Riyad Bank Marks World Environment Day with Measurable Sustainability Progress
Riyad Bank App
Breadcrumb
Media Center
Media Center
Convert your purchases with AlHokair Group
Riyad Bank Media Centre includes a set of up to date news, press releases, advertisements, photos and videos that covers the Bank’s trends and activities.
Latest Press Releases
Asset Publisher
Meshal Al-Assaf
Modified 1 Month ago.
Riyad Bank Marks World Environment Day with Measurable Sustainability Progress
As the world marks World Environment Day, Riyad Bank is sharing progress from its sustainability journey and the practical steps it is taking to reduce its environmental footprint, support sustainable finance, and contribute to environmental initiatives in the community.
From Commitment to Practical Action
Sustainability is embedded in Riyad Bank’s Strategy 2030 and supports the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative. The Bank’s approach focuses on three connected areas: improving the environmental performance of its own operations, financing projects that support a more sustainable economy, and supporting community initiatives that help protect and restore ecosystems.
Reducing Consumption, Emissions and Waste
Riyad Bank has committed to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2035. In 2025, the Bank reduced electricity consumption by 7% compared to 2024, dropping to 110.8 million kWh. Water consumption also fell 16% year-on-year to approximately 205,000 cubic meters. Overall, the Bank reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 operational emissions by 9% compared with 2024. These reductions reflect practical efforts to manage resources more efficiently across the Bank’s facilities and operations.
Progress has been supported by a range of practical improvements, including the move to a more energy-efficient headquarters in King Abdullah Financial District, the use of building management systems, LED lighting, motion detectors, improved cooling systems, double-glazed windows, and more efficient water fixtures. Together, these measures are helping the Bank reduce consumption, lower emissions, and improve operational resilience over time.
Riyad Bank is also taking steps to reduce waste and support circularity. In 2025, the Bank recycled 13.2 tonnes of waste across its operations. This included 10,280 kilograms of plastic and paper waste, as well as 115,022 plastic bottles recycled through reverse vending machines operated with the Saudi Investment Recycling Company. These initiatives help make environmental responsibility more visible and practical for employees, customers, and the wider community.
Financing a Sustainable Economy
Beyond its own operations, Riyad Bank is using its role as a financial institution to support projects that can contribute to long-term economic, social, and environmental value. By the end of 2025, the Bank had reached SAR 31 billion in sustainable finance, exceeding its original SAR 20 billion target ahead of schedule. Riyad Bank has now set a new ambition to reach SAR 60 billion in sustainable finance by 2030.
This sustainable finance portfolio includes SAR 18 billion in green assets and SAR 13 billion in social assets. It supports areas such as renewable energy, sustainable water and wastewater management, green buildings, energy efficiency, clean transportation, and social development. These activities show how finance can help direct capital toward projects that support national development priorities and environmental progress.
Riyad Bank is also strengthening its approach to climate-related risk and financed emissions. The Bank has improved how it measures emissions linked to its corporate loan portfolio and has set interim decarbonization targets for selected priority sectors, including power and iron and steel. This work supports Riyad Bank’s broader commitment to achieve net-zero financed emissions by 2060 and helps the Bank better understand how it can support clients and sectors as they transition over time.
To support this work, Riyad Bank has updated its Sustainable Finance Framework and launched its Transition Finance Framework. These frameworks provide clearer guidance for financing green, social, and transition-related activities, including in sectors where reducing emissions can be more complex. They also support greater transparency and consistency in how the Bank classifies and reports sustainable finance.
Supporting Environment Projects Across the Kingdom
The Bank is also helping translate sustainable finance into environmental outcomes through selected initiatives. Riyad Bank led and financed a SAR 6.5 billion green credit facility for AMAALA, supporting renewable energy, water recycling, low-impact mobility, energy savings, emissions reductions, and biodiversity protection. It also launched NASEEM, a SAR 1 billion financing program with the Environment Fund, to support private sector investment in environmental services, meteorology, waste management, vegetation development, and wildlife protection.
Riyad Bank’s environmental work also reaches local communities through Bukra, its corporate social responsibility strategy. Through Bukra Nursery, the Bank planted 400,000 trees in 2025, bringing the total number of trees planted since launch to 880,000. This contributes to afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and the expansion of vegetation cover across the Kingdom.
A Measured Contribution to Saudi Arabia’s Sustainable Future
On World Environment Day, Riyad Bank’s progress reflects a practical and evolving approach to sustainability. By improving its own operations, scaling sustainable finance, strengthening climate-related measurement, and supporting community environmental initiatives, Riyad Bank aims to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s transition toward a more sustainable future.
From Commitment to Practical Action
Sustainability is embedded in Riyad Bank’s Strategy 2030 and supports the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative. The Bank’s approach focuses on three connected areas: improving the environmental performance of its own operations, financing projects that support a more sustainable economy, and supporting community initiatives that help protect and restore ecosystems.
Reducing Consumption, Emissions and Waste
Riyad Bank has committed to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2035. In 2025, the Bank reduced electricity consumption by 7% compared to 2024, dropping to 110.8 million kWh. Water consumption also fell 16% year-on-year to approximately 205,000 cubic meters. Overall, the Bank reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 operational emissions by 9% compared with 2024. These reductions reflect practical efforts to manage resources more efficiently across the Bank’s facilities and operations.
Progress has been supported by a range of practical improvements, including the move to a more energy-efficient headquarters in King Abdullah Financial District, the use of building management systems, LED lighting, motion detectors, improved cooling systems, double-glazed windows, and more efficient water fixtures. Together, these measures are helping the Bank reduce consumption, lower emissions, and improve operational resilience over time.
Riyad Bank is also taking steps to reduce waste and support circularity. In 2025, the Bank recycled 13.2 tonnes of waste across its operations. This included 10,280 kilograms of plastic and paper waste, as well as 115,022 plastic bottles recycled through reverse vending machines operated with the Saudi Investment Recycling Company. These initiatives help make environmental responsibility more visible and practical for employees, customers, and the wider community.
Financing a Sustainable Economy
Beyond its own operations, Riyad Bank is using its role as a financial institution to support projects that can contribute to long-term economic, social, and environmental value. By the end of 2025, the Bank had reached SAR 31 billion in sustainable finance, exceeding its original SAR 20 billion target ahead of schedule. Riyad Bank has now set a new ambition to reach SAR 60 billion in sustainable finance by 2030.
This sustainable finance portfolio includes SAR 18 billion in green assets and SAR 13 billion in social assets. It supports areas such as renewable energy, sustainable water and wastewater management, green buildings, energy efficiency, clean transportation, and social development. These activities show how finance can help direct capital toward projects that support national development priorities and environmental progress.
Riyad Bank is also strengthening its approach to climate-related risk and financed emissions. The Bank has improved how it measures emissions linked to its corporate loan portfolio and has set interim decarbonization targets for selected priority sectors, including power and iron and steel. This work supports Riyad Bank’s broader commitment to achieve net-zero financed emissions by 2060 and helps the Bank better understand how it can support clients and sectors as they transition over time.
To support this work, Riyad Bank has updated its Sustainable Finance Framework and launched its Transition Finance Framework. These frameworks provide clearer guidance for financing green, social, and transition-related activities, including in sectors where reducing emissions can be more complex. They also support greater transparency and consistency in how the Bank classifies and reports sustainable finance.
Supporting Environment Projects Across the Kingdom
The Bank is also helping translate sustainable finance into environmental outcomes through selected initiatives. Riyad Bank led and financed a SAR 6.5 billion green credit facility for AMAALA, supporting renewable energy, water recycling, low-impact mobility, energy savings, emissions reductions, and biodiversity protection. It also launched NASEEM, a SAR 1 billion financing program with the Environment Fund, to support private sector investment in environmental services, meteorology, waste management, vegetation development, and wildlife protection.
Riyad Bank’s environmental work also reaches local communities through Bukra, its corporate social responsibility strategy. Through Bukra Nursery, the Bank planted 400,000 trees in 2025, bringing the total number of trees planted since launch to 880,000. This contributes to afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and the expansion of vegetation cover across the Kingdom.
A Measured Contribution to Saudi Arabia’s Sustainable Future
On World Environment Day, Riyad Bank’s progress reflects a practical and evolving approach to sustainability. By improving its own operations, scaling sustainable finance, strengthening climate-related measurement, and supporting community environmental initiatives, Riyad Bank aims to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s transition toward a more sustainable future.
RbPageFeedbackWeb
Thank you for your response