In 2023 total waste as defined by the German Commercial Waste Ordinance amounted to 350.26 tonnes. As part of this, separately collected commercial waste (excluding residual waste) amounted to 261.5 tonnes, which represents 75% of total waste in 2023 according to the Commercial Waste Ordinance. Residual waste is pre-sorted and disposed of at a certified treatment plant.

4.6 Biodiversity

Over the course of 2023 the ECB further expanded its concept of biodiversity, which guides landscaping activities on ECB premises. At the heart of this concept are: preserving and fostering biodiversity, species conservation and a sustainable approach to the management of green areas. In practice, the approach is to let the green areas evolve in a natural way and only intervene minimally. For example, mowing of the green areas has been significantly reduced, from 16 times a year to once a year. When mowing was necessary alternating strips were cut, with two-week breaks in-between to preserve habitats for insects. Moreover, wilted flowers are being left in place long enough to allow their seeds to spread naturally and any larvae they may contain to develop. Nature-oriented areas on ECB premises have been expanded by replacing gravel areas around trees with native perennial flowers. These flowers have been specifically selected to be insect-friendly, as well as heatwave and drought-resistant. The constant efforts in this vein by the ECB staff responsible for landscaping and green care, supported by landscape architects and biodiversity experts, have helped the ECB grounds to become a haven for various insect species and wild bees.

In 2021 the City of Frankfurt’s environmental office published plans for the city’s species and biotope conservation scheme, revealing that the area around the main building is listed as a dry biotope. Looking to the future, efforts to maintain and develop our landscaping concept and approach will be tailored towards preserving this environment in its natural state.

Several biodiversity measures introduced in previous years on the ECB grounds were continued in 2023. Fallen leaves from trees are piled up and left on the ground to provide shelter, building materials and food for various species. To reduce water consumption, the roof of the Grossmarkthalle collects rainwater for sanitary use and the roofs of the former dog kennels also collect rainwater, which is used to water the raised beds. Additionally, to protect trees during the dry summer months, special water-retaining bags are placed around them. This also helps reduce the amount of water needed to sustain them. While the biodiversity objective was achieved in 2023, these efforts will continue in 2024 and new objectives and supportive measures will be developed for the upcoming Environmental Management Programme (EMP) for 2025-27.

Awareness raising remained an important element of biodiversity-related activities in 2023. Work is under way to set up a dedicated nature trail, including information boards in various areas of interest around the ECB’s garden. They will provide information on measures to enhance species protection and biodiversity on the ECB grounds. Guided tours of the garden also continued in 2023. This offered over 100 colleagues, including members of the Executive Board, the possibility to learn more about the garden’s concept, history and role as a haven for various species of wildlife. Additionally, the ECB held a week-long awareness raising event for staff, focusing on the importance of biodiversity and how to foster it both in the office setting and at home. For more information on this and other communication and awareness raising activities please refer to Chapter 4.10 – Communication, engagement and awareness raising.

4.7 Banknotes

As part of the Eurosystem’s cash strategy, the ECB endeavours to improve the safety and sustainability of euro banknotes throughout the cash cycle.

The ECB and the national central banks (NCBs) of the Eurosystem have the exclusive right to issue banknotes within the euro area. At the end of 2023 there were 29.8 billion euro banknotes in circulation.

The ECB coordinates, monitors and regulates the design, production and circulation of euro banknotes. The ECB promotes good environmental management and seeks to avoid any risk to the health and safety of the general public, as well as to the workers involved in the production and circulation of euro banknotes. All manufacturers producing euro banknotes and the main raw materials must provide the ECB with copies of their ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 certificates and specific declarations showing that they conform to the applicable standards for quality, environmental, health and safety management, and ethical conduct of business. The ECB also monitors and assesses the environmental impact of the production processes.

The ECB assesses the environmental impact of the Eurosystem banknote supply using a broad scope methodology, the Product Environmental Footprint, while the ECB’s operational footprint is calculated using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol framework. The environmental footprint of euro banknotes as payment instrument is very low, i.e. equivalent to 0.01% of the total environmental impact of a citizen. Emissions from banknotes are not included in the ECB’s operational carbon footprint, as banknotes are a joint responsibility of the Eurosystem as a whole.

The ECB and Eurosystem NCBs are implementing policies to further reduce the environmental impact of euro banknotes. For example, in 2023 the 3,500 tonnes of cotton fibres used to produce euro banknote paper came from environmentally and socially sustainable sources.

The ECB is engaging with all stakeholders to identify further ways to improve the environmental sustainability of euro banknotes throughout the cash cycle, including the eco-design of future banknotes. In this vein, a series of research and development projects are under way. They aim at improving the environmental sustainability of current and future euro banknotes by (i) increasing their circulation lifetime, (ii) using raw materials with less environmental impact, and (iii) developing more sustainable solutions for their end-of-life treatment.

Detailed information on the environmental impact of euro banknotes is available on the ECB’s website in the section on “The euro”.

4.8 Green public procurement

In line with its environmental commitment, the ECB continues to use green public procurement as a tool to mitigate the environmental impact of its operational activities. It embeds environmental considerations in ECB procurement procedures and contracts, particularly in areas with substantial environmental impact, such as cleaning, catering and facility management services. This approach extends beyond mere compliance, encompassing efforts to influence the entire lifecycle of procured goods and services, including production, delivery and performance. Furthermore, the ECB recognises the pivotal role of procurement in advancing its broader approach to environmental management activities: leveraging its purchasing power to drive sustainability across its value chain while encouraging best practices within its operations.

In 2023 the ECB conducted 233 new procurement procedures, of which 52, or 22.3%, are considered “green procurement procedures” that include environmental considerations. This represents a 4.3% increase since 2022. At the same time, the total value of new green procurement procedures is 21.5% of the total value of all new procurement procedures in 2023, which represents a 5.5% decrease from 27% in 2022.

The full implementation of electronic procurement and contract management processes led to significant improvements in their environmental impact. It brought about a significant reduction in the consumption of paper, printing consumables and packaging materials, as well as emissions from business travel and the shipping of documentation. In 2023 all 79 three/five-quote procedures and 51 public tender procedures were conducted fully electronically using the ECB’s e-tendering platform, supported by other electronic means of communication and document submission. This also extended to fully digitising contract documentation, as electronic signatures have become the standard approach; contracts are now made and archived in electronic format only. In 2023 most purchase orders and outcome letters were also signed digitally by the ECB and its suppliers. Moreover, a significant number of contracts, in particular for diverse consultancy services, allow for the full or partial remote/virtual performance of the deliverables by the contractors. The ECB also continues to hold contract and vendor management meetings in a virtual format. These means of contract performance and management considerably reduce emissions from related business travel.

Including environmental considerations in procurement procedures, conducting them in an environmentally conscious way, and implementing training courses and awareness raising on green procurement all formed an integral part of the ECB’s holistic approach to green public procurement. In 2023 a green procurement awareness day took place and all ECB staff were invited to discuss the relevance of environmental criteria for procurement procedures and to learn about the tools at their disposal. The event was attended either physically or virtually by 50 ECB procurement practitioners. The Central Procurement Office plans to hold similar events again in the coming years.

In addition, the ECB engages with other European institutions on a joint Green Public Procurement Helpdesk (GPP Helpdesk). This Helpdesk enables institutions to further develop their green procurement approach by providing a platform for exchanging relevant information on best practices and market knowledge.

4.9 Travel

Travel activities, including business travel and other travel-related services, increased significantly in 2023 compared with the past three years. Notably, this was the first full year without any travel restrictions following the pandemic. In 2023 ECB staff travelled a total distance of 26,365,753 kilometres for work. This represented a 65% increase relative to 2022 but is still 34% lower than the level in 2019. In terms of carbon emissions, travel-related emissions also remained below their 2019 levels, accounting for 8,281 tonnes CO₂e^[11]. While this represents an almost threefold increase in emissions relative to 2022, it remains 31% lower than in 2019. As in previous years, air travel is the largest emission source, contributing 98% of total business travel-related emissions in 2023.

Chart 16

Emissions from business travel by car, plane and train and absolute number of kilometres travelled

a) Emissions

(Tonnes CO₂e)

b) Absolute km travelled by transport means

(kilometres)

The changes in carbon emissions in 2023 have also been exacerbated by significant increases in travel-related emission factors published by DEFRA.^[12] On average these increased by 30% in 2023 relative to 2022, considering all flight classes. This implies that, while the objective for travel-related emissions was not met for 2023, the measures put in place to reduce overall travel have proven effective to a certain extent. The number of kilometres travelled in 2023 is only 66% of the 2019 level.

The observed increases in travel in 2023 had been largely expected since 2022, owing to the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions. Aiming to mitigate the emissions stemming from this rebound effect, the ECB introduced targeted objectives and measures as part of its EMP. They included the revision of internal travel rules to make train travel the default option both within Germany and for certain international destinations.

Thanks to more accurate travel agency data, the ECB retrospectively adapted its business travel emissions and is now able to evaluate its plane travel in more detail. Specifically, information on the flight class for each trip became available. This enabled the use of flight class-specific emission factors, resulting in a more accurate calculation of the environmental impact stemming from plane travel. This enhancement of the methodology is in line with the continual improvement mindset which guides the ECB’s approach to environmental management. Emissions were therefore recalculated using the flight-specific emission factors for the years 2021 to 2023. However, this improvement created a comparability issue, given that this level of detail was not available for 2019 and 2020. Therefore, revised figures for 2019 and 2020 emissions were computed using data for 2021-23. First the difference was calculated between emissions based on the previous emission factors and according to the new flight class-specific emission factors for each flight category (domestic, long-haul, etc.). Subsequently, each flight category was assigned a weight based on its CO₂e contribution to total aviation-related emissions for each year. This allowed the computation of a weighted average of the emissions increase, which was applied in order to adjust the 2019 baseline and the 2020 emissions for the new emission factors.^[13]

Much like the resumption of travel by ECB staff, the number of conferences at the ECB continued on the upward trend observed in 2022. This accounted for 4,091 tonnes CO₂e in 2023, representing a more than two-fold increase from 2022, but a 62% reduction relative to 2019. This drastic reduction in conference-related emissions meets the objective of limiting physical meetings and conferences with external participants to 50% of planned meetings over a two-year period (2023-24). The availability of advanced hybrid technology in meeting rooms at the ECB has greatly facilitated progress in this area, together with business areas’ commitment to complying with the new rules. Moreover, to mitigate the impact of the physical conferences that do take place, an internal sustainable events guideline is available to all staff. For further details on the progress towards travel-related objectives and measures, see Chapter 3 – The ECB’s carbon footprint.

Staff commuting and teleworking emissions^[14] are based on a survey conducted every two years. It was last launched in summer 2023, after the new teleworking regime came into effect allowing teleworking for up to 110 days per calendar year (around 50% of working time).^[15] Given the inherent disadvantages of survey-based approaches, this emission source is subject to a higher degree of uncertainty and as such should be interpreted cautiously. For the latest iteration of the survey and ensuing calculations, several enhancements were introduced to improve the accuracy of these calculations. They included factoring in the aggregate number of staff away on business travel. In 2023 emissions stemming from staff commuting to ECB premises increased by 15% relative to 2022. Despite that increase, emissions from staff commuting and teleworking decreased by 42% overall compared with 2019. This was due to emissions from teleworking decreasing by 38% in 2023 relative to 2022, accounting for 393 tonnes CO₂e. As in previous years the largest share of teleworking-related emissions stemmed from heating consumption, which accounted for 72% of this emission source. These developments are explained by the increased on-site presence after the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions and the introduction of the new teleworking regime. Greenhouse gas emissions from staff commuting and teleworking are outlined in Chapter 3.2 – Indirect emissions.

4.10 Communication, engagement and awareness raising

2023 was a very successful and active year in terms of the ECB’s environment-related communication and awareness raising activities. Numerous events for staff were held both virtually and physically. In contrast to previous years 2023 provided more opportunities for staff to attend physically on account of the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions.

In March 2023 the ECB showed its support for Earth Hour for the 12th consecutive year. During this hour all non-essential lights were switched off across all three main ECB premises, in addition to the regular evening switch-off schedule. This event raises awareness of the challenges posed by climate change and encourages individuals to take time to reflect on what they can do to live a more sustainable lifestyle. For the occasion, the ECB’s caterers provided climate-friendly recipes for staff to prepare at home.

Further consolidating the ECB staff’s knowledge of climate change and the associated impacts and risks was a vital objective of the communication and awareness raising activities in 2023. For this reason, a self-paced e-learning course was rolled out to ECB staff in April 2023. This course sets out what climate change is and highlights the importance of the ECB’s role in tackling it. Moreover, the course introduces staff to the ECB’s EMS and how they can help make the ECB a more environmentally sustainable institution. It was made mandatory for all newcomers.

Additionally, in May 2023 the ECB held its second Biodiversity week. This had first been celebrated in 2021. The event was created to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity, highlight current threats and issues and promote environmentally-friendly behaviour among ECB staff to support the ECB’s biodiversity related objectives. This week-long event included various activities. A photo competition encouraged staff to submit images highlighting the beauty and importance of biodiversity, while an expert talk discussed the path towards a nature-based economy. Moreover, an online biodiversity trivia quiz was created to test ECB staff’s knowledge of biodiversity measures at the ECB and provide them with relevant information. As a highlight of the week, various guided tours of the garden at the main building were offered to staff so they could learn more about the biodiversity measures implemented on ECB premises. Lastly the ECB’s urban gardening section gave a presentation focusing on how staff could transform their balconies or gardens into a space to support the local ecosystem.

In early June 2023, shortly after the Biodiversity week, the ECB celebrated the United Nations’ World Ocean Day for the very first time. This was intended to raise awareness of the importance of the oceans and the need to protect them. For this event, various resources were compiled to help staff inform themselves about concrete measures they could take in their daily lives to help keep the oceans clean.

In the last quarter of 2023 communication and awareness raising activities focused on events organised by other European institutions. European Mobility Week was celebrated in September, followed by the European Week for Waste Reduction in early November. These events, organised by the European Commission, help highlight the “collective action” mentality necessary to effectively fight climate change and reduce environmental degradation. During these events, relevant information was provided to staff on the importance of sustainable mobility options and the need to reduce the amount of packaging and waste generated. Additionally, staff were made aware of other resources available to them to facilitate progress on these issues.

As the last major communication and awareness raising event of the year, the ECB participated in the organisation of the Interinstitutional EMAS Days, which took place in late November. During this three-day event, numerous EMAS-registered EU institutions came together to organise a series of thematic panel discussions. These covered a wide range of topics, such as climate neutrality strategies and the energy efficiency of EU buildings. For this event, the ECB, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU held a joint session on introducing energy saving measures for their premises. During this session, lessons learned since introducing energy saving measures in autumn 2022 were shared with the audience, together with a general overview of the ECB’s future plans in this context. In addition, the session focused on providing tools and tips on how best to communicate such measures to stakeholders.

As highlighted by the Interinstitutional EMAS days, collaboration with other European institutions and central banks from the Eurosystem plays a key role in the development of the ECB’s EMS. These interactions focus on the exchange of best practices and expertise on environmental management. In 2023 the ECB again made such exchanges a priority, given the fruitful outcomes to date. Interinstitutional collaboration is primarily fostered through two networks. First, the Environmental Network of Central Banks (ENCB) provides a platform for collaboration between teams working on environmental management topics across central banks in Europe. Second, the Interinstitutional Group for Environmental Management (GIME) fosters collaboration among EMAS-registered European institutions. Additionally, the ECB exchanges information with peer institutions on an ad hoc basis, further increasing its capacity to expand its knowledge and implement best practices.

Activities on the maintenance and development of the EMS are also facilitated by the network of Environmental Representatives. They play a fundamental role in raising awareness on environmentally relevant topics within their business areas, given their function as ambassadors of the EMS. As such, they act as the principal point of contact between their respective business areas and the environmental management team, consisting of the Green ECB team and the ECB’s Environmental Coordinator. In 2023 Environmental Representatives organised individual communication and awareness raising activities for their own business areas. These events combined teambuilding with topics of environmental relevance, for example through visits to zero-waste shops or community clean-ups.

5 Technical information

The previous chapters describe objectives, measures and developments concerning the environmental aspects the ECB has identified as most significant. This chapter presents additional information in line with the requirements of the EMAS Regulation^[16].

5.1 Updates to conversion factors

The following table shows percentual differences in CO₂e emission conversion factors used for the calculation of 2022 and 2023 emissions. Further information can be found in Chapter 4. The ECB integrates available updates on emission factors into its reporting on an annual basis. The following only presents year-on-year differences in factors where the most recent figure has changed more than 5% compared with the previous year. The table makes underlying changes in emission factors transparent, which helps improve measurement of the carbon footprint.

5.2 Workplace-based environmental performance indicators 2021-23

5.3 Uncertainty assessment of the ECB’s carbon footprint 2023

The following ranking was applied to estimate the uncertainty of the activity data and the emission factors.

5.4 Compliance obligations

The environmental laws the ECB must adhere to are defined by German regulations at both the municipal and the national level. These regulations are consolidated into a register which is maintained by legal professionals at the ECB and subject to regular reviews and updates. Changes and the measures required are closely monitored to ensure full compliance. Most of these legal requirements are centred around the operation and maintenance of the ECB buildings as well as contracted services such as cleaning and catering. Internal environmental audits, conducted annually, serve as comprehensive evaluations of the ECB’s adherence to these regulations. The latest assessments found no instances of non-compliance.

In addition to its legal obligations concerning the environment, the ECB has other environmental commitments. These concern the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines and the objectives outlined in the EMP. Furthermore, each year numerous communication events are held to raise awareness among staff on environmental issues.

As of 2022 the ECB decided to adopt an internal framework supporting the integration of the objectives of the European Climate Law into the ECB’s policies, projects, and activities and also to report on these measures in the ECB’s Annual Report. In 2023 this framework was further developed, particularly regarding the inclusion of environmental considerations in the ECB’s internal projects.

More information on the ECB’s activities connected to climate change within its mandate is available on the ECB website.

For questions on the information presented in this publication, please visit the ECB’s contacts page.

6 Environmental verifier’s declaration

The environmental verifier named below confirms that the European Central Bank (ECB) premises at Sonnemannstrasse 20, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (main building); Taunustor 2, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (Japan Center); and Kaiserstrasse 29, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (Eurotower), as described in this Environmental Statement by the ECB with the registration number D-125-00045, meet all the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009, as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 of 28 August 2017 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 2018/2026 19 December 2018, on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS).

By signing this declaration, it is confirmed that:

• the assessment and validation have been carried out in full compliance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 and (EU) 2018/2026;
• the result of the assessment and validation confirms that there is no evidence of non-compliance with applicable environmental legislation;
• the data and information in this Environmental Statement provide a reliable, credible and accurate picture of all the organisation's activities.

This declaration cannot be equated with EMAS registration. EMAS registration can only be carried out by a competent body in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009. This declaration may not be used as a stand-alone piece of public communication.

Frankfurt am Main, 15.07.2024