Leading Bank Santander Recognized by Global Finance in Sustainable Finance Sector within Latin America
Santander Group Leads the Way in Green Finance, Wins Prestigious Awards
Santander Group, a global banking powerhouse, has solidified its position as a leader in green finance, earning accolades for its initiatives to support a transition to a greener economy and combat climate change.
In August 2021, Santander Chile was awarded the "Outstanding Leadership in Sustainable Finance" prize for Latin America by Global Finance. The award category specifically recognised Santander's initiatives to support clients in transitioning to a greener economy and combating climate change. Santander Mexico also received the same honour, being recognised as the Outstanding Leader in Sustainable Finance in Latin America.
Miguel Mata, general manager of Santander Chile, expressed the company's commitment to sustainable practices at an international level. He stated that Santander Chile will continue to work towards deepening the sustainable finance market in the country and reducing its carbon footprint.
One of Santander's key strategies is financing clean energy and sustainable growth. The bank is actively involved in supporting renewable energy and clean technology projects globally, including partnerships with the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 initiative. This ambitious programme aims to transition Great Britain’s electricity system to primarily clean energy sources by 2030.
Santander also promotes the circular economy through innovation support. Initiatives like the Santander X Global Challenge | Circular Economy Revolution back startups and scaleups developing digital solutions that maximize resource value and reduce waste. This challenge provides startups with prize money, resources, and opportunities to amplify their positive environmental impact.
The bank prioritises green finance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration, making them central to its strategy. Recognised as “Best in class (+1 notch)” in sustainability by the 2025 EU stress test, Santander integrates ESG criteria to promote long-term sustainability and resilience.
Santander also supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that embed sustainability into their business strategies. Awards like the Sustainable SME of the Year recognise companies for environmental responsibility, diversity, ethics, and community engagement, thereby encouraging customers to pursue sustainable business practices and gain support from Santander.
Santander Chile has also taken concrete steps to reduce its carbon footprint. These efforts include responsible waste management, renewable energy use, and other measures. The bank has also provided several Sustainability-Linked Loans (SLLs), a financing alternative for companies with a positive impact on communities and the planet.
Santander Group has committed to contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The bank aims to mobilize €120,000 million between 2019 and 2025 and €220,000 million between 2019 and 2030 in green funding to address climate change.
These initiatives demonstrate Santander’s approach to helping customers transition to a greener economy by financing clean energy, promoting innovative circular economy solutions, prioritizing ESG in banking services, and supporting sustainable entrepreneurship. The awards recognise Santander's concrete actions to help combat global warming using its experience.
Santander harnesses the power of science to identify and fund sustainable finance projects that help mitigate climate-change, making a crucial impact in the business industry. The bank's support for environmental-science ventures is evident in its partnerships with initiatives like the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030.
Santander's strategy is further solidified by offering Sustainability-Linked Loans (SLLs) to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that prioritize sustainability, fostering a greener business environment across the industry.
Regarding its own operations, Santander is actively reducing its carbon footprint by implementing measures like responsible waste management and renewable energy use. The bank's goals align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to mobilize significant funds for green projects to address climate-change through 2030.
