How CaixaBank Uses Sustainable Finance for Decarbonisation

Spanish financial services company CaixaBank mobilised €20.99bn (US$24bn) in sustainable finance in the first half of 2025.

This move signals a strategic alignment of its financial operations with sustainability goals as global ESG assets are projected to reach US$34tn by 2026.

CaixaBank, which serves over 20 million customers across Spain and Portugal, is implementing a multi-faceted strategy to support a green transition. The company has set a target to mobilise €100bn (US$116bn) between 2025 and 2027 to foster a greener economy.

Its approach focuses on steering both society and business towards decarbonisation by meeting annual net zero objectives that are aligned with 2030 target pathways.

As part of this strategy, CaixaBank plans to engage with 90% of high-carbon emission companies to support and finance their transition to more sustainable business models.

CaixaBank has stated it will invest in current and future transition solutions, including renewable energy, clean mobility, industrial decarbonisation and financial inclusion.

Environmental and climate strategy

CaixaBank's Environmental and Climate Strategy underpins its commitment to financing and investing in sustainable projects while also assessing the impact of its own activities.

The company is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and is actively working to transition its investment portfolios toward zero greenhouse gas emissions.

A key part of this commitment includes a pledge to cease financing companies involved in thermal coal activities, a move designed to reduce its climate impact.

Maria Luisa Martinez Gistau, Chief Executive of Communications and International Relations at CaixaBank, explained on LinkedIn: “At CaixaBank, we continue to move towards a more sustainable economy.

“In the first half of 2025, we have mobilised almost €21bn (US$24bn) in sustainable finance. This means that we have already reached more than 60% of the annual target set in our 2025-2027 Sustainability Plan."

The majority of this mobilisation has come from financing, with the remainder coming from intermediation through asset management investment funds, pension plans and bond placement.

Reducing carbon emissions

To reduce its own carbon footprint, CaixaBank has implemented several sustainability initiatives across its operations.

It has replaced fluorescent lighting with LED alternatives in its branch network and introduced motion sensors and automated light turn-off systems.

According to CaixaBank, in 2024 these measures contributed to a 27.8% reduction in energy consumption across its facilities compared to a 2021 baseline.

Waste management and the adoption of circular economy principles are also priorities for minimising Scope 3 emissions.

CaixaBank utilises selective waste collection for recycling and has made its corporate buildings free from single-use plastic. It has also launched awareness campaigns for staff to encourage waste reduction.

Considerable reductions in waste from toner cartridges have been recorded since 2021.

Furthermore, the introduction of digital signatures, an option to not print ATM receipts and a fully electronic invoicing process has reduced paper consumption by 40%.

Mobilising sustainable finance

CaixaBank's move towards sustainability has supported the creation of projects linked to reducing the carbon footprint in emission-intensive activities that currently lack viable clean alternatives.

Alongside its environmental targets, CaixaBank's Sustainability Plan also emphasises social and financial inclusion. CaixaBank is committed to maintaining its branch presence in rural areas, supplementing this with mobile offices and ATMs.

CaixaBank also aims to improve the accessibility of its services both in-person and online.

These efforts include making legal information more understandable and providing support and education for people in vulnerable situations, which could help broaden its customer base and ensure a more inclusive financial system.