Our commitment to the responsible stewardship of our operations
Our most direct impact on the environment is through our operations. To address our most material impacts, our environmental action plan focuses on four key areas: infrastructure, mobility, consumption, environmental health.
Climate commitment for our operations
As part of our Climate Action Plan, we have committed to reducing our absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by 55% by 2030 from 2019 levels. For the residual emissions that cannot be reduced or avoided, we support high-quality climate projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Efficient infrastructure
Since the mid-2000s, Pictet’s infrastructure management approach has been guided by a commitment to optimising energy use and reducing emissions across our operations. We recognise that modernising our buildings and systems is central to managing our environmental footprint and to supporting our long-term climate objectives.
Measures to improve the efficiency of our infrastructure
Investing in environmental solutions
Thermal solar and heat transfer systems: At our Geneva site, the installation of thermal solar and heat transfer systems has resulted in annual savings of 250 tCO₂e, while also reducing our utility costs.
Photovoltaic panels: We have installed more than 600 square metres of photovoltaic panels, producing approximately 40 MWh per year for on-site consumption.
LED Re-Lamping: The transition to LED lighting at our Geneva headquarters has delivered annual energy savings of 30 MWh.
Campus Pictet de Rochemont: Our new headquarters, currently under construction, is designed as a state-of-the-art, low-carbon building. It aims to meet the highest LEED certification standards, in keeping with our goal to minimise environmental impact as much as possible.
Sourcing renewable electricity
Wherever possible, Pictet sources renewable electricity through direct contracts with utility providers offering green tariffs.
In locations where such tariffs are not available, we purchase Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) to match our consumption with renewable energy production.
Although we are not a signatory to the RE100 initiative, we adhere to its main principles—for example, ensuring that EACs are sourced from plants connected to the same physical grid as our offices.
Responsible mobility
How our employees travel—both for commuting and business purposes—is a significant contributor to our operational footprint. We are committed to supporting more mindful mobility through initiatives designed to reduce travel-related emissions and make environmentally-friendly transport options more accessible and attractive to our staff.
Measures to promote greener commuting habits
Encouraging responsible commuting
Free public transport: All employees in Geneva are provided with free public transport, actively encouraging the use of environmentally friendly commuting options and reducing reliance on private vehicles.
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure: To support the transition to electric mobility, we have installed more than 130 EV charging stations at our Geneva headquarters.
Bikes: Employees have access to free electric bikes for use during the day and for personal journeys. In addition, we have converted 20 car parking spaces into 130 dedicated bike parking places, further supporting active and low-carbon travel.
Transforming Business Travel and Fleet
Fleet electrification: We are in the process of transitioning our company car fleet to 100% electric vehicles as leases come up for renewal, significantly reducing emissions associated with business mobility.
Business travel policy: For business journeys within Switzerland, employees are required to travel by train. For other short journeys—those lasting less than four hours—train travel is strongly encouraged over air or car travel.
Consumption management
Pictet is committed to using resources efficiently and minimising waste across our operations. By continuously refining our practices, we have achieved notable reductions in both waste generation and resource use. We have also implemented circular economy principles throughout our operations.
Targeted initiatives to support our progress in this area
Cut the plastic: Across the Group, we achieved a 90% reduction in disposable plastics by 2019, reflecting our commitment to eliminating single-use items wherever possible.
Food waste reduction: At our Geneva headquarters, leftover meals from the cafeteria are sold at discounted prices, helping to limit food waste.
Reusable tableware: Cups and food containers used in our Geneva headquarters are collected and washed at the end of each day, ready to be reused the next day, further reducing single-use waste.
IT hardware reuse: We have extended the lifecycle of 200 laptops and 500 smartphones or tablets by offering them for employee purchase, supporting reuse and reducing electronic waste.
Multi-function printers: By installing multi-function printers, we have reduced paper waste and now save the equivalent of approximately 250 trees each year.
Environmental health
Pictet strives to foster an environmentally healthy workplace for our employees and clients. We understand the strong connection between environmental quality and well-being, and we continue to introduce practices that support both.
Implemented initiatives to enhance environmental health across our operations
Chemical-free cleaning: At our Geneva headquarters and our large office in Luxembourg, we have introduced chemical-free cleaning methods. This shift has prevented several hundred kilograms of phosphates and other chemical substances from entering the environment each year, while significantly reducing exposure to chemicals for both cleaning staff and employees.
Partnering with local enterprises: In our client restaurant in Geneva, we collaborate with local and social enterprises to source products that are locally grown, unprocessed, and appropriately labelled, supporting both the local economy and responsible sourcing.
CO₂ and health scores: To encourage more mindful and nutritious food choices, we have piloted the use of CO₂ and health scores for employee menus in our Geneva canteens.
Reporting progress and climate contribution
Measuring and reporting progress
Accurate measurement and transparent reporting are essential to Pictet’s environmental strategy, as meaningful change is only possible when progress is clearly tracked. We rely on internationally recognised standards and robust data management to monitor our environmental impact and advance towards our climate objectives. To improve the accuracy and efficiency of our data collection and reporting, we use a dedicated carbon-accounting tool. Our emissions reporting follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, supporting our target-setting and disclosures, including those to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and CDP. Emissions are calculated using recognised conversion factors from sources such as IEA, BEIS, IPCC, and ExioBase.
As of 2024, Pictet has achieved a 45% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to 2019 levels. This progress demonstrates that we are well on track to meet our target of a 55% reduction by 2030, in line with our SBTi-validated objectives.
All relevant datapoints related to Pictet’s operations can be found in our latest Group Sustainability Report.
Climate contribution to address remaining emissions
Pictet recognises the importance of supporting the development and deployment of high-integrity carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as part of the broader response to climate change. While our primary focus remains on reducing emissions at source, we also take responsibility for the residual emissions from our own operations by supporting projects that deliver real, verifiable, and durable carbon removals. In doing so, we seek to generate positive outcomes not only for the climate, but also for local communities, in line with our broader responsibilities to clients, society, and the environment. For more information about our approach to CO2 emissions reduction, please refer to the “Pictet’s carbon offetting strategy” of our 2023 Sustainability Report.
In 2023 and 2024, Pictet’s climate contribution portfolio included three high-impact projects in India, Mexico and Ghana.
View their progress on Restor, and browse our gallery below to read more about these projects.
Beyond carbon removal, the project creates local employment, doubles average daily wages, and generates community income. It also safeguards water and soil quality through improved land management practices.