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ICICI Bank’s Contribution to UN SDGs

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) is an action-oriented framework encompassing economic, social and environmental aspects that aims to transform the lives and livelihood of people. India has endorsed the UNSDGs, implemented suitable policy frameworks and is adopting several initiatives to meet its commitments. Significant strides have been made on issues like poverty eradication, sustainable growth, health, nutrition, gender equality, quality education, among others. Accelerated action in areas like environment and climate change are undertaken to meet the commitments under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). At ICICI Bank, we are consistently drawing on these ambitions set out to transform India and sharing the vision of prosperity for its people and the planet.

Through our work with customers and society, and ESG strategy and priorities, we are contributing to promoting sustainable development. A brief description of ICICI Bank’s efforts to create an impact to enable the country to achieve the UNSDGs and NDC:

UN SDGs The Bank’s Efforts and Impact
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty, featuring a red background with white silhouettes of a diverse group of people, including a person with a cane, symbolizing the goal to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The Bank works with underprivileged communities through CSR projects relating to livelihood and societal interventions, driving a positive impact on the vulnerable and the poor. Till the end of fiscal 2024, 10.7 million people have been benefitted through various programmes.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger, featuring a yellow background with a white silhouette of a bowl with steam rising from it, symbolizing the goal to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture. The Bank has been supporting farmers and the agriculture value chain as part of its business activities. Some measures include the use of satellite technology to assess the land and soil. This helps to improve the sustainability of an agriculturist’s business. Further, CSR projects are undertaken in areas like climate-smart agriculture, food processing, soil rejuvenation and water management that are critical to sustainability in agriculture. Sensitising people on the adverse impact of climate change and cropping patterns are being undertaken to improve yields.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, featuring a green background with a white heartbeat line and a heart symbol, emphasizing the goal to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Healthcare is an area of significant commitment for the Bank as part of its CSR initiatives with specific focus on cancer care, cardiac, eye and trauma care. This includes strengthening health infrastructure and extending financial support to the needy for treatment. Till date, the Bank has engaged with over 500 hospitals. The Bank has also entered into a multi-year commitment with Tata Memorial Centre, one of the leading cancer care institutions in India, to enhance capacity and quality of treatments in the country. The Bank also undertakes several measures on mental health as well as well-being of employees, aimed at fostering a positive work environment.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, featuring a red background with a white silhouette of an open book and a pencil, symbolizing the goal to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The Bank offers customised financial products to students and their parents to aspire and fulfil their dream to study in reputed institutions in India and overseas. Imparting training for skill development to vulnerable segments of the population and improving their livelihood opportunities has been a long-standing commitment at the Bank. The Bank has also extended financial support to deserving students and their families.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality, featuring a red background with a white gender symbol combining the male and female signs, symbolizing the goal to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The Bank is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs through Self-Help Groups. Till date, the Bank has extended support to over 10 million women in the country. The Bank’s skill development and value chain development efforts also have a women-focussed approach. The Bank advocates gender equality and has adopted a no-discrimination policy at the workplace. The women workforce is provided support to meet varying needs through the early stages of their motherhood.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, featuring a blue background with a white water droplet inside a container, symbolizing the goal to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Enhancing the availability of water has been identified as a critical area of intervention. The Bank has undertaken watershed development and rainwater harvesting projects across the country with water harvesting potential of 25.8 billion litres created till date.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, featuring a yellow background with a white symbol of a power button inside a sun, symbolizing the goal to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Considerable efforts are being made towards the adoption of renewable energy at the Bank as well as its stakeholders. The Bank has set up capacity to generate on-site solar power and adopted green tariff power where feasible and viable. In fiscal 2024, renewable sources accounted for 35% of the total electricity consumption sourced from the grid and on-site solar generation. In addition, the Bank engages with its stakeholders to enable the adoption of clean energy. At March 31, 2024, the Bank’s financing to renewable power projects was expected to facilitate creation of 1.64 GW of capacity in the country.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, featuring a maroon background with a white upward-pointing arrow on a bar graph, symbolizing the goal to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The Bank strives to create a healthy work environment for its employees. In fiscal 2024, the Bank completed certification as per ISO 45001:2018 standard for Occupational Health and Safety at 18 of its premises. Several initiatives have been taken to enhance employee well-being through the #BeFit360 programme. In addition, training and career development are facilitated to support personal and professional growth of employees. Emphasis is also being laid on the Bank’s vendors to adopt these values for their employees. This is being driven through the Bank’s Supplier Code of Conduct, as well as through awareness sessions.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, featuring an orange background with a white icon of interconnected blocks, symbolizing the goal to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. The Bank has been at the forefront in adopting new technologies and innovating products to enable seamless delivery of financial services to customers. The Bank is open to experiment and it encourages employees to look at innovative ways of delivering business within the guardrails of risk and compliance. The Bank’s Risk and Compliance Culture Policy articulates the key tenets of doing business and engaging with customers.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, featuring a pink background with a white equal sign surrounded by four arrows pointing outward, symbolizing the goal to reduce inequality within and among countries. The Bank is an equal opportunity employer and has zero tolerance for any form of discrimination. Women comprise 32% of the Bank’s workforce. As part of the Bank’s lending business, financial support is provided to underprivileged individuals and weaker sections of the society. As part of the focus on community development under CSR, the Bank works extensively with vulnerable groups to improve livelihood and enable sustainable growth opportunities.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, featuring a yellow background with a white infinity symbol, signifying the goal to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Operational efficiency is integral to the Bank. Continuous efforts to improve efficiency and responsible consumption of resources are a key focus. The Bank’s Green Procurement Framework provides the base for responsible procurement of goods and services. In addition, ensuring green certification of premises, investing in water and energy conservation, responsible disposal of waste and using recycled paper are some of the ongoing initiatives. In fiscal 2024, FSC certified recycled paper accounted for 15% of total paper procured by the Bank.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action, featuring a green background with a white eye shape containing the Earth, symbolizing the global effort needed to combat climate change and its impacts. The Bank has set itself a goal to become carbon neutral in its own operations in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by fiscal 2032. Further, the Bank has undertaken extensive plantation projects, and is working with 53 forest reserves in the country to support conservation of biodiversity and restoration of ecology.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land, featuring a green background with a white silhouette of a tree and birds flying, symbolizing the goal to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss. Restoring biodiversity, rejuvenating water bodies and tree plantation are ongoing activities as part of the Bank’s CSR initiatives. In fiscal 2024, the Bank spent ₹ 1.64 billion towards such initiatives that spanned the length and breadth of the country. Till date, the Bank has planted over 3.7 million trees, created 25.8 billion litres of water harvesting potential and is working in 53 forest reserves to address critical issues concerning man-wildlife conflict.
Icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, featuring a blue background with a white dove carrying an olive branch and standing on a gavel, symbolizing the goal to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The Bank’s policies towards combatting bribery, corruption, money laundering, child labour, etc. are fundamental to our operations and an integral part of core business processes. The Bank also engages in critical forums and policy initiatives.

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