In accordance with its corporate sustainability measures, at least one branch office of the Bank of New York Mellon is recycling three-quarters of all office materials.
Additionally, seven of the firm's U.S. offices have achieved the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star designation, according to the firm's 2008 CSR report. To qualify, those facilities must consume 35 percent less energy than a standard building, and emit 35 percent less emissions. Several of the firm's locations are certified under LEED Existing Building standards, and some UK offices are seeking ISO 14001 certification.
In September, the bank held its own two-day Environmental Sustainability Summit, which established goals for 2009. Six people on the bank's global facilities management team have been earned LEED accreditation.
The company purchases wind power to provide 27 percent of the power for its U.S. operations. Facilities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa derive 18 percent of their power from alternative energy sources.
As an example of the firm's recycling efforts, during the reconstruction of a single floor in a Boston building, more than 115,000 pounds of materials were recycled during demolition, and the reconstruction used new drywall with 95 percent recycled content, new ceiling tiles with 66 percent recycled content and new carpet with the 35 percent recycled content.
For 2009, the bank aims to:
