Home Credit publishes its 2021 Sustainability Report
Report outlines strong progress delivering digital-led financial inclusion benefits, building on company’s history of responsible operations
Prague | Hong Kong, June 15, 2022: Home Credit today released its Sustainability Report 2021. The company’s latest report details Home Credit’s progress in delivering against Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, such as promoting financial inclusion and offering responsible products and services to underserved populations. The report aligns with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals and covers all company’s markets.
“This sustainability report marks an important milestone in our journey as a responsible, inclusive business, that has ESG principles firmly embedded in its values and DNA,” said Jean-Pascal Duvieusart, Chief Executive Officer, Home Credit Group and added: “I would like to thank all our Home Credit employees, who continue to demonstrate creativity, passion, and dedication in everything they do. They are living proof that when ESG is consciously embedded in our culture and mindsets, real change happens.”
“Fairness to customers, employees and communities have always been part of our DNA. It is who we are,” said Jiri Smejc, Chief Executive Officer of PPF Group and Chairman of the Board of Home Credit Group and added: “ESG principles now give us a tool to show our responsible business practices in a formal, comprehensive way. And I am proud that we can already count a number of milestones on our ESG journey.”
Home Credit has been working to support customers and communities in 2021 as they navigated the continued challenging global environment. The report highlights key themes and trends that impact the business, based on a materiality assessment.
Key 2021 report highlights at a glance:
- Serving the underserved
23% of Home Credit customers were first-time borrowers - Financial literacy
109 million people benefited from Home Credit financial literacy initiatives in 2021 - Equitable lending
43% of Home Credit customers are women - Zero interest
44% of our consumer loans have 0% interest, thanks to partnerships with retailers and manufacturers - Payment holidays
2.2 million customers were given the option of payment holidays and deferred payments to help them better cope with the pandemic in 2021 - Giving back to communities
USD1.3 million dedicated to community direct aid in one of over 50 projects across the markets - Carbon footprint
12k tCO2 equivalent in scope 1 & 2 - Circular economy
4.5k phased out office devices refurbished and resold or donated
The materiality assessment sets out the most significant themes for Home Credit. It was compiled with reference to industry leading benchmarks such as the Standards and Practices for Responsible Inclusive Finance by the Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), Principles for Responsible Banking by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEPFI) and Materiality Finder by the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB).
In addition, the Home Credit Sustainability Report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.
Notes to Editors
About Home Credit
Founded in 1997, Home Credit is a global consumer finance provider with operations in eight countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Southeast Asia, as well as India and China. The company headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, offers non-collateralised, purpose-driven loans, cash loans and revolving lending products both online and in partnering retail shops. It drives and broadens financial inclusion for unbanked populations and encourages economic development through supporting domestic consumption.
More information about HCGBV is available at https://www.homecredit.net/