DZ BANK offers a broad range of sustainable products and services in both its lending and its investment product businesses that it is continuously expanding.

DZ BANK has offered investment certificates incorporating sustainability since 2000. We created the Anlage Zukunft product line in 2009 to cope with rising demand from our customers for sustainable products. It combines products that take account of both sustainability standards and returns. Anlage Zukunft investment certificates are based on shares in companies that are socially responsible and forward-looking yet still offer good financial prospects. The TÜV Süd product standards regulator has verified the product development process for our sustainable investment certificates in accordance with the ISO 9001 international quality management standard.

We have also expanded our research focused on sustainability. These activities include our own sustainability studies, such as those published last year on subjects such as green IT, sustainable technologies, and sustainable buildings. SRI roadshows are also organized.

In spring 2011, DZ BANK started its sustainable investment research – a comprehensive advisory and review process. Companies are rated daily according to sustainability factors. The outcome of our rating process consists of four dimensions: the environment, social issues, corporate governance, and business. Companies regarded as sustainable are awarded the DZ BANK seal of approval for sustainability.

Responsible lending is a key component of our systematic focus on sustainability. We have established a procedure for checking our customers with regard to their sustainability. When carrying out our checks, we concentrate on criteria based on the ten principles laid down in the UN Global Compact and on the Equator Principles.

Another aspect of our sustainability activities is the agriculture/nature/energy initiative, which supports firms that want to tap new sources of income by using wind power, biomass, or solar energy. We have established competence centers at six locations that, in conjunction with the local cooperative banks, offer information events and draw up suitable funding concepts for customers.