Driving water efficiency and waste reduction within our operations

In many locations, Credit Suisse occupies leased space and is co-located with other tenants. Therefore, much of our water and waste data is estimated based on industry averages. We are working to improve data collection to better estimate and manage our impacts.

Credit Suisse primarily uses water in office kitchens and washrooms. In some owned facilities, water is also used for landscaping, fitness, and cooling purposes. Credit Suisse also owns a communications center in Switzerland where water is utilized. Water is withdrawn and consumed or discharged in the regions where we have operations. Nearly all water withdrawn was from third-party sources such as municipal water suppliers and utilities. In Switzerland, Credit Suisse uses rainwater for landscaping at the Zurich Uetlihof campus. For cooling purposes, Credit Suisse uses lake water in Lugano and river water from the Rhone River in Geneva. This, however, is not a withdrawal as the water is used solely for energy transfer. Water is discharged to public water treatment facilities, and therefore, no standards for effluent discharge have been set.

For 2021, we have estimated the amount of water withdrawn in regions with high or extremely high baseline water stress according to the World Resources Institute (WRI) Aqueduct Risk Atlas tool. We have not identified any significant water-related impacts associated with our business operations. We seek to improve water efficiency within our office space and, where feasible, will prioritize water efficiency measures in offices located in regions with high water stress.

Credit Suisse generates general office waste and electronic waste in our offices and data centers. In a few locations, other non-hazardous waste streams are generated by tenants. We divert materials for reuse, recycling and composting where feasible, though it is challenging to track this data. In some regions, small quantities of hazardous waste are generated (e.g. electronic waste, batteries, and fluorescent bulbs) and responsibly recycled or disposed. We contract with certified waste management companies authorized to collect and dispose of our waste. Our waste reduction initiatives are focused on reducing paper usage, and we intend to expand this to reducing single-use plastic items. We are working with our procurement teams to increase the share of products made from recyclable material and reusable material, and to purchase paper that is eco-certified.