22 May 2018
Our impact
As a mission-driven bank, NIB focuses on financing projects that improve productivity and benefit the environment in the Nordic–Baltic region.
Prior to making loan decisions, NIB assesses how the projects considered for financing promote productivity gains and provide environmental benefits in the Bank’s member countries. We follow up the project implementation, and once completed, we evaluate the extent to which the estimated impacts have materialised. In measuring the impact of our financing, we apply a set of predefined indicators. NIB also monitors its own environmental footprint annually.
What we report
The impact from our lending is measured according to a set of productivity and environmental indicators. We are constantly developing reporting parameters to provide our stakeholders specific data on the impact of NIB’s operations. Currently, we publish descriptions of newly agreed loans, visit Agreed Loans. In the annual reports, we disclose the aggregated productivity and environmental impact of our lending and we calculate the total net emissions of greenhouse gases for all projects. Impacts of projects funded through NIB Environmental Bonds (NEB) are presented in the NEB reports. In cooperation with other major international financial institutions, we contributed to a harmonised framework for impact reporting on renewable energy and energy efficiency. NIB also participates in the Green Bond Principles network to promote reporting standards for sustainable water and wastewater management, waste management, and resource efficiency projects.
Further on this page:
NIB's mission fulfilment
NIB’s major impact comes from its long-term lending to projects. All projects the Bank finances are analysed from the perspective of productivity and the environmental benefits created.
The Bank uses an internal mandate rating system to assess a projects impact. In 2017, loans achieving a “good” or “excellent rating accounted for 97% of the total amount of lending.
NIB's aim is for at least 90% of loans to achieve those ratings.
NIB-financed projects and the UN SDGs
The seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out a global roadmap for tackling economic, environmental and social challenges as part of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.
In line with its mission, NIB has identified the SDGs to which its financed projects, business strategy and sustainability approach can contribute:
Environmental impact of NIB-financed projects
Our environmental footprint
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Change | |
| Electricity (MWh) | 1,269 | 1,280 | 1,300 | 2% |
| District heating (MWh) | 1,188 | 1,348 | 1,535 | 14% |
| District cooling (MWh) | 336 | 349 | 311 | -11% |
| Water (m3) | 2,725 | 2,738 | 2,990 | 9% |
| Business travel, air (million km) | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.1 | -4% |
| Business travel, CO2 (t) | 632 | 491 | 443 | -10% |
| Paper (t) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0% |
| Paper recycled (t) | 12 | 12 | 10 | -16% |
| Other waste (t) | 16 | 15 | 22 | 47% |
With regard to its own direct ecological footprint, NIB has environmental guidelines for office practices, facilities management and procurement. NIB complies with the requirements of EU environmental legislation, and in many respects applies even stricter rules than legislation requires. NIB's headquarters in Helsinki has been part of the WWF Green Office network since 2009.
NIB updates financial figures three times a year: for the period January–April (published in June), the period January–August (published in October) and the period January–December (published in March). Only the year-end figures are audited.
| Dec 2017 | Dec 2016 |
| Net interest income | 238m | 242m | |
| Profit before net loan losses | 216m | 232m | |
| Net profit | 211m | 212m |
| Loans disbursed | 3,147m | 3,373m | |
| Loans agreed | 3,812m | 4,363m | |
| Loans agreed achieving good or above mandate | 97% | 96% | |
| Loans outstanding | 17,232m | 16,640m | |
| Total assets | 29,953m | 30,178m |
| New debt issues | 5,943m | 6,700m | |
| Debts evidenced by certificates | 24,000m | 23,907m | |
| Total equity | 3,456m | 3,275m |
| Equity/total assets | 11.5% | 10.9% | |
| Profit/average equity | 6.2% | 6.7% | |
| Cost/income | 17.2% | 16.1% | |
| Number of employees (average during the period) | 193 | 192 |
in EUR unless otherwise specified
*Unaudited figures, to be read in conjunction with NIB's audited annual financial statements.
