Banco Santander Sustainability Profile
Banco Santander, officially known as Banco Santander, S.A., is a leading global financial institution headquartered in Spain (ES). Established in 1857, the bank has grown to become one of the largest banks in Europe, with significant operations across key regions including the UK, Latin America, and the United States. Specialising in retail and commercial banking, Santander offers a diverse range of services, including personal and business banking, mortgages, and investment solutions. Its commitment to innovation and customer-centric services sets it apart in the competitive banking landscape. With a strong market position, Banco Santander has achieved notable milestones, such as its successful digital transformation and expansion into emerging markets. The bank continues to focus on sustainable finance and enhancing customer experience, solidifying its reputation as a trusted financial partner.
DitchCarbon Score
How does Banco Santander's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Financial Intermediation industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
Banco Santander's score of 54 is higher than 72% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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Banco Santander's reported carbon emissions
In 2024, Banco Santander reported total carbon emissions of approximately 1,175,915,000 kg CO2e, with emissions distributed across various scopes: 35,503,000 kg CO2e (Scope 1), 24,350,000 kg CO2e (Scope 2, market-based), and 1,116,061,000 kg CO2e (Scope 3). The bank's emissions from its oil and gas portfolio were reported at 20,270,000 kg CO2e in 2025. Santander has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions across all scopes by 2050. The bank plans to remain carbon neutral and source 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2025. Additionally, it has committed to completely reducing its exposure to thermal coal producers by 2030. The bank's Scope 1 emissions intensity is targeted to decrease by 46% by 2030, with a current intensity of 0.21 tCO2e/MWh. Santander Asset Management has also joined the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, aligning its portfolio with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Overall, Banco Santander is actively working towards significant reductions in its carbon footprint while adhering to industry standards and climate commitments.
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| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | - | - | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 259,567,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | - | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
How Carbon Intensive is Banco Santander's Industry?
How Carbon Intensive is Banco Santander's Location?
Banco Santander's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown
Banco Santander's Scope 3 emissions, which increased by 790% last year and increased by approximately 741% since 2016, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Nearly all of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing nearly all emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 63% of Scope 3 emissions.
Top Scope 3 Categories
Banco Santander's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Banco Santander has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
