Our ESG ratings and commitments

KBC is a member of the Equator Principles since 2004. The EP are voluntary guidelines for assessing and managing the social and environmental impacts of large projects.

In 2006, KBC has joined the UN Global Compact corporate responsibility initiative, embracing its principles in human rights, labor, and anti-corruption. Our progress statement is available on the UN Global Compact website.

We signed the UN PRI in 2016. We report on our progress on our commitment each year. The report can be consulted on the UN PRI website.

As a TCFD endorser since 2017, we report transparently on our climate actions, structured according to the four pillars of the TCFD recommendations: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets.

KBC became an early endorser of the PRB in 2018. These principles set out a framework for a sustainable banking system. We report yearly on our progress towards implementing the principles.

KBC signed the PSI in 2018. These principles provide a global framework for insurance companies to better manage ESG risks and opportunities in their core business strategies and operations. We report yearly on our progress in the PSI self-assessment.

KBC signed the CCCA in 2019. With this, we committed to align our activities with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C, striving for 1.5°C.

KBC signed the Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge to divest from the tobacco industry in 2019. Previously, KBC had a policy excluding the tobacco industry from its lending, insurance, and sustainable investment activities. By signing the pledge, this exclusion was extended to include KBC Asset Management’s conventional investment funds and KBC’s own investment portfolio.

KBC signed the Gender Diversity in Finance charter and became a member of Women in Finance in 2019. This commitment placed gender equality and diversity firmly on our agenda. We put action plans in place to address these important topics.

We became a signatory of Climate Action 100+ in 2020. Climate Action 100+ is an investor-led initiative aimed at engaging major greenhouse gas emitters and other companies globally. This initiative seeks to drive the clean energy transition and help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

KBC adheres to the Women Empowerment Principles since 2022. The principles are a set of guidelines on how we can advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and the community.

In 2023, KBC became an early adopter of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). As part of our commitment, we begun reporting on our achievements in our 2024 Sustainability Report structured according to the four pillars of the TNFD recommendations: Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, and Metrics and Targets.

KBC became a signatory of Nature Action 100+ in 2023. Nature Action 100+ is a global investor engagement initiative dedicated to driving corporate ambition and action to reverse nature and biodiversity loss. This initiative targets companies in key sectors that are crucial for reversing nature and biodiversity loss by 2030.