Responsible vision
We started our journey 145 years ago with a clear vocation: to contribute to business and social development in a responsible manner. This essential goal has guided us through each of our transformations — from internationalisation to digitalisation — and today it drives us to tackle major global challenges by making sustainability a core part of our vision for the future and the way we create value.
In recent years, we have taken a significant step forward by embedding ESG principles at the core of our strategy. We are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, reinforcing our governance and enhancing our corporate culture, and we have mobilised more than 76 billion euros in sustainable finance solutions. We have developed solutions that channel capital into high impact projects, promoting diversity and inclusive leadership, and we have stepped up our social commitment through programmes to promote education, inclusion and talent.
Building on this solid foundation, we are embarking on a new phase:Sabadell’s Commitment to Sustainability 2030. Read more in Commitment to Sustainability.
Integration of the SDGs into the strategy
In keeping with its vision, Banco Sabadell continues to steer its activity, organisation and processes in order to make a firm contribution to sustainability and the fight against climate change. To this end, it aligns its sustainability strategy and business model with frameworks of reference, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)1, which it revisits periodically so as to bring itself closer in line with, and expedite its achievement of, the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.
Although the ability to directly or indirectly influence the contribution of all SDGs is thought to be an important element of the Bank’s corporate purpose, given the nature of its business and its potential to make an impact, the Bank believes that its priority should be to focus on acting in pursuit of the following SDGs:
For more details about our contribution to all SDGs, see Non-Financial Disclosures Report 2025(Sustainability Report)
(1) In 2019, Banco Sabadell adopted the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identified those that were relevant to the Institution, setting these as priority SDGs, in turn integrating them into its sustainability strategy.
Framework for the issuance of bonds linked to the SDGs
In 2024, Banco Sabadell updated its Framework for the Issuance of Sustainable Instruments, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This framework serves as a reference for the issuance of green, social and sustainable instruments in a variety of formats, both public and private.
The Framework follows the EU Taxonomy’s substantial contribution criteria for green projects and complies with the voluntary guidelines of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA).
-
Green instruments: Financing for eligible green project categories with environmental benefits, such as the reduction of greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions, pollution prevention and climate change adaptation.
-
Social instruments: Financing for projects that generate social benefits, such as access to essential services, social inclusion and the creation and maintenance of employment.
-
Sustainable instruments: Combined financing of green and social activities.
The net proceeds obtained by issuing these types of instruments (or the amount of the collateralised financial guarantees) are used to finance or refinance all or part of the new or existing loans or projects that meet the Framework’s eligibility criteria.
For Issues of ESG instruments, a report on the allocation of funds and the environmental impact is prepared annually and reviewed by an independent expert.
The latest report “Green Bonds Report 2024”, together with previous editions, can be found on our website at Shareholders and Investors > Fixed income presentation in the subsection “Fixed income issuance and documentation > Sustainable Development Goals bonds”.
For more details, please see the section "Issuance of Banco Sabadell sustainability bonds" in the Non-financial Disclosures Report 2025(Sustainability Report)
Governance
The Bank has adapted its governance model and organisational structure to focus on sustainability.
In March 2021, the General Shareholders’ Meeting approved the creation of the Strategy and Sustainability Committee, a new Delegated Board Committee with the aim of:
-
Monitoring the execution of the sustainability strategy.
-
Reporting regularly to the Board on matters related to the sustainability strategy.
-
Reviewing the sustainability and environmental policies.
On the other hand, the organisational structure based on a system of three lines of defence has been adapted in order to include new responsibilities in relation to ESG matters, strengthening the business, macroeconomic, financial, risk and control areas, among others. It is also worth highlighting that the Sustainability Division reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Furthermore, in order to enhance the disclosure and communication of Sustainability topics to stakeholders, the Rating and Sustainability Disclosure Division was created in 2021.