The bank has closed its first sustainable
deposit with consumer goods group Unilever, marking the start of the roll-out
of this innovative offer to corporate clients in EMEA.
The offer is based on the Sustainable Deposits Framework which BNP
Paribas developed recently. This framework has been independently reviewed by
Vigeo Eiris (V.E) and given “reasonable assurance” as to the relevance of its
approach (the highest level in V.E’s opinion matrix). The sustainable deposits
will enhance BNP Paribas’ capacity to increase the amount of investment and
financing contributing to the energy transition and to sectors directly
supporting the UN’s SDGs.
Supporting the achievement of the UN SDGs is a core to BNP Paribas’
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) approach. As of end of 2019, the
bank had contributed €180 billion in investment and financing for sectors
considered to support the SDGs. 
Philip Sasse, Vice President, Global Treasury
Operations at Unilever, explained: “ESG is an integral part of Unilever’s
business strategy and as a Treasury team we work to support the delivery of
our sustainable business goals across the full spectrum of Treasury
activities, with a strong desire to contribute through ESG innovation. We
are therefore delighted to have collaborated with a key banking partner such
as BNP Paribas on their new sustainable deposit offering in order to pioneer
the development of relevant solutions and drive positive ESG impact at scale.”
Aurélia Normand, Head of Transaction Banking EMEA at
BNP Paribas, also highlighted: “The development of a sustainable deposits
offering represents an opportunity to enhance BNP Paribas’ capability to raise
short-term funds to support its lending to sectors with positive UN SDG impact,
while at the same time addressing a growing need from its clients to align
their liquidity placement and investment practice with their sustainability
objectives. As we prepare to deploy the offering across our geographies, with
EMEA as a first step, we are very pleased to have closed our first sustainable
deposit with Unilever.”