The regional house bank supports local SMEs with the fifth edition of its free sustainability brochure “This is how sustainability works: for SMEs and cooperatives”.

With its sustainability strategy, the European Commission aims to make Europe, and thus also Austria, more resilient and competitive. Among other things, the EU should position itself as an attractive industrial location that consciously focuses on clean technologies and a circular economy. To understand sustainability as an opportunity to become more efficient and future-proof, Volksbank Wien AG is focusing on communication. For the fifth time, the central organ of the Volksbanken Association is publishing the free brochure "This is how sustainability works: for SMEs and cooperatives." The aim of the publication is to support Austrian small and medium-sized enterprises in implementing sustainable strategies. The current edition focuses on sustainability reporting and communication. It shows why it is particularly crucial for SMEs to make their achievements in this area visible. Together with the Austrian Cooperative Association (ÖGV) and respACT, Austria's leading corporate platform for responsible business, the Volksbanken Association offers practical suggestions and examples of how a clear competitive advantage can be achieved through targeted communication.

All editions of the sustainability brochure are available on www.volksbank.at/sustainability available free of charge.

Volksbank employees raise their awareness of sustainability

Volksbank Wien AG itself provides an example of how internal measures promote a conscious approach to the topic of sustainability. With its activation program "Sustainable Days for Each Other," the regional bank makes sustainability tangible. The initiative aims to raise awareness of ecological and social responsibility and, above all, to actively involve employees in the process of sustainable transformation. This year's first event took place on June 24th at the WeltTellerFeld (World Plate Field) under the motto "For Each Other in the Field - Where Community Grows." Numerous Volksbank Wien AG employees were able to get involved in tilling, sowing, and field care, and above all, gained insight into where the food consumed in Austria comes from and the levers for sustainable nutrition. The campaign was supported by the Ganger nursery, which supplied a variety of plants that were planted directly on site by employees. "For us, sustainability is teamwork," explains Monika Tögel, Volksbank's Sustainability Officer. "We can only achieve sustainable transformation for each other and together. That's why we are using team-building activities to raise awareness within Volksbank Wien AG and to spread our spirit together," says
the sustainability expert. "We invite all employees to experience sustainability on a total of three activation days in 2025 – with expert knowledge, shared activities, and plenty of inspiration for everyday life."

Own sustainability committee in the Volksbanken association

As early as 2023, the Volksbanken Association established its own committee to address all aspects of sustainability. The decision-making Sustainability Committee discusses, monitors, and steers the implementation of ESG-relevant goals and simultaneously serves as a steering, coordination, and supervisory body. Furthermore, within Volksbank Wien AG, the central body of the Volksbanken Association, a Sustainability Ambassador for each division is responsible for optimal internal collaboration. This teamwork ensures that Volksbank Wien AG continuously improves its commitment to sustainability. As the regional house bank, Volksbank Wien takes its responsibility seriously and will continue to drive sustainability forward in the future. This includes action days such as the "Sustainable for Each Other Day" at the WeltTellerFeld (World Plate Field) and the free sustainability brochure for SMEs.