How Standard Chartered Uses Sustainability to Boost Growth
Standard Chartered has shown that sustainability initiatives can go alongside growth in its 2024 Annual Report.
Dr José Viñals, Group Chairman at Standard Chartered, says in the report: “Our growth must be achieved in a strong, safe and sustainable manner, while maintaining both cost and capital discipline.
“This led to an improvement in our return on tangible equity reaching 11.7%, which sets a notable milestone for us ahead of our 2026 target of approaching 13%.
“When combined with income growth of 14% on a constant currency basis it becomes clear that our underlying business is connected to meaningful opportunities across our markets.”
Financial performance and strategic priorities
Standard Chartered’s report shows strong financial performance, with a return on tangible equity (RoTE) of 11.7%.
It attributes this success to its focus on high-growth markets and its role as a "super connector" across global trade and investment corridors.
Standard Chartered's strategy combines differentiated cross-border capabilities with leading wealth management expertise, underpinned by its brand promise "here for good."
This focus allows the company to connect established and emerging global corridors of trade, investment and wealth.
Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive at Standard Chartered, says in the report: “Our leading sustainability capabilities are an integral part of our client offering across all our business segments and the Group as a whole.
“This year, we also demonstrated our commitment to protecting and restoring nature by becoming an early adopter of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.
“Building on our ambition to shift financial flows towards nature-positive outcomes, we also partnered with the Government of The Bahamas, The Nature Conservancy, the Inter-American Development Bank and other financial partners to launch an innovative debt conversion, expected to generate US$124m for marine conservation.”
Integrating sustainability
Standard Chartered says that it recognises the importance of addressing pressing societal challenges, including climate change, inequality and the inequities of globalisation.
The bank integrates ESG considerations into its decision-making processes and operations, providing investors and stakeholders with insights into sustainability-related risks and opportunities.
The report also highlights the organisation’s ‘valued behaviours’:
- Do the right thing
- Never settle
- Better together
Standard Chartered tracks its progress against a range of financial and non-financial KPIs.
It has mobilised US$121bn in sustainable finance, an increase of US$34bn from 2023.
Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer at Standard Chartered, wrote on LinkedIn: “Our full-year 2024 results demonstrate that our strategy of combining differentiated cross-border capabilities with leading wealth management expertise continues to deliver, and sustainability is an integral part of this.
“As our strategy sets out, sustainability is a central part of our client offering across our business and the numbers speak for themselves.”
Engaging communities around the world
Standard Chartered operates in 53 markets across the world’s most dynamic regions, including Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
This geographic footprint enables it to connect high-growth and emerging markets with established economies, channelling capital to where it is needed most.
Standard Chartered's marathon series, with races held in cities from Shanghai to Nairobi, uses its network and experience globally to connect communities.
In 2024, it launched a 10th race in its global marathon portfolio, the Standard Chartered Hanoi Marathon Heritage Race to commemorate its 120 year presence in Vietnam.
More than 244,000 people took part in these marathons in 2024.
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