The ICF allocates more than half of its funding to environmental and social projects

The ICF fosters social and sustainable development through its funding, investments and management model with the goal of generating a positive impact on the planet and people’s lives.

As part of our transparency and accountability, each year we publish our Sustainability Report which sets out the ICF’s actions and progress in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and the calculation of our carbon footprint with a view to becoming an emission-neutral institution by 2050.

As a core part of our mission as a public development bank, we strive to provide financing for projects and investments which deliver progress in the fight against the climate crisis, bring about social transformations, expand the stock of publicly-subsidised housing or further other strategic and priority action streams.

We also support Catalan companies and organisations to put in place initiatives and plans to cut water and energy use, foster the circular economy and sustainable mobility and take steps towards equality and social justice.

An ethical and sustainable management model

The ICF’s commitment to social and sustainable development is reflected across the board in all our operations. So we also implement procedures, mechanisms and transformations under environmental and social criteria in-house to set an example of ethical and responsible management.

• We use 100% renewable energy and have solar panels at the ICF’s head office for self-consumption.
• We have a fleet made up solely of electric vehicles.
• We have eliminated the use of plastic bottles and other single-use products.
• We have reduced paper expenditure as a result of our digitalisation process.
• We regularly implement energy efficiency and water saving improvements to minimise our environmental impact as much as possible.

On the social and labour front, we have an equality and anti-discrimination plan in place, roll out work-life balance and digital disconnection measures and take part in financial education initiatives to equip young people with the tools and knowledge they need to manage their personal finances in the future.

A carbon-neutral organisation by 2050

A carbon-neutral organisation by 2050

As of 2023, the calculation of our carbon footprint also includes the emissions generated by the projects and investments of the companies and organisations we finance, which account for 99% of our overall environmental impact.

This assessment makes the ICF a driver of change towards the green transition and in partnership with the business and social community helps us to take the measures needed to become a carbon-neutral organisation by 2050, one of our strategic targets in line with the commitments in the European Green Deal.

The financial sector plays a key role in the battle against the climate crisis and at the ICF we seek to be part of the solution. That is why since 2024 we have been a member of the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), an association of more than 500 financial institutions worldwide whose methodology enables institutions to calculate the emissions associated with their loans and investments in a standardised, synchronised and transparent approach.

We are also part of the Greenhouse gas emissions reduction voluntary agreements programme, a Government of Catalonia initiative which offers tools, support and acknowledgement to organisations that have facilities or operations in Catalonia and voluntarily seek to give effect to a commitment to reduce their emissions.