SPD Bank marks 5th anniversary by giving back
Vivien Ang
SHANGHAI Pudong Development (SPD) Bank has planted 50 trees in Pasir Ris Park, making it the first Chinese bank to join the OneMillionTrees greening movement launched by the National Parks Board (NParks) in April 2020.
The bank also did this as a way to mark its fifth anniversary in Singapore. Forty of its staff and corporate clients planted a total of 7 species of trees, contributing to the biodiversity of the park.
Xu Jun, general manager of the Singapore branch of SPD Bank, said: “We hope to contribute to the Singapore Green Plan 2030, as well as demonstrate our long-standing commitment towards sustainable financing... Climate change will be one of the biggest challenges faced by mankind in post-Covid times. As a financial player in the global economy, we hope to do our part to ‘invest in our planet’, which is, coincidentally, the slogan for Earth Day 2022.”
To date, more than 170 corporate partners have supported the OneMillionTrees movement through the Garden City Fund, NParks’ registered charity and Institution of a Public Character.
Adrian Loo, group director of Wildlife Management and senior director of Community Projects at NParks, said: “The OneMillionTrees Movement is a key component of efforts to extend nature into our urban landscape as we transform into a ‘City in Nature’. It aims to redouble Singapore’s efforts to green its urban infrastructure on an unprecedented scale. Through engaging corporate partners like SPD, the Garden City Fund also hopes to cultivate a love for the environment, promote a sense of ownership and encourage the community to play its part in preserving Singapore’s legacy as a lush and vibrant ‘City in Nature’.”
Asked about the importance of trees, he said: “We plant trees for the many benefits that they bring. These include helping to reduce ambient temperatures by transpiring and providing shade, improving air and water quality by absorbing pollutants, releasing oxygen and reducing soil erosion; and providing habitats for wildlife. Trees also enhance community well-being by encouraging greater usage of public green spaces, where the community can come together to enjoy recreational activities, and can also benefit our physical and mental health.”
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Shao Peng, relationship manager of corporate banking at SPD Bank’s Singapore branch, said every company and person can and should play their part in the journey towards the adoption of ESG (environment, social and governance) practices.
In addition to helping green the city, the bank also partnered social enterprise Glyph to distribute 100 bags to needy families in Bukit Merah this month
A total of S$10,000 collected through donations by bank employees went towards procuring essential items such as cooking oil and toothpaste.
Lim Si Hui, head of group sponsorships at Glyph, said: “We believe that support for the disadvantaged is the responsibility of all stakeholders in society. Thus, this collaboration amplifies our work in the community.”
Song JiaJia, assistant vice-president of corporate communications at the bank’s branch in Singapore, said: “Owing to the comprehensive support network that our society has, the needs of the underprivileged can sometimes be hidden from view. Through the partnership with Glyph, I now have a better understanding of our society’s needs on the ground, and it gives me great pleasure to be in the position to help and actually make a positive difference to someone else’s life.”
On future plans, Xu said that the bank plans to incorporate the spirit of CSR into its corporate DNA with a focus on sustainability. “We hope to move in tandem with the government’s Singapore Green Plan 2030, via efforts such as going paperless, beach cleaning, tree planting, energy saving and green bond issuance.”
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