Standard Chartered to launch Green project

Standard Chartered will launch its Green Cover project, an initiative to reduce paper waste, whereby the Bank will pledge to plant a tree for every customer signing up for an eStatement.

The initial impetus for the initiative was provided when volunteers from Standard Chartered planted 200 trees along the stretch of beach at Kosgoda with the help of an NGO.

The Bank hopes that this initial effort will inspire customers to sign up for having their bank statements delivered electronically.

Head of Consumer Banking, Sanjay Wijemanne said, "As with our other initiatives, we have sought multiple pay-offs from the sustainability activity.

The tree saplings at Kosgoda were planted near sea turtle nesting areas to help with the conservation of Sri Lanka's marine turtle population, as we learned that when the turtle hatchlings emerge from the nest at night they immediately and rapidly crawl towards the brightest, lowest horizon which under natural conditions is the reflection of the moon and stars on the sea."

"However, in most instances the hatchlings are disoriented by the street lights or hotel lights and head in the direction of the hotels and other buildings inland instead of the sea. Naturally this has dire consequences to marine turtles," he said.